By Gabriel Moya – Manager, Unser/McMahon
Maximizing the medicinal value and the overall effect of your cannabis begins with learning what to look for, and how to choose what’s right for you. Since the effects of cannabis vary from person-to-person, it’s important to consider their basic elements and the experience they produce.
- Aroma – A common quote in the cannabis industry is “Your nose knows,” meaning that if you like the smell of a strain’s terpenes its highly likely that you will enjoy the effect of the strain.
- Color – Look for vivid hues of dark green to purple and the presence of orange and red hairs. The red hairs are called stigmas and, although it is not always the case, high-potency buds tend to have a lot of hairs.
- Trichomes – Look for sugary crystals on the surface of the flower—these are called trichomes and have high concentrations of cannabinoids, terpenes, and THC.
- Density – The ideal density varies by strain; buds that are dense and hold more mass are a good indicator that they came from a healthier plant than buds that are fluffy or “larfy.”
- Texture – When your flower breaks down, it should have a sticky but dry texture, this is good sign that there is a high amount of trichomes within the buds.
- Seedless – It is highly uncommon for seeds to be found in high-quality cannabis strains; the presence of seeds usually means the plant wasn’t grown in a controlled environment…although finding a seed in your favorite bud could be like “finding a pearl in an oyster.”
- Trimmed – A tedious manicure ensures that only the richest parts are the flower are sold; only leaf that is covered in trichomes called “sugar leaf” is sometimes kept.
- Live Weighed – This deli-style weighing process allows patients to see the product they will be purchasing, the container it came from, and (post COVID) to take a whiff of its terpene profile. Pre-packaged flower not only restricts the patient from monitoring their purchase amount, but the quality of the cannabis leaves much to be imagined.
- Testing – As a business requirement, dispensary flower is to be thoroughly analyzed through a third-party lab that can reveal cannabinoid percentages (THC, CBD, THCV), terpene profiles and, most importantly, the cleanliness of the flower.
- Percentage Shopping – A common mistake made by patients is to base their purchase decision on the percentage of THC. While data indicates that a strain with a higher THC percentage will have a stronger psychoactive effect, a high THC percentage has the potential to heighten anxiety and exacerbate pain. The best experience is produced from strains that are rich in terpenes and all other cannabinoids, not just THC.
Everest Apothecary takes great pride in serving our community and providing every patient with the right product for their medical needs. Please stop by or call any location and one of our Patient Care Technicians will be more than happy to provide more information regarding cannabis and how to elevate your experience.
Sources Cited
Hyde, Will. “Leafly’s Visual Quality Guide to Selecting Cannabis.” Leafly, 30 Sept. 2020, www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/leaflys-visual-quality-guide-to-selecting-cannabis.
“Why Does Cannabis Need to Be Lab Tested?” Weedmaps, 16 Sept. 2020, weedmaps.com/learn/the-plant/does-cannabis-need-to-be-tested.
