how to tell if herb is moldy?

[GreenLeaf]

Long story short I quit smoking for half a decade and I do still have some herb around but it's in a dugout, plastic film canisters, and some very good stuff I put in a mason jar.

I want to get into vaping and I know some of this herb may well be pretty dry which I'm fine with. I never put orange peels or blunt wraps in with the bud or any of the things people do that really do produce mold, and I did dry/cure the stuff in the Mason jar since when I got it that herb was very sticky.

I just don't want to smoke it if it's moldy is this easy to tell or not? I know that some mould spores are microscopic but would the herb smell moldy too or not?

 

[momofthegoons]

I've always found that if the herb is moldy, it smells like mold.

That said, I have a hard time believing that herb a decade old will still have any potency, especially if it was really dried out prior to putting it in the container. Did you actually can the stuff in the mason jar with an airtight seal? If so, that might still be potent. But anything in the plastic film vial and dugout would probably have lost it's potency.

Sorry. If I'm wrong, I'm sure someone will come on and let you know.

 

[vtac]

I'd imagine some of the actives will have degraded due to oxidization after 5 years, but not entirely. That said, do you really want to use 5 year old bud for your re-entry into cannabis and first experience vaping?

Check it under some good magnification. What do you see?

http://www.google.com/search?q=marijuana+mold

http://sparkreport.net/2009/08/what-you-should-know-about-mold-issues-on-marijuana/

You can identify mold by looking closely for black spots, dark green spots, white/grayish stringy matter or other unusual coloring. The mold will also noticeably effect the smell of the marijuana, turning it a more musty and unpleasant smell. Mold spores sometimes resemble the crystal looking trichomes that naturally occur on marijuana which can cause some novice users to mistake signs of mold for characteristics of higher grade marijuana. The best way to identify mold on marijuana is to view it under a black light. Mold spores will appear a distinctive green hue when put under a black light.
Preventing / Treating mold on marijuana

Mold needs at least 15% moisture to survive, so the best way to prevent mold is to keep all harvested marijuana in the ideal 10%-15% moisture content level. Growers should always allow enough time for freshly cut plants to dry in a dark ventilated area. Marijuana being cured in jars should be opened every 12 to 24 hours to allow proper air flow. Always be careful when attempting to re-hydrate over-dried buds by adding orange peels or water because its very easy to add too much moisture and fruit peels are an easy breeding ground for mold.

Its always advisable to not smoke marijuana with mold, however those that are willing to take the risk are advised to bake their marijuana in a oven on 300 degrees for 15 minutes to eliminate some common forms of mold. While on the subject of baking marijuana, it is important to note that most mold is far more dangerous when ingested than inhaled, which means you should be extra careful of mold when putting marijuana into edible treats. Filtering smoke through a water pipe or bong does not prevent you from inhaling mold, although some sources say it can help reduce about 15% of the mold.

 

[Plant]

if the bud was dry when it went in to the jar it should not have gotten moldy at all
i found a jar a couple of years ago from my first plant at that time bout 5years old didn't smell like weed didn't taste like it and there was no mold but boy i got stoned
all the crystals turned dark brown and i think there was not much thc in there annymore
it was like a little man with a hammer came bye and knocked me the fuck out

 

[hades65]

If it was moldy bud it would of most certainly be all dried out, and would not have any signs of mold now, but it would still contain spores if it had the history.

 

[GreenLeaf]

I didn't have any other choice so I just used it. It was not moldy just dry.

I had ground it up and on the grinder on the leftover plant material, I put some water to see if any fuzz or furr grew and nothing did and that was a few days ago.

I did not do anything that would induce mold like putting an orange peel in and I never have done that to anything like herbs or fungi.

 

[Howie Feltersnatch]

I didn't have any other choice so I just used it. It was not moldy just dry.

I had ground it up and on the grinder on the leftover plant material, I put some water to see if any fuzz or furr grew and nothing did and that was a few days ago.

I did not do anything that would induce mold like putting an orange peel in and I never have done that to anything like herbs or fungi.

OK ... so, how WAS it?