When you purchase cannabis, you want the absolute best stuff, regardless of the price tag, and at the very least, a clean sample of buds that are not dirty or dangerous to smoke. But what if your buds are not clean, and they contain various foreign particles or debris? That’s contaminated cannabis, i.e., buds that contain anything that is not naturally found in the buds.
Usually when you think of the word contaminated, what comes to mind is chemicals or toxic substances, but that may not always be the case. In the context of cannabis, contaminated buds can include everything from dog hair, dust, mold, detergent powder, pesticide residue, etc., and this can occur deliberately or otherwise, depending on the situation.
Contaminated cannabis can be a result of many things, including poor curing and drying, cultivation, or storage practices. Sometimes, it can also occur due to nefarious reasons, when the dealer is trying to make their batch appear more appealing to the customers, usually in terms of the shine or trichome content.
Fortunately, contaminated cannabis is easy to spot. Some contaminations can even be visible to your naked eye, but other times, a simple yet thorough inspection and tasting of the buds can reveal the contamination it may have come with. Of course, the best way to test cannabis for contamination is via a lab test, but let’s stick to the test you can do at home without spending money on testing — unless you’re dealing with cannabis on a commercial scale.
Is Contaminated Cannabis Harmful?
Don’t assume that contaminated cannabis is okay to smoke; it’s not. Contaminated cannabis isn’t like your favorite Chinese take-out restaurant that may sometimes come with a strand of hair or stale veggies. Contaminated cannabis can be seriously harmful to you, depending on the type of contamination.
At the very least, contaminated cannabis is simply not high-quality stuff — that’s enough reason to be wary of such cannabis, especially if you’re paying for it. On a slightly higher scale, contaminated cannabis may be harsh to smoke or produce an uncomfortable high, and sometimes, even a bad trip.
But things take a turn for the worse with some forms of contamination. For example, a cannabis bud contaminated with fungus or mold can lead to various health complications, on the other hand, if the cannabis is laced with something worse, it can be highly carcinogenic or produce nasty side effects that are a quick ticket to the ER. For example, cannabis buds that contain endocrine disruptors can even cause fertility issues in users.
Some cannabis contaminations can be harmful in other ways. Cannabis dealers, at least the unlicensed ones, sometimes lace their samples with addictive drugs to get you hooked on their product. This can lead to addiction. Yes, this is not common these days if you buy legal cannabis, but still something to keep in mind.
So, it’s crucial that you avoid consuming contaminated cannabis in the first place. In a best-case scenario, you might end up with a headache, but in severe cases, you might end up in the ER or even a coffin.
What are the Common Contaminants in Cannabis?
Cannabis contamination is a vast subject and includes various contaminations. The most common contaminants include sugar, dust, hairspray, and mold, but the types are limitless. Some cannabis buds may even be laced with other harmful drugs, rat poison, pesticides, or heavy metals. Let’s take a look at the most common contaminants you may come across.
1. Sand
Sand is perhaps the most common contamination found in cannabis buds from an outdoor garden. You can’t blame anyone here because the grower may not always be able to avoid this, especially considering how sticky cannabis buds get as they mature. However, sand contamination can also occur due to other reasons, like improper storage or transportation.
In rare cases, some ingenious growers may intentionally lace their buds with quartz sand to make them appear shinier. This is dangerous as smoking quartz can lead to silicosis, a serious lung condition that causes inflammation. This usually occurs when the cannabis is laced with a lot of sand and you smoke a lot of it.
2. Debris
Like sand, your cannabis buds may even get contaminated by various debris during cultivation, curing and drying, or storing. They can accumulate dust or other types of debris, but fortunately, this type of contamination is perhaps the safest for you. In most cases, it is harmless, but sometimes, it can cause allergic reactions in some users.
Some of the most common debris contaminating cannabis are:
- Dust that accumulates when cannabis is poorly handled and exposed to dirt
- Insect frass or insect poop, which is somewhat common in outdoor plants, but it is not clear whether this is harmful or not
- Cobwebs, which shouldn’t be a concern in most cases, but high concentrations of this can cause lung irritation
- Bird poop, which should best be avoided
- Insect remains, which won’t harm you but you don’t want to find a worm wiggling in your joint, do you?
- Insect eggs, which are also relatively harmless but can cause irritation
3. Fungus
Fungus or mold is another common cannabis contaminant that is found in many cannabis buds, especially those grown or stored in humid regions. Fortunately, this contaminant is easy to identify with its musty smell and white, fuzzy spots on the surface. This usually occurs when the cannabis is not grown in the right humidity, dried improperly, or stored in a not-so-airtight container.
As easy as it is to identify, it is not a simple or harmless contaminant. The fungus can cause various health issues, including lung infections, headaches, mucus membrane irritation, etc. And if you are allergic to fungus spores or have a weak immune system, it can even be life-threatening.
Fungus or mold also renders your cannabis buds into waste. It is not recommended that you smoke or vape cannabis buds with fungus or mold on them. So, once you spot this problem, the best course of action is to toss the buds in the bin, figure out what may have caused this problem in the first place, and avoid it the next time you purchase cannabis buds.
4. Residual Solvents
Residual solvents — as the name suggests — refer to the chemicals that sometimes remain in extracts or concentrates even after the process of extraction is completed. Manufacturers use these solvents on the buds during the process to separate the terpenes and cannabinoids from the herb. Typically, solvents like propane, CO2, ethane, and propane are used to get the final product.
Solvents left over in cannabis products are dangerous as you tend to inhale or ingest them. Some dangers include:
- Health Risks: Concentrates are safe but residual solvents in them can be irritating to your gastrointestinal and respiratory system, leading to other symptoms like coughing, throat irritation, and digestive discomfort. If you’re exposed to lots of solvents, these problems can be severe.
- Toxicity: Certain solvents such as butane and propane are highly flammable and explode if mishandled. Thus, you should only look to purchase such extracts made of flammable solvents rather than making them at home. Also, prolonged exposure to some solvents could cause neurological problems and organ damage.
Residual solvents are dangerous but you’ll still find them in products because different companies use different extraction methods with no standardization in place. However, not all manufacturers fall into this category. Some companies are diligent and use proper purging practices to make sure that they eliminate the solvents. They do this by introducing the product to heat and vacuum in controlled settings.
Also, most reputed companies use third-party labs to conduct rigorous testing so their products are safe for consumers. These lab tests not only tell you about the amount of cannabinoids present but also detect heavy metals and other contaminants.
That said, you may come across some unscrupulous companies, so the responsibility falls on your shoulders to be vigilant and avoid products that can cause harm. After all, you want to get the benefits of the cannabinoids, which is why you’re using an extract in the first place, so why not ensure that the product you’re consuming is safe?
First off, you should purchase concentrates from trusted dispensaries that stock products that are tested and safe to use. Plus, they meet regulatory standards so you don’t have much to worry about.
Next, we mentioned lab tests. While most companies encourage you to look at the reports, other companies may not follow the same practices. In such cases, avoid these companies.
Most importantly, don't hesitate to ask budtenders or producers about their extraction methods and safety practices. Reputable producers will gladly share information about their processes.
5. Bacteria
Like fungus or mold, your cannabis buds may also be contaminated with bacteria. Fortunately, bacteria don’t produce spores like fungus and are usually destroyed when burnt, so smoking bacteria-infected buds may not be a problem for you. However, it can still get transferred to you via touch, so handling it is more risky.
Some of the most common bacteria found in cannabis buds include salmonella, enterobacter, klebsiella, and streptococcus. These bacteria can cause various conditions like food poisoning-like symptoms or respiratory, lung, or intestinal infections.
6. Hairspray
Hairspray is a notorious contaminant that is used to preserve old cannabis buds from drying out. Sometimes, this product is also used to improve the overall visual appeal of the buds as it makes the buds stickier and shinier.
As you’d expect, smoking hairspray is not recommended by doctors. The compound is not only inflammable but it contains many harsh chemicals that can be harmful to your health. Fortunately, it’s easy to spot buds sprayed with hairspray — they have a strong chemical fragrance and the buds tend to be hard and compact.
7. Sugar
One of the reasons we consume cannabis is to enjoy the rich flavor they have to offer. Strawberry Cough, anyone? Every grower wants their cannabis to taste delicious, but a few growers go a bit too far in ensuring they do. And one of the best — or worst for you — ways of doing that is adding sugar to the buds.
Another reason your cannabis may be contaminated with sugar is if the grower wanted to add dry weight to the buds. This is done by mixing sugar in boiling water and spraying it on the plants. The water evaporates, leaving sugar behind, which gives the buds a sort of pale appearance.
Sugar is a common contaminant in tobacco, so the research that shows the effects of smoking sugar is centric to tobacco smoking, but it’s worth considering. Inhaling sugar can lead to increased formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and acetone in the smoke, which can have severe health effects.
You can test for sugar in your cannabis buds by using glucose tests that are readily available at pharmacy stores.
Brix
Brix is actually a measurement unit for certain carbs and sugars in plants, and since all plants need these two compounds to thrive, you can find many Brix fertilizers in the market to boost the sugar and carbohydrate compounds in the plant. But these fertilizers are also sometimes used to lace cannabis products.
Here, the grower dips their buds in this fertilizer during the curing and drying process to increase the weight of the buds, but since it is related to sugar, we’ve clubbed it in this section. However, the problem with brix-laced cannabis is that it is difficult to identify since the fertilizer is virtually invisible once the buds are harvested. However, you can still get a harsh flavor and chemical aftertaste from buds that are dipped in brix.
8. Lead
Lead is a heavy metal that’s really dangerous for your health, and perhaps the most dangerous cannabis contaminant. You may have heard about lead poisoning, which is the reason why you purchase petrol that is “unleaded” now. This contaminant is difficult to spot and can only be identified with a microscope.
If your cannabis buds are laced with lead dust or splinters, they can cause significant damage to your peripheral and central nervous systems, brain, kidneys, liver, and bones. Lead is especially harmful to unborn fetuses.
There’s even a famous case that occurred in 2007 due to users smoking lead-contaminated cannabis in Leipzig, a German city. 597 users were reported in this case, out of which 163 suffered from lead intoxication, requiring treatment, and 73 users had to remain under medical monitoring for a while to watch out for any symptoms.
And lead poisoning is not something that can be fixed with a few meds and a trip to the ER. Lead accumulates in the teeth and bones, and it can take up to 35 years for it to get washed out of your system entirely. That’s a big price to pay for smoking a doobie.
9. Fertilizers and Pesticides
Many growers use various fertilizers and pesticides while cultivating their cannabis plants, and these products are often vital for healthy plant growth in some regions of the world. The use of fertilizers or pesticides isn’t an issue in itself as they do help the plants thrive better, but if they end up in the final product, it can be a problem.
However, you may never know if your cannabis is contaminated with fertilizers or pesticides unless you get your sample tested by a third-party lab; they are invisible and sometimes don't’ affect the buds' flavors or aromas. But they can be harmful to you.
For example, one of the most common insecticides used on cannabis is pyrethrin, which can cause neurotoxicity or asthma-like symptoms when inhaled.
So how do these products end up contaminating cannabis buds? First, pesticides and fertilizers are not supposed to be applied directly to buds. Second, the grower must take necessary precautions to remove these products from the plant’s system. If the grower makes an error here, these products can end up in the buds.
10. Talcum Powder
Talcum powder is matte white and sometimes feels greasy, which is why some growers sprinkle some talcum powder on their buds to make them appear more resinous. But due to this, the buds may look a bit lighter and smell more of the talc than their natural resins.
Some growers go a step beyond and lace buds with detergent powder, which looks even more shinier. Both talc and soap powder can be dangerous to smoke, leading to respiratory and bronchial tube issues. In fact, smoking too much talc can even cause pulmonary talcosis.
11. Glass
Glass splinters that may contaminate cannabis are not visible to the naked eye, but you can use a pocket microscope to see them. These splinters burst when heat is applied, and the sharp fragments can get in your respiratory system, scarring your respiratory organs, and sometimes, they can even lead to silicosis.
12. Synthetic Drugs
Perhaps the worst kind of cannabis contamination is lacing cannabis with drugs. This is common with illicit cannabis buds, and growers add it to the buds to make the buds more potent or get you hooked onto their products. Usually, synthetic cannabinoids are used, but some contaminated buds can even contain drugs like fentanyl, heroin, or MD.
This is extremely dangerous as, if the grower adds a bit too much, it can make you experience nasty side effects, bad trips, or even an overdose. And if you consume such buds too often, you may even get addicted to the drug in them, and that’s always a slippery slope.
Some dealers use synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as " weed" or "spice,” which are artificially created compounds designed to imitate the effects of naturally occurring cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) found in the cannabis plant. Unlike naturally-derived cannabinoids, these synthetic compounds are typically developed for research purposes or to bypass drug laws and regulations easily.
The presence of such artificial synthetic cannabinoids in cannabis products is a concern for several reasons, one of which is that they are sold in illegal markets. This lack of oversight makes it challenging to ensure the quality and safety of these products. Consumers have no guarantee of what they're consuming.
In addition, such substances can be extremely dangerous and produce varying effects, including hallucinations, paranoia, anxiety, and more. Not only do you risk a fatal addiction, but it can also cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Moreover, different batches of cannabinoids can vary significantly in their composition and potency which makes it almost impossible to understand or study them or predict the effects.
How to Check Cannabis for Contaminants?
We listed the most common contaminants you may find in your cannabis buds, but how exactly do you know that your buds are contaminated? The packaging obviously won’t come with an ingredients list, so you need to take matters into your own hands to identify contaminated cannabis. And here’s how you can do that.
1. Visually Inspect the Buds
When you get your batch of cannabis buds, start by closely inspecting a few buds from the batch. You can use a magnifying glass for this too. This type of inspection will help you identify contaminants like sugar, glass, debris, mold, powder, etc.
Start by looking at the trichomes. If you spot too many white little substances on the buds AND stems that don’t look like regular trichomes, they probably aren’t. Other things you may spot during visual inspection are:
- Dust or debris on the buds — you can clean this, too
- Fungal threads or fuzzy white spots (mold) on the buds
- Gray, black, or brown spots that appear damp or rotting are a sign of bacteria
- A damp aroma, which is a sign of fungal infection
- Chemical aroma, which can come from synthetic contaminants
- Sandy or powdery residue in the original packaging
2. Inspect It With Your Touch
Next up, you need to use your fingers to rub a small piece of bud between your fingers. If you feel the bud to be dry, chalky, or gritty, it is likely laced with spray, sugar, or glass. Some growers also recommend licking the bud with your tongue tip and rubbing it with your lips, but this is not recommended as the chance of accidentally swallowing the contaminant is too high.
3. Smell and Taste Test
Then, you can smell your cannabis buds to check for any unpleasant unexpected aromas. The bud shouldn’t smell like soap, perfume, or talc — it should smell at least a bit like the strain is described on the packaging. Finally, if you experience a weird taste while smoking it, it is likely contaminated — such buds are harsh to smoke and produce a weird aftertaste.
4. Some Other Methods
That’s not it, you can also check if your cannabis buds are contaminated in other ways; however, note that this isn't strictly related to contamination alone. For example, your weed can taste harsh if it's not cured well, even if it's not contaminated.
- The smoke is harsh and chemically and has a weird color, which indicates excessive nutrients, mold, or spray
- The buds are heavier than usual
- The joint sparkles when lit up
- A chemical-like smell takes over the room when you are smoking the joint
- The buds are very fluffy and crumbly (could happen if you dry the weed too much too)
Always check your cannabis for contamination when purchasing it. The problem is not so common anymore, but it persists nonetheless, and it is best to avoid smoking contaminated cannabis.
Can You Treat Contaminated Cannabis?
Yes, you can clean contaminated cannabis buds, but only in some cases — not always. But we recommended just discarding contaminated buds instead of trying to treat them as it’s not worth putting your health at risk.
But if you must treat your contaminated buds, you can try a couple of methods. The first method is to wash the buds with clean water to clean the debris. The second method is irradiation, which can kill bacteria and mold, but you’d need access to medical equipment as this method is used to disinfect surgical equipment.
Realistically speaking, even if you can treat a few cannabis contaminations, it’s not worth it and should best be avoided.
How To Avoid Contaminated Cannabis?
You can always prevent contamination rather than trying to treat it. Here are a few ways to do so:
1. Grow your own cannabis
This is the best way to make sure that you’re consuming or smoking good buds. Since you know what you’re feeding the plants, you can rest assured that you’re safe. However, take some precautions even if you’re growing your own. For instance, avoid spraying the buds with pesticides or fertilizers. Spraying the leaves and stems is probably fine, but not the buds. This is why you have to spray pesticides only during the vegetative stage and avoid it as much as you can when the plant starts flowering. If you don’t have many options, wash the buds properly with plain water before and after you harvest them. Don’t forget to let them dry or you’ll have issues with mold!
2. Opt for Legal Sources
If you can't grow cannabis at home, the next best option is to buy from regulated dispensaries in areas where cannabis is legalized. These businesses adhere to quality control measures and are unlikely to stock illicit products. Typically, they sell products that are safe from contamination. Also, stay away from street drugs as they are usually laced with synthetic cannabinoids or other drugs to get you more high.
3. Review lab test reports
Most legal cannabis products undergo lab testing. These reports contain information regarding the safety and potency of the product. Always remember to carefully examine these reports to know more about what you’re purchasing, including the potency, contaminants, and cannabinoids.
4. Store cannabis properly
You can do everything right but mess up when it comes to storing cannabis. Avoid doing this. For instance, whether you’re growing your cannabis or purchasing it from a dispensary, make sure you store it in an airtight and odor-proof container in a dark area to prevent mold and preserve its freshness.
Summary: How to Identify Contaminated Cannabis?
Cannabis contamination used to be quite common when the industry was not established and cannabis was sold illicitly, but fortunately, things have gotten a lot better since legalization. Companies take great care in ensuring their buds are clean and free of contaminants.
But sometimes, some batches of buds may come with some contaminations. These include deliberate ones like hairspray, talc, or other drugs, but can also be accidental, like mold, debris, insect remains, etc. And unfortunately, it’s not advisable to try and treat contaminated cannabis.
What you can do instead is avoid it in the first place with the following tips:
- Only purchase cannabis from reputable, licensed dealers and dispensaries
- Ask the dispensary for proof of batch testing — the good ones will have one handy
- It's also a great idea to ask the budtender about the origin of the product — who grows them and in what condition
- Avoid purchasing cannabis from the streets, no matter how good the deal might seem
- Always inspect the buds before making the payment
Remember, legally purchased cannabis does not mean it’s inherently free of contamination, but at least the buds won’t be intentionally laced with something. Every grower and dispensary values their license and wouldn’t want to lose it.
Do you know what’s the best way to avoid this problem and save a lot of money? Growing your own cannabis at home. It’s an excellent hobby that rewards you with high-quality buds and you don’t need to trust some stranger; you can do it all yourself. We post regular blogs on growing cannabis, so stay tuned and you’ll be on your way to becoming a great cannabis grower, too!
