Can you judge weed from appearance

It's naturally impossible to know what to expect when purchasing a strain marijuana that you haven't smoked. Many buds exhibit properties that represent potency, however sometimes these visual aspect prove misleading. So can we judge a bud based on its cover?  No, but what we can do is learn a little bit about specific attributes which suggest a premium batch of reefer.

****A few readers voiced an issue with the terminology and way I went about this post. Clearly there is a term for the "little red hairs". We could have used Pistils, however we are attempting to connect with those less framiliar with the cannabis culture and most likely less aware of certain terms. We appologize if this offends you.  We are also aware that not every bag with seeds in it is bad, however we are providing a basis for visual judgement. It is well understood that some plants herm and that a premature batch is not always the worst. We are suggesting guidelines here, not providing concrete evidence. As the first paragraph suggests it is impossible to judge a bag from strictly appearance.


The Trim Job- Personally this is the first give away. If the trim job is lazy, the bud is un-groomed and the leaves have started to form shake you should be sceptical.  This does not directly point the finger at a specifically bad grow, however it raises flags. The reasoning behind this is that many marijuana cultivators are proud of their product. When they have spent the last few months nurturing and raising their garden, chances are their pride is to great to leave at a shitty trim job.  To me, this symbolizes cut corners throughout the whole process, and most likely a marijuana plant that has been stressed throughout the grow. Unfortunately this is where we get assumptions and misconceptions.  Many of the most potent strains we have been able to experience throughout the years come with their fair share of leaves and shaggy appeal.

How wet is the bud- The reason this is important is the fact that many rush out their crops to the consumer without properly curing the buds.  The correct cure can make a world of difference. Curing is the process that comes after the buds have been trimmed and dried.  This process of sweating the buds within a dry jar allows the remaining chemicals to turn into active ingredients; other benefits include better taste, sweeter smell and increased potency. One thing for sure, curing will assist in the break down of any harsh remaining chemicals such as chlorophyll. Perfectly cured buds tend to lose their vibrant green color in replace for slightly greyer tinge of green.  

• Another process that the cultivator may have took interest in is the addition of black strap molasses throughout the flowering stage. How can we tell an uncured crown from one that has been fed molasses?    Molasses typically adds weight, sweetness to the smell, sweetness to the taste and stickiness to the bud.   The marijuana grown absent of molasses will project a water wetness opposed to a sugary one.  Although tough to understand, practice makes perfect and eventually your experience will turn into knowledge.

Visible THC- This is quite the misleading aspect.  Some strains produce heavy amounts of visible THC while others lack visual appeal.  How do we know which is better? We make assumptions.  I have never been a fan in judging bud by the amount of visible chrystal for one simple reason: Jamaican, Sugar Shack and Sweet Tooth. These three strains pollinate to the point where it looks like the bud has been dipped in cocaine. Defiantly not the case. Different strains contain different properties, so this aspect is always tough to tell.  If the decision ever arises, I personally would grab the one covered in chrystal, just keep in mind.. You never know.


Do you see seeds?- 99% says that this bag has been prematurely cropped or is a hermaphrodite plant. Crack a bud open and take a peak on the inside make sure the sexy appearance isn't hiding a bunch of babies underneath.


Visible hairs (also known as Pistils)- Predominantly visible on Sativa strains, the little reddish hairs on the bud provide us with some valuable information.  When growing marijuana, your harvest date typically lies within the color of the THC and the hairs surrounding it (only CLEARLY visible through micro scope)  When a plant has reached its cropping stage the trichomes will visibly shift from transparent to a hazy amber.  Around this time the buds hairs will also complete a transformation into a darker red.  This means that the THC has reached maturity and maximum potency.  Therefore, a hairy bud with large deposits of healthy red hairs typically suggests the plant was cropped at the perfect time and the THC has reached its most effective levels.