Moldy Marijuana - Uncovering the Risks and Essential Facts

Last month The Wall Street Journal reported that moldy marijuana is making its way to consumers. Troubling thought when you consider the health risks associated with mold exposure.

How is this happening?

Once marijuana was legalized in many states, growers for a number of reasons (such as security, year-round production, quality/consistency, protection from pests, etc.) shifted to using indoor facilities to cultivate it and meet supply and demand. Unfortunately, these indoor environments can create humid conditions that can spur mold growth.

In states where marijuana is legal, growers must employ laboratories to test for mold and other contaminants. These laboratories perform their analysis using lab cultures or PCR testing. And yet despite it being a requirement sadly some states do not even have set standards for testing and some labs may even be even underreporting contaminant concentrations – at least according to the WSJ study.

What was the scope of the study?

The WSJ requested testing data from the 37 states that have legalized marijuana and received results from 18. Of those only 9 states reported comprehensive data on about 2M samples which the WSJ used for its article. Within this data set, a disproportionate number of samples tested were just below the legal limits when compared with those above the limits.

Statistical experts believe this unlikely pattern suggests that tainted samples are being approved for sale. And is it any wonder why? The Journal’s analysis revealed that labs passing a higher percentage of samples gained more business over time. Data from 2014-2024 showed that labs detecting less mold year-over-year tested 28% more samples the following year, while competitors reporting more contamination tested 50% fewer samples.

Health risks of moldy cannabis

Whether it be mold from cannabis or mold from another form of exposure, the result is the same. Continued exposure to mold can cause medical issues. Since mold spores are tiny and can be easily inhaled into the lungs when you breathe, exposure is easy.

For healthy individuals, limited mold exposure could cause short term symptoms such as throat irritation, coughing, headaches and nausea and/or vomiting. Mold exposure can also cause upper respiratory distress, wheezing, sinus pain, lung infections, lethargy, brain fog, fatigue and even chest pain.

For individuals with weakened immune systems, mold can make them even more susceptible to infections that could be life-threatening. Mold can also exacerbate existing health conditions such as Parkinson’s, MS, asthma, etc.

So, what are the moldy marijuana dangers?

One big issue is that there is no quick way to diagnose an illness caused my mold and mold toxicity is often overlooked by conventional medicine. According to a 2020 review of insurance claims, cannabis users are nearly four times as likely as nonusers to be infected with mold fungi such as Aspergillus. Since more and more states are legalizing marijuana, the use is only increasing and with that comes increased exposure.

How to spot moldy weed

Here are a few things to consider when trying to determine if you have moldy marijuana:

Appearance – When inspecting your marijuana for mold you must first be able to distinguish between that and the trichomes which are native to the plant. Trichomes almost always are uniform in color and grow across the plant whereas mold can be patchy and be white or grayish in appearance – sometimes even having dark spots. It can even be found as white, brown or black fuzz growing inside the buds. Since mold can also grow on edible products like gummies and cookies too you should also check that. Moldy edibles are not safe for consumption so if you see a white, powdery substance similar to the mold that grows on other foods discard.
Smell – While many already find the smell of marijuana itself stinky and offensive under normal conditions, moldy marijuana is said to have a musty, old smell that some users even compare to wet hay, sweat, or urine.
Taste – Users report that moldy marijuana often has a metallic, chemical, bitter, or even rotten taste.

Mold and cannabis safety

Well, if you are determined to use marijuana you should take the necessary steps to ensure you are using safe products.

Inspect your marijuana’s appearance, smell, and taste as discussed above in “How to spot moldy weed.”
Only purchase through a trusted dispensary.
Check to see if the marijuana you are purchasing has been tested for contaminants by a state regulated laboratory. You may need to do some research of your own there given possible integrity issues.
Practice cannabis mold prevention tips by keeping it in an airtight container to protect it from moisture and maintain a stable temperature and humidity.