Do these 6-month old buds have mold?

Z

zuraya

Active Member
Between January and May of 2024 I finished what was technically my first grow.

I had two plants that survived but they were very small plants. I cut them down and if I recall correctly, I placed them in a cardboard box to dry.

The box had openings at the bottom and some small opening at the top, and I had a rod through the top of the box from which the buds hung.

I directed a fan towards the bottom opening.

My hope was that the plants would dry out in semi-darkness with constant air flowing up through them and out the top of the box.

Anyways, perhaps about after ten days of drying I thought they were ready but I noticed there was some white fuzz that looked like mold on some of the buds.

I used the buds that did not have this on them, and the parts that did (and some of the parts around them) I put in a jar but decided I would not use them.

I found this jar today (it was kept in a dark cupboard) and was wondering if anyone could tell me if they think the bud is useable (I want to make cannabutter).

Below are photos of the buds from that jar, taken today. Is there mold? Would you use this bud?

All the bud in the jar is in the first two photos below (I simply split into two bowls).

IMG_0919.jpeg


IMG_0920.jpeg


The two pieces I am most worried about are the bottom two in the photo just above.

There s some small amount of white fuzz but it is not clear what it is.

Unfortunately, the resolution on this camera isn’t good enough for the amount of detail on these buds.

Here is an attempt at a close-up photo

IMG_0922.jpeg
 
zuraya said:
So what is it that makes this mold so very bad?

Even for edibles?
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If you smoke moldy cannabis, you can experience a number of harmful side effects. Unventilated, overly humid, and warm grow rooms are the ideal breeding ground for mold spores which can cause a series of harmful effects to marijuana users.


A 2017 study shows that Aspergillus is one of the most common types of mold found on cannabis plants. Smoking this mold can cause a fungal infection called Aspergillosis which weakens the immune system and can lead to coughing, fevers, chest pains, and difficulty breathing.


Cannabis can sometimes be covered with the mold Penicillium which causes an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to Penicillin. Similarly, Botrytis Cinerea can also cause an allergic reaction and lead to respiratory issues for some marijuana users. Cladosporium, on the other hand, can produce mycotoxins which cause fevers, asthma attacks, and even health problems such as lung infection (pneumonia) in some cases.


Moldy weed and weed covered in powdery mildew should be thrown out since it may contaminate all of your living cannabis plants.
 
Not worth the risk, even for edibles
I would chuck it unless you're desperately short
You can water cure it in H2O2 for butter but I can't recommend it
 
Pretty much every argument so far has been about smoking and lung problems.

I’m not trying to argue in favor of using moldy marijuana. I’m just trying to understand if eating butter made with cannabis that has some mold is problematic.

I would bet people eat mold all the time, unknowingly.

Many products have mold due to the entire production process.

I don’t know enough to have an opinion about the differences between mold on bread or nuts or coffee versus on weed.
 
Roy Growin said:
Not worth the risk, even for edibles
I would chuck it unless you're desperately short
You can water cure it in H2O2 for butter but I can't recommend it
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zuraya said:
Pretty much every argument so far has been about smoking and lung problems.

I’m not trying to argue in favor of using moldy marijuana. I’m just trying to understand if eating butter made with cannabis that has some mold is problematic.

I would bet people eat mold all the time, unknowingly.

Many products have mold due to the entire production process.

I don’t know enough to have an opinion about the differences between mold on bread or nuts or coffee versus on weed.
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Roy answered perfectly and it’s likely no one here is going to tell you to eat moldy weed (knowingly)
 
zuraya said:
Pretty much every argument so far has been about smoking and lung problems.

I’m not trying to argue in favor of using moldy marijuana. I’m just trying to understand if eating butter made with cannabis that has some mold is problematic.

I would bet people eat mold all the time, unknowingly.

Many products have mold due to the entire production process.

I don’t know enough to have an opinion about the differences between mold on bread or nuts or coffee versus on weed.
Click to expand...
i had something similar on a few of my buds this past summer, mostly it was simple to wipe off and pick out. i didnt get sick from smoking it, however, there are different molds and as stated above in another post, it can be dangerous for those who have weakened immunity, or allergic reactions. Years ago, there was some mexican swag going around that was full of fungus/mold. it actually hospitalized people and caused a few deaths.
 
zuraya said:
I’m not trying to argue in favor of using moldy marijuana. I’m just trying to understand if eating butter made with cannabis that has some mold is problematic.
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similar health risks to eating rotten produce.


zuraya said:
I would bet people eat mold all the time, unknowingly.
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there are thousands of different types. not all are harmful, many are used in fermentation.

zuraya said:
Many products have mold due to the entire production process.
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specific types are encouraged in things like cheese making. different molds grow on different surfaces.

 
The thing about molds that is concerning is the number of people who do not realize that there are many molds, mildews that are safer than they realize. They grew up with someone saying "don't eat that, it's moldy" and "mold will make you sick". They then use that same feeling when they are growing their Cannabis plants.

I am thinking about the growers who are in a panic state when they see some white or light gray fungus looking strands growing on top of, or just under, the surface of the soil their plant is in. They end up removing this mycelium that is a natural organic part of the breaking-down of the organic material that they are growing in. The grower often says that they are ready to toss the plant and the pot of soil along with the bag that the soil mix was in.

zuraya said:
I would bet people eat mold all the time, unknowingly.
Many products have mold due to the entire production process.
Click to expand...
Molds, which are a type of fungus, can be part of our everyday diet. Think of the people who will have a pizza with pepperoni, a sausage made with mold as part of the process. And the yeast, another fungus, that is used in making the pizza dough and everyday breads. And some people love having mushrooms, a member of the fungus family, as a topping for their pizza.

We get powdery mildews on cannabis leaves whether growing inside or outdoors. The spores are floating in the air and occasionally one lands on something where it can grow. Powdery Mildew also grows on many of the vegetables and fruits we eat.

I don’t know enough to have an opinion about the differences between mold on bread or nuts or coffee versus on weed.
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The types of mold or fungus that grows on bread can be different than what is growing on a pile of nuts or coffee grounds.

Pretty much every argument so far has been about smoking and lung problems.

I’m not trying to argue in favor of using moldy marijuana. I’m just trying to understand if eating butter made with cannabis that has some mold is problematic.
Click to expand...
The temperatures that will kill most molds are close to or slightly higher than what is used for a typical decarbing process. It might still be a problem depending on how long the mold has to be in the oven before all of it is killed. And, even if the temperatures and times have done the job there is the problem with off tastes that might be left because of the molds.

Speaking of molds, I am surprised that no one has mentioned recent news articles that appeared over the past two weeks. These articles are about the two Cannabis growers in New York state who have died from a mold that got into their lungs. They both were using a bat guano as part of fertilizing their plants. Each used a different source for the guano; one bought the stuff on-line and the other collected what he needed from a local bat colony.

They did not get sick from smoking or eating their product. It was that the spores were in the air where they were working on their plants. Below is one of the many articles that have appeared over the past couple of weeks.

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/the-negative-effects-bat-guano-brings-to-cannabis-cultivation
 
SmokingWings said:
The thing about molds that is concerning is the number of people who do not realize that there are many molds, mildews that are safer than they realize. They grew up with someone saying "don't eat that, it's moldy" and "mold will make you sick". They then use that same feeling when they are growing their Cannabis plants.

I am thinking about the growers who are in a panic state when they see some white or light gray fungus looking strands growing on top of, or just under, the surface of the soil their plant is in. They end up removing this mycelium that is a natural organic part of the breaking-down of the organic material that they are growing in. The grower often says that they are ready to toss the plant and the pot of soil along with the bag that the soil mix was in.


Molds, which are a type of fungus, can be part of our everyday diet. Think of the people who will have a pizza with pepperoni, a sausage made with mold as part of the process. And the yeast, another fungus, that is used in making the pizza dough and everyday breads. And some people love having mushrooms, a member of the fungus family, as a topping for their pizza.

We get powdery mildews on cannabis leaves whether growing inside or outdoors. The spores are floating in the air and occasionally one lands on something where it can grow. Powdery Mildew also grows on many of the vegetables and fruits we eat.


The types of mold or fungus that grows on bread can be different than what is growing on a pile of nuts or coffee grounds.


The temperatures that will kill most molds are close to or slightly higher than what is used for a typical decarbing process. It might still be a problem depending on how long the mold has to be in the oven before all of it is killed. And, even if the temperatures and times have done the job there is the problem with off tastes that might be left because of the molds.

Speaking of molds, I am surprised that no one has mentioned recent news articles that appeared over the past two weeks. These articles are about the two Cannabis growers in New York state who have died from a mold that got into their lungs. They both were using a bat guano as part of fertilizing their plants. Each used a different source for the guano; one bought the stuff on-line and the other collected what he needed from a local bat colony.

They did not get sick from smoking or eating their product. It was that the spores were in the air where they were working on their plants. Below is one of the many articles that have appeared over the past couple of weeks.

https://www.cannabissciencetech.com/view/the-negative-effects-bat-guano-brings-to-cannabis-cultivation
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oh yeah them poor souls died from using contaminated bat guano. the one guy had some immunity issues, where the 2nd man actually was using the bat droppings he found in the attic. not sure but i dont think thats a good idea to begin with. lol
and bat poop isnt safe to inhale when you are faced with a huge pile in a cave setting...hahahha spludunking in bat poo.

side note: if it stinks good, its probably still good..if it stinks bad, smells rotten and soured, toss it out and don't chance it.

Yeah i always wondered why rabbit droppings arent used as a better source? it is full of benefits for your garden and can be used in different ways. especially teas!! its not as 'hot' as bat guano, making it safer for noob growers. plus rabbits are easy to obtain, you can cuddle them, BBQ them, they dont carry rabies...many benefits to bunny-poops.

also!! LSD is made from the mold found on black rye bread. Ergot. 😉
 
JiggiLotus said:
also!! LSD is made from the mold found on black rye bread. Ergot. 😉
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that's how the natural substance was discovered. your 70's blotter fun was nowhere near a deli sandwich though.
 
bluter said:
that's how the natural substance was discovered. your 70's blotter fun was nowhere near a deli sandwich though.
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true. the easiest way to grow ergot is with uncultured rye seed, soak it in sugar water, drain, spread the rye seed in a pyrex dish, seran wrap it, set it in the dark.
Screenshot_20250101_104331_Chrome.jpg

then begins the simple process that requires a rice cooker, some copper tubing and a few other things and voila! the contents collecting in the jar at the end of the tube is your liquid trip mind expansion.

Madam Lotus approved. 👍
🌈🪷🫠
 
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