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According to U.S. News & World Report, from October 2015 to October 2016, the number of packages containing weed or weed products rose by over 18 percent over the previous two time periods (October 2014-15 and October 2013-14).

Shipping weed through the mail is a federal crime – even though half the states in the country have legalized marijuana in some form.

Although data is still being collected and analyzed, two of the reasons for this increase are thought to be the following:

• Better detection techniques and strategies
• Better interaction and communication between law enforcement agencies

This rise comes despite the 4% decrease in the number of arrests for mailing controlled substances overall.

The Risks of Mailing Weed

Although shipping marijuana is a great way to share and distribute weed, and people do it every day without consequence, it is very stressful because you’re playing with fire.

The only way to completely avoid trouble is not shipping weed at all – and if you do, don’t mail more than 28 grams (one ounce) because any punishment rises significantly at that point.

Under the Controlled Substances Act, cannabis marijuana is still mysteriously considered a Schedule I drug, which, according to the United States government, means it has great potential for being abused; it also means that it’s not accepted as medicine. Trafficking a Schedule I drug can result in prison time if more than 28 grams is shipped. Shipping weed of more than 50 grams means any sentence will worsen dramatically.

If you do insist on shipping marijuana, it’s good to possess a valid medical marijuana card that allows for the possession, transport, and consumption of medical marijuana. However, be aware that this is not always bulletproof.

Let’s take a look at some of the risks:

• • Getting caught – obviously, this is your biggest threat because you’re breaking both federal and state laws, which means you could be staring at jail time. Hope you know a good lawyer.
  • Getting lost – for some people, a lost package is worse than anything else because it represents not just lost weed but also lost money. However, keep one thing in mind if a package you send is ever lost: don’t send another package to that address for some time because you never know if the authorities are laying a trap for you.
  • Various charges – for mailing marijuana, you can be charged with a federal crime and/or a state crime in the state from which the shipment originated and/or the state to which it was shipped. Charges can be compounded for the quantity or amount of marijuana; even sending edibles through the mail can put you at risk. Other charges can apply, as well, such as trafficking.
  • Reward system – Unfortunately, this is not for you, the shipper. Instead, this is for employees of the U.S. Postal Service and private carriers such as UPS, FEDEX, and DHL. For information that leads to the convictions of those who mail illegal substances, workers are offered up to $50,000 as a “reward”.Be aware, though, that this does not target just the sender; if you’re the recipient, even unknowingly, you could be charged with conspiracy to distribute an illegal substance.

Mailing Marijuana – Does It Matter Where I Ship It?

Yes and no. So let’s take a look at specifics:

Mailing Weed Over State Lines

If marijuana is shipped over state lines, it is ruled to be interstate commerce, which means it falls under the jurisdiction of the DEA and the feds. This magnifies the seriousness of any charges you’re subject to.

We strongly recommend not shipping marijuana over state lines.

Mailing Marijuana From One Legal State to Another

The answer is: DON’T DO IT. It’s illegal, although half of the remaining states had legalized weed, it’s considered ‘to be interstate trafficking.’

Sending marijuana is always under the Controlled Substances Act (law signed into law in 1970 by the former president Richard Nixon) marijuana is considered as a Schedule 1 drug ‘those with currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.’ So, yes, even sending a small amount from one legal state to another, it’s not worth breaking a federal law!

Mailing Instate – The Best Way To Mail Weed

If you want to increase your chances of mailing weed safely, keep it in state. This is, by far, the best way to mail weed.

Still, ship it properly to avoid unwanted detection and hassle.

In fact, many law enforcement officials are on record saying that they don’t want to waste time on trivial marijuana cases, so if you do ship weed, wrap it and package it well.

Mailing Weed Internationally

If we have problems sending marijuana between legal states, imagine shipping it internationally… First of all: it has to go through customs. Your weed will be a lot of x-rayed when it arrives at the country and if you get caught, the law is even worse when you send drugs internationally. So, we don’t recommend this, AT ALL.

The Real World

As you know, however, this is the real world, not a fantasy. That means mailing weed safely is not guaranteed despite any precautions you take.

It also means that the Feds don’t always abide by the Constitution or respect states’ laws and/or individual rights when it comes to shipping weed. Raids still happen and having packages seized is still common, which could result in various types of trouble, such as arrest at gunpoint or the freezing of bank accounts.

Furthermore, feds and other law enforcement have upgraded their drug detection systems, such as x-ray scanners, to detect marijuana or pick up images that can get you in trouble.

They also use drug-sniffing dogs to detect odors permeating from packages, containers, and even plastic bags. To increase your chances of avoiding trouble from shipping weed, use airtight bags that zip tight and keep the skunky smell out; remember, a dog’s sense of smell is as much as 100 times more sensitive than yours. If you can smell something, you know the dogs will; and even if you don’t, the dogs still might.

One thing to always keep in mind: though shipping marijuana within your state might be less risky, it’s still subject to the strict interpretation of the overzealous Feds, who might do anything to capture or arrest you, regardless of the law.

With the legalization of Cannabis in some states, new weed delivery companies are starting to appear,  and you can order weed and weed related products online. If you’re planning on ordering with Eaze we recommend you to check our Eaze coupon code article where we constantly update and add all the new coupon codes.

And another safe and great way to ship marijuana is to get a weed subscription box. The vast majority of those products only send paraphernalia, but some other (as The Club M) send weed products directly to your house.

What Makes a Package Suspicious?

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There are a variety of things that can raise suspicion from shipping employees and postal inspectors.

• Shipping weed box or other items Express (next day service)
• Using Priority (two- to three-day service)

Because these methods can’t be opened without a warrant, allow for tracking, provide specific delivery times, and have a high shipping weight limit (up to 70 pounds) – which make them more reliable, secure, and discrete – they raise a lot of red flags.

Other red flags include the following:

• Names of sender and/or recipient not associated with the address
• Fake return addresses
• Non-existent businesses
• Handwritten labels
• No phone number on labels
• Packages in brown paper
• Heavily taped packages
• Packages mailed to or from commercial mail drops

Basic DON’Ts of Shipping Marijuana

To increase your chances of successfully shipping weed, here are a few things to avoid:

• Heavily taping the package seams
• Reusing previous packages or a careless wrapping
• Not masking the smell
• Misspelling names or addresses
• Writing false return addresses or nonexistent ZIP codes
• Pictures or excess markings on the package
• Restrictive markings, such as “personal,” “confidential,” or “do not x-ray”
• Redistribution of weight is felt when package is moved or tilted.
• List a sender or receiver name of a common type (Such as John Smith)
• Originate from a drug source state

Which Shippers Should You Use To Ship Weed (And Avoid)?

Believe it or not, the carrier you use is important, as not all of them treat the act of shipping weed the same.

Mailing Cannabis Through USPS (U.S. Postal Service)

• • • Pros: it’s cheap, fast, and you need not write a return address
    • Con: it falls under the jurisdiction of the Feds (DEA, FBI, etc.)

The USPS is an agency of the federal government, so it must obey federal guidelines to the letter. Under U.S. Code 1716, it’s a felony to use the U.S. Postal Service as a method for mailing marijuana, even within the territorial limits of pot-legal states such Washington, Colorado, and California.

Thus, you might be surprised to learn that many veteran shippers prefer the USPS to UPS, DHL, and/or FEDEX because it has clear requirements restricting the number of random package inspections. This protection falls under the Fourth Amendment, which states that postal inspectors can only get a search warrant when it’s based on probable cause.

Otherwise, employees are not allowed to open and inspect mail and parcels.

However, you can be busted and subject to punishment such as fines and/or jail time if the following applies:

• • • USPS employees are allowed, via a search warrant, to open a package suspected of containing marijuana
    • The package has traveled or will travel over state lines
    • Marijuana is illegal in a given state
    • The quantity shipped is over specified state limits

According to the USPS itself, the Fourth Amendment protects first class letters and parcels from being searched and seized.

Don’t forget a crucial tidbit, though – federal law trumps all other laws of the land, including state laws. Thus, mailing marijuana is illegal regardless of method of transport.

Shipping weed via the USPS offers a modicum of protection against search and seizure, which understandably seems to make it the safest way to ship marijuana. Yet, as a Federal entity, the US postal service complies and works with the DEA to enforce anti-trafficking laws. And once a package containing marijuana crosses state lines, it’s instantly a federal crime, which exacerbates the issue considerably.

The consequences? It comes in the form of punishment of up to a year in federal prison and/or a fine as high as $250,000.

Sending Weed Through UPS, FEDEX, and DHL

• • • Pros: they’re private companies
    • Cons: Employees steal and you’re required to put a return address

These private entities have the right to open and inspect any package at their own discretion and without any cause for suspicion. They are not federal agencies, so if they come across a suspicious package, they don’t have to obtain a warrant to open, search, and seize it.

In fact, it’s been ruled by the Supreme Court that the act of allowing a private third-party entity to handle your package means you forfeit the right to any expectation of privacy.

Even worse, these large private carriers have shown time and again that they are willing to comply with federal regulations and cooperate with federal law enforcement to crack down on mailing marijuana and other illegal drug trafficking offenses via courier. Here are two of the more famous recent examples of this:

• • • In 2013, UPS was forced to pay a settlement of $40 million for a federal probe into shipping drugs from illegal online pharmacies.
    • In 2014, FedEx was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances because it was deemed responsible for transporting illegal painkillers and other prescription drugs.

Although neither case involved shipping marijuana, it’s proof that private carriers such as UPS, DHL, and FEDEX will comply with the Feds and monitor packages for illegal drugs.

Do These to Limit Your Risks

You’ve already read about what not to do should you insist on mailing marijuana. But here are several things you can do to limit your risks of getting in major trouble:

• • • Use vacuum-sealed bags
    • Layer the weed
    • a-  Layer the marijuana with several bags – the first bag contains the weed and should be sealed tightly. Then put that bag inside several other ones to keep the odor at bay
    • b-  To further prevent any trace of odor, each of the additional bags should be washed with soap and water after each bag is added
    • Avoid using masking scents
    • a-  Scents do not cover up other scents
    • b-  Besides, dogs smell all scents
    • Use a brand new box
    • Apply a shipping label
    • If you’re required to put a return address is required, don’t use the name of an individual
    • a-  Instead, use a business name
    • Send via U.S. Postal Service
    • a-  Send priority mail
    • b-  Pay with cash

These things are the difference between the recipient enjoying their weed or both of you ending up in court.

FINAL WORD

Legalization of marijuana continues to sweep the country, and the legal medical and recreational marijuana marketplace continues to grow.

So, too, does the lure of shipping weed through the mail, which makes it easy to get complacent.

Don’t be fooled. Be diligent about shipping marijuana through the mail.

Although half the states in the country plus the District of Columbia have legalized weed, shipping marijuana through the postal system or via courier remains illegal. And because of this increase in the number of states legalizing weed, the DEA is keeping a close eye of packages being shipped now more than ever.

Federal law still considers marijuana illegal, and despite being legal in 25 states, mailing weed or transporting it across state lines is still illegal.

The bottom line is this – you’re still committing a crime anytime you’re mailing marijuana.

If you leave in some of the medical states, you should check the best weed delivery services as an alternative to mailing edibles or weed.

It’s happened to everyone:

You’re about to start a sesh soon or you’re already in the middle of one, and someone commits the ultimate party foul:

Bong breakage!

And you don’t have a backup.

What do you do? Especially in the middle of the night and you don’t live in a big city?

That’s right…

You build a makeshift bong.

But how to make a bong?

It’s not difficult, actually – you just need a few basic things and follow a few steps and VOILA! The sesh continues…

The Basics of How to Make a Homemade Bong

If you’re already an expert maker of makeshift bongs, you may want to skip down to our list of Top 25 Homemade Bongs.

Otherwise, here’s the basic breakdown of how to make a bong.

You’ll need materials to make the following pieces of the homemade bong:

Each piece of the DIY bong is best constructed of certain materials while other materials should be completely avoided. It’s likely that you’ll need a handful or more of things lying around the house, not just one or two.

Let’s take a more detailed look:

1. The Chamber

This is the main part of the makeshift bong, and there are many different things you can use to construct it, especially the following:

• Any type of canister, carton, or tube-like object

2. Hole for Downstem Hole

Make a hole near the bottom of the chamber you’ve chosen from above. Ideally, it should be around 2 inches (5cm) away. The hole itself should be between 1/8 inch (3mm) and ¼ inch (6mm) in diameter.

The hole is where the smoke will enter the chamber from the bowl and stem. So, it needs to be sealed tightly with sealant or tape.
The tighter the hole is around the stem, the better, so this will be the first real test of your skills!

3. Tube for Downstem

Whichever material you use, place it in the hole from above that you’ve just created. Common materials include:

• • Pen tube (that you might have hollow out yourself

Regardless of your choice, insert it in at a positive angle so that you won’t wet your weed and ruin the sesh.

4. Make It Air Tight!

To get the effect you want from your homemade bong, this is crucial. Smoke will exit the bong in the wrong place and ruin the effect if the hole for the tube isn’t sealed tightly enough. If your sealant isn’t effective, or you don’t have any, use gum or tape or even glue.

So, how do you know if it’s sufficiently airtight? Put it to the test: put your hand near or over the seal and blow through the mouthpiece. Do you feel air? If yes, it’s not tight. You may need to attach a rubber grommet to seal it better.

5. Add the Bowl

At the end/top of the tube, add the bowl. If you have an extra glass bowl, that will definitely work.

If not, a homemade bowl will be necessary. Attach rolling papers or even tin foil, though we don’t recommend it because of the toxic fumes that are given off. So choose a safe material for your bowl before inhaling.

6. Add Water

Fill your makeshift bong chamber with water until the tube is underwater by at least an inch. It’s a delicate balance, though, as too much water suffocates the weed. Also, if you fill it up more than one inch, it reduces the amount of smoke in the chamber when you inhale.

Either way, you don’t get the effects you’re looking for.

7. Don’t Forget the Carb

This is also called the clearing hole, and it should be bored with a pen or paper clip about halfway (or slightly lower) down the chamber of your homemade bong. However, don’t make it too low or water will spill out whenever you take a hit.

This hole prevents too much smoke in the chamber, as, without the carb, there’s not enough oxygen for the toke to be effective. However, if it’s too high, too much oxygen gets in and dilutes the effects you’re looking for.

8. Take It for a Test Toke

The best part of homemade bong construction: the toke test.

So, load up your favorite strain in the bowl, cover the carb with your finger – and let ‘er rip!

9. Enjoy the Effects

Need more be said? Uncover the carb during your long, hard toke – and then exhale

Concerns and Worries

Tokers are known for their sense of adventure and carefree spirit, but if you’re a medical patient or if you’re concerned about the welfare of your smoke buddies, nearby pets, and more – heed some of the following cautions:

• • A plastic straw is not a good replacement for a pipe – it’s too weak and the plastic gives off harmful fumes

• • Aluminum foil is not a good idea for a bowl – as with plastic, aluminum gives off harmful vapors when being burned – it’s known to hurt your throat and damage lungs and sometimes worse

• • Avoid fruits that are juicy or mushy, except in a dire pinch.
    • • Oranges and kiwis may be too juicy to get the proper toking efficiency
    • Bananas are too mushy in consistency and don’t always react well to flame

• Avoid tape and similar types of adhesives when possible because of the harmful vapors they can put out when heated

If You Seem to Find Yourself

Frequently Making DIY Bongs,

Here Are Some Basics

To Keep around the House

To prevent stress from a bong mishap, especially if you it seems to happen frequently during your seshes, why not keep a few basics around the house? You’ll always be prepared and be ready for anything.

For example, once you finish a ballpoint pen (or it gets low on ink), keep it around. This will ensure you always have enough tube materials lying around. You can even share with your BFFs.

Aluminum foil, despite the risks, is handy for connecting pieces of the homemade device. However, as we mentioned above, do your best not to use foil as a bowl.

Toothpicks are great for constructing a screen, especially on a fruit bong.

Seasonal fruit – watermelons, cantaloupes, and melons in the summer and pumpkin or large Asian pears in fall and winter – are always good to carry in the fridge, just in case. Year-round staples include carrots, bell peppers, and apples – keep all three handy for makeshift bongs in addition to their health benefits.

While recycling is the best thing for plastic bottles, it’s hard to beat a different version recycling plastic bottles and going “green”: save the bottles for those “no-bong” emergencies.

Even if you don’t have this type of sweet tooth, keeping some sticky, chewy candy such as gum or soft sour candies is strongly suggested. In addition to being chewed while you concentrate on constructing your marijuana masterpiece, a piece of gum or Starburst is also an excellent adhesive for a makeshift bong.

Finally, peanut butter is also great as a sealant.

Now, let’s take a look at some homemade bongs that will have you shaking your head in either wonder or concern.

The 25 Most Innovative Homemade Bongs EVER!!!

That is not hyperbole. We dare you to submit a photo of a makeshift bong that you think is more genius and innovative than the following 25 bongs.

No, makeshift bongs are no replacement for a professionally designed and constructed one. However, you sometimes won’t have access to one, and those times call for innovation.

If you’re bad at it, then it’s probably just a one-time thing. If you’re a better engineer and/or architect, you might be able to build one you can toke on multiple times.

However, now that you’ve been given the basics of how to make a bong, it’s time to check out what your fellow tokers have been up to.

Here are 25 innovative bongs – some are wildly so – that could inspire you to create your own masterpiece sometime.

1. The Enterprise Bong

Looks like a certain starship brings new meaning to warp speed – if you hit it too fast, that’s exactly how your high will be…

2. A Healthy High

Creative enough that one nutritious fruit wasn’t enough. Who said getting high wasn’t healthy?

3. A Water Bottle Bong of Weed

Not only does this enterprising innovator recycle the weed bottle, he double-bottles the chamber for an impressive two-story water bottle bong.

4. Homemade Bong Curls

We’re not really sure about this DIY bong, but it looks like elbow grease is a necessary component in hitting it for full effect.

5. Sore Throat Bong

Some people see a bottle of sweet syrup fit for a cough – others see the basis of their next smoke sesh.

We say kudos for thinking outside the box.

6. Valentine Bong

No, it’s not shaped like a heart nor is it red. However, it’s a twist on the old adage “dinner for two”: toking for two.

7. Breath Bong

If the mints are saved, then this sesh will kill two birds with one stone – achieve the high and keep minty-fresh breath after your smoke.

8. Don’t Stop Gaming Bong

This has all the makings of a double sesh that won’t end until week’s end. Hope he’s stocked up on water and snacks! Or even you can create one with your game controller!

9. Bong-O’-Lantern

A perfect example of why Halloween has become such an adult day of fun. Trick or treating has come a long way since childhood.

10. Mix n’ Match Versatility

Plastic containers are usually good for keeping food fresh or prolonging the life of your leftovers. Who knew you could mix n’ match for a stackable DIY bong?

11. Finally a Good Use for “Enhanced” Water

Since most of these fancy water companies are usually putting nothing more than ordinary tap water and giving it a fancy name all in the name of capitalism, we applaud the use of this bottle – in the name of peace and good vibes.

12. A Gravi-Tea Bong

An innovator readies for a sesh with a unique spin on the gravity bong phenomenon. It doesn’t even look like a homemade bong.

13. Salt Shaker Bong

A perfect makeshift bong for those nights when you get the munchies for French fries.

14. The Poke Bong

It’s hard to tell from the picture, but the chamber is actually fashioned from a character in everyone’s favorite Japanese favorite video game.

15. Merry Bong-mas

If all ornaments were really homemade bongs, more people would believe in Santa Claus. He might even take a hit off your DIY bong or bring you a homemade pipe.

16. Bong-le’s Potato Chips

Salt and vinegar chips bring a new taste and smell to your dank flower – better have water handy because that’s going to cause some serious cottonmouth.

17. Fe-Bong Is a Breeze

We’re not sure how safe this really is – make sure to clean out the bottle so there’s no cleaning residue or chemicals remaining. But looks like using it would be a breeze…!

18. We Said Water Bong, Not Water Gun

A water gun is naturally constructed to be easily modified into a water bong. All you need is the weed and someone to pass it to.

19. Honey Bear Bong

And you thought honey was only good on bagels and in tea? The leftover aroma adds a natural sweetness to the dank flavor of your favorite weed. In fact, some brands and online stores have a version of this homemade bong…

20. 007’s PPK Has Nothing On This Bong

James Bong always had cool gadgets and killer weapons. But even Q never created a gun that was also a homemade bong.

21. Playing with Fire Bong

This is literally true. Again, not a makeshift bong we’d recommend, but in a pinch and once thoroughly cleaned…?

Well, they say life’s an adventure – and there’s only one way to prove it.

22. Joy Stick Bong

Playing “Breakout” with a bong-y joy stick would make eliminating those bricks so much more fun!

23. Lego My Bong

Another part of childhood that seems more enjoyable as an adult. Though this homemade bong is probably not safe due to the toxic fumes from being heated, we don’t care – hitting this while building a city would be one incredible sesh.

24. The Epitome Bong

Whenever the phrase “homemade bong” is uttered, if you first think of a plastic water bottle bong (instead of an apple), this is exactly what you envision, isn’t it?

25. The Not-So-Dumb Bong

As with the earlier homemade water bottle bong made with a bottle of pretentious, overpriced tap water, this is a much “smart”er use of the bottle.

If a homemade bong isn’t enough for you, check our best bongs guide!

Whether it’s “dro”, “fire”, “dank weed” or just plain good, it’s sometimes tricky to find high-quality cannabis. Cannabis flowers are dense, which can make it a little tricky to keep dried buds fresh tasting and smooth to inhale. With cannabis access increasing around the world, here is a handy guide to help you know that you bought good weed.

How Do You Know That You Bought Good Weed?

To start, if you want to buy high-quality weed, it helps to know where to go. While there is no doubt that high-quality cannabis can come from a home garden, perfected by the love and care of master growers.

However, unless you happen to know a master grower, finding high-quality cannabis can be difficult. In legal adult-use and medical cannabis states, the best place to find quality cannabis is from reputable dispensaries and compassion centers.

Reading reviews on delivery services can help you figure out which local access points have the good stuff.

The products sold at dispensaries have a higher likelihood of being laboratory tested, which limits consumer exposure to molds and potential pathogens.

Apart from sourcing high-quality herb, there are a few tips to keep in mind when trying to discern high-quality from low-quality cannabis. Here are 15 tips for picking out good weed:

1. Understand the shelving system

At dispensaries, cannabis products are often divided into three different “shelf categories.” These categories are top, middle (mid weed), and bottom. Bottom shelf products tend to be the lowest in price and quality.

Older samples, less potent samples, or products like sugar leaf trim are often make up the lower shelf products.

Middle shelf products are fairly good in quality and average in price. These are some of the most popular products, as they likely provide the most value for your money.

Top shelf products are the highest in price, but the buds that make the cut are the cream of the crop. Generally speaking, if a flower is fetching top-shelf prices, it tends to be higher in potency, cured well, and of excellent quality.

2. Follow your nose

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While it may come as a surprise to some, your nose is one of the main tools you need to discern the quality of your cannabis. Wondering if you bought good weed? High-quality cannabis should smell, well, good.

Cannabis bud that is fresh and has been well-stored and well-cured should have a strong and pleasing aroma. A strong aroma is a sign that the cannabis has not yet been exposed to an abundance of oxygen, which degrades aroma molecules over time.

If a particular flower smells too musty, damp, foul, or has only a very faint scent, these are signs that the sample may be low-quality, exposed to mold, or not cured correctly.

Hoping to find the best bud for you? Find the one that smells the best.

3. Opt for laboratory-tested cannabis products

One of the easiest ways to find high-quality cannabis is to opt for samples that have been laboratory tested.

Samples that have been laboratory tested must show that they have low levels of molds and pathogenic fungus.

They also must show that they are free of residual pesticides, fungicides, and chemical nutrients. All of these factors can diminish the quality of the bud.

Not only do these things affect the taste and smoking experience of cannabis flowers, but the presence of molds and chemical agents can potentially cause negative health consequences.

4. Pick samples with ample visible trichomes

Searching for high-quality marijuana? Check for crystals. Cannabis that has been laboratory tested will tell you the levels of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids in the sample.

However, an easy way to tell whether or not your bud is worthwhile is by the trichome coverage over the plant.

Trichomes are the crystal-like resin glands that coat cannabis leaves and flowers. A tell-tale sign that you bought good weed over shitty weed?

Look for samples that have a thick and shiny trichome coating. The more trichomes, the more likely you are to have a potent cannabis experience.

5. Check for moisture content

Cannabis flowers that are either too wet or too dry are problematic. A properly cured cannabis flower should be kept between 63 and 67 percent humidity.

At this percentage, buds should be able to be broken up easily, but should not crumble apart.

Flowers that are too wet taste poorly and increase the chances of developing molds and mildews.

Cannabis buds that are too dry are difficult to smoke and vaporize. Dry cannabis leads to coughing and lung irritation.

6. Opt for dispensaries that use tongs or chopsticks

No one likes having their bud mishandled. Cannabis flowers are sticky and trichomes are delicate.

Every time your cannabis flower is touched, residue can either stick to the herb or trichomes can break off.

Over time, this makes the cannabis less potent and impacts the overall quality of the product.

If you are picking up cannabis from a dispensary, collective, or compassion center, opt for locations that weigh out material with chopsticks, tongs, or use gloves when working with the product.

This reduces the amount of hands on your cannabis flower.

7. Avoid products that contain visible stems and seeds

Seeds in weed are a good thing if you’re planning to grow, but you don’t typically want to find them in your bud.

Seeds add weight to your flower, meaning that you aren’t getting as much psychoactive goodness from your purchase.

Instead, you’re paying for weighty seeds. Cannabis flowers that have produced seeds are also more likely to be less psychoactive.

When the female cannabis flower puts energy into producing seeds, it allocates fewer resources to developing large psychoactive flowers.

Likewise, cannabis samples that contain a lot of stems are also low-quality.

It is not recommended to smoke or inhale vapor from cannabis stems, though they can be used in teas. When purchased flower contains a fair number of stems, this means that less of the overall weight contains usable cannabis material.

8. Check for color – Avoid brown weed

Cannabis can come in a bouquet of colors. While nearly all cannabis flowers contain green coloration, they can also feature purples, blues, reds, and pinks. What your flower shouldn’t be, however, is brown weed.

Brown coloration on a cannabis flower is a sign that it has been oxidized and is now old. Cannabis buds that contain significant brown coloration will likely be harsh to smoke, low in potency, and may promote a sleepy cannabis experience.

9. Avoid samples with excess leaf material (Leafy weed)

High-quality cannabis has always been given a nice haircut. Prior to being trimmed, the central bud features wispy sugar leaves.

These leaves are typically trimmed away because they feature less resin trichomes than the flower itself.

Cannabis samples that feature a large amount of leafy material will feature less overall THC, CBD, or other cannabinoids per weight purchased.

10. Avoid pre-packaged bud with excess shake

In some locations, like Washington State, cannabis can only be sold in prepackaged containers. When you have to purchase prepackaged flowers, you have less ability to see and smell the sample you’re purchasing.

While budtenders may be able to provide an in-house sample for you to look at and smell, most consumers are left to judge their cannabis by visual appeal.

To make sure you’re picking the high-quality cannabis versus low-quality cannabis, its best to avoid packages that contain a large amount of shake or feature buds that have already broken up inside the package.

Shake is the term for the loose cannabis particles that accumulate after a dried flower is handled and broken apart. Too much shake is also a sign that the cannabis is too dry, which lowers the quality.

11. Cannabis should be sticky to the touch

If you touch or break apart a cannabis bud and it is not sticky weed, the herb is likely not fresh and is too dry.

Cannabis resin should be sticky, slightly clinging to your fingers when you handle the herb.

However, because of this stickiness, it’s important to handle the cannabis flower with clean hands or use a clean utensil like a grinder or scissors to break it apart. Otherwise, you can lose a decent chunk of the resinous trichomes because they stick to your hands.

12. When inhaling, the flower should lack a chemical taste

The final ways to to know that you bought good weed vs bad weed involved the inhalation experience.

When you inhale, high-quality cannabis will not provide consumers with a harsh mineral or chemical taste.

If the flower tastes metallic or harsher than normal, it is a sign that some of the excess nutrients or pesticides have not been flushed from the plant.

Good weed will have a pleasant taste and smooth smoke, though a little coughing may still occur.

Bad weed will have a metallic, musty, chemical, or overly sweet taste. Molds and mildews are responsible for musty and overly sweet tastes.

Residual chemicals cause a metallic, mineralized, or harsh cleaner taste.

13. Inhalation should not cause chest pain

Another sign of bad cannabis is that it causes chest pain upon inhalation.

While it is essential that those with severe chest pain seek medical attention, mild chest pain and discomfort may be a sign that your cannabis is contaminated with residual pesticides, molds, bacteria, or other unsavory items.

A high-quality cannabis strain will offer consumers a pleasant smoking or vaporizing experience, not one that is difficult or excessively harsh.

14. No visible mold

As already mentioned above, cannabis flowers can get moldy. An easy way to spot bad cannabis right off the bat is to look for signs of visible molds and mildews.

Molds and mildews can come in a variety of colors. The most common being grey, white, black, and green.

Smoking or vaporizing moldy cannabis products can be harmful to health.

Not only will these flowers smell and taste poorly, but moldy weed puts consumers at risk of developing lung infections and more severe illnesses.

You know your cannabis is bad if you see visible mold spots between cylaxes or on other parts of the flower. It’s best to avoid cannabis products that show signs of mold and mildew.

15. Avoid purchasing from shady sources

Taking into consideration the cannabis plant’s tendency to mold and retain residual pesticides, it’s best to avoid shady “dealers” when seeking out good weed.

Not only is this cannabis less likely to be laboratory tested for potency and contamination, but it increases the likelihood of running into cannabis that has been adulterated and coated with something else.

For example, a cannabis bud can be rolled in dish soap, salt, and other drugs to make it seem more trichome-dense or potent. While these tactics certainly are not common everywhere, it is important to avoid situations that seem sketchy, dangerous, or make you uncomfortable.