Believe it or not: at least 94 million Americans have admitted to using marijuana at least once in their lifetime. So, if you’re interested in things like marijuana quality, then you might want to take a look at the levels of marijuana potency first.

Not sure how to tell the difference between good vs. bad marijuana?

When it comes to high-quality marijuana, we know how to spot top quality weed. Learn more about marijuana potency below!

What Is Marijuana Potency?

Let’s dive into it headfirst, shall we?

First of all, you’ve got to understand basic cannabis terms before you go marijuana shopping. For instance, the term flower refers to the blooms of female cannabis plants. These are also called buds or ‘nugs’.

In case you didn’t know, the flowers are the most intoxicating part of the plant. That’s because its THC content is connected to its “euphoric potency”. On the other hand, flower with a higher percentage of CBD than THC will have less psychoactive effects.

News flash – all of the top CBD oils, tinctures, and edibles come from marijuana with the highest potency levels. To find high potency marijuana, look for weed that contains the following slang:

  • Loud
  • Fire
  • Dank
  • Private reserve

On the flip side, stay away from low potency marijuana that is marketed as:

  • Brick
  • Ditch
  • Bunk

If you want to tell the good from the bad weed, it also helps to differentiate things like flower structure, feel, appearance, and smell of the cannabis that you’ll be consuming. But how do you get started?

How Can I Find Good Weed?

Okay, here comes the fun part. If you’re able to examine a strain of weed before you buy it, take a look at its:

  • Smell
  • Look
  • Feel

First off, cannabis is often cured and cultivated to high standards, which means that it should have a pleasant and pungent smell. In a nutshell, its “loud” or “dank” odor indicates its quality overall.

That being said, do your best to find cannabis that is labeled as pine, diesel, or skunk. This description usually means that the flower’s aroma will be unmistakably distinct. And in this case, the stronger the smell, the higher the marijuana potency.

Now that we’ve got that covered, choose your marijuana like you to choose your healthy, fresh produce at the store. Be on the lookout for top-shelf strains that contain a wide variety of colors. Good cannabis is usually extremely appealing visually, often displaying deep orange, green, red, blue, or purple hairs.

Another thing to look out for is the viability and amount of trichomes on high potency weed. These are glittering, tiny crystals on the plant’s leaves that create the compounds responsible for its effects, flavor, and smell. Our role of thumb is simple: the more trichomes that you can see with the “naked eye,” the more “dank” that it will be.

And then, there’s the feel of cannabis.

Usually, top-shelf marijuana should feel spongy or sticky to the touch, especially when you snap or squeeze between your fingers. It should also feel dense yet easy enough to break apart with your fingers.

Beware of weed that simply crumbles to the touch – that means that it’s too dry or out of season. Also, make sure that your nugs aren’t too soft or wet because that means they might have higher odds of containing mildew or mold.

How Can I Tell If Weed Is Bad?

At this point, you might be wondering how to tell if weed is bad in the first place. Similar to sniffing out good weed, you can tell weed is not-so-fresh by the following factors:

  • Smell
  • Look
  • Feel

As you may already know, bad weed can have a wide variety of strange fragrances, which typically indicate that you’re about to get a bad batch of herb. This low potency marijuana is commonly referred to as “bottom shelf” or “schwag.” Complete with a musty aroma, the smell of bad week is a good indicator of its freshness.

Here’s the breakdown.

Cannabis typically lasts one year after being harvested before it starts deteriorating. Of course, this means that the cannabis must have been stored away from heat and light as well. Otherwise, odd aromas can generally point to poorly cured cannabis, advanced age, or signs of mishandling.

Nobody wants that, right?

Moving forward, another indicator of low potency weed is its discolored appearance. Besides this, the abundance of seeds and stems is a big red flag in the cannabis world too. Cannabis can become discolored from everything from age and mold to chemicals and pesticides.

Also, the presence of amber trichomes is another indicator of bad weed. With heat, light, and time, trichomes can change colors from a light clear hue to an amber coloration.

If that’s the case, you have been tricked into buying harvest from last year. From lime green to dirt brown flowers, stay away from low potency cannabis if you want the most powerful effects.

Last but not least, there’s the feel of bad weed. Low-quality flower will often be brittle or dry to the touch.

Besides this, it may feel light and airy, almost weightless, unlike sticky, dense flower. Bottom line: avoid this type of low potency marijuana!

Discover the Dankest Weed in Alaska

Sick and tired of Googling “marijuana potency Alaska?”

If you’re ready to discover the dankest weed in Alaska, then we are here to help you out. From indicas to sativas, we’ve got everything you need to get high in Midtown Anchorage, Alaska

Want to start shopping?

If so, don’t hesitate to contact our team of experts today!