Why Is My Weed Sticky?

Some cannabis connoisseurs claim that the best way to determine weed’s quality is by its stickiness. Many weed smokers think that sticky weed is a sure sign that the herb will have potent medical and recreational effects. So if sticky is good, why is weed sticky in the first place?

Marijuana’s stickiness is due to a substance called resin. Cannabis resin, sometimes called ‘essential oil,’ is a thick, gooey substance that can be translucent or have a red or orange colour. Many trees and other plants produce resin, which is a sticky, organic substance. Cannabis resin is special, however, because it contains cannabinoids.

Cannabis resin is produced by small glands on the flowers and leaves called trichomes. Trichomes are thought to produce cannabinoids, the active ingredients in marijuana, as well as terpenes, the agents responsible for each weed strain’s distinct flavour and aroma. Cannabinoids are chemicals that interact with the human body’s endocannabinoid system to help regulate many different processes including mood, appetite, sleep, pleasure and pain, to name a few. In other words, cannabinoids are responsible for weed’s medicinal effects, as well as the recreational high that many users enjoy.

Seeing as trichomes produce resin, cannabinoids, and terpenes, it is no surprise that many cannabinoids and terpenes are found in cannabis resin. Therefore, the more resin your weed has (or the stickier it is,) the better its medical potential may be, the more potent the high may be, and the better the herb might smell and taste. Sticky weed is thus thought to be a very good indicator of weed’s quality. To date, there have not been any credible scientific studies that study the link between weed quality and stickiness. This information is based mostly on conventional wisdom and the experiences of individual marijuana users. Hopefully more credible research will come soon, after legalization in Canada.

It is important to note that some people use the terms ‘resin’ or ‘cannabis resin’ to refer to hash, a black or brown, solid, compressed drug made from the resinous parts of the cannabis plant. Some people also call the leftover weed residue in their pipe ‘resin,’ which is likely a misunderstanding stemming from the word ‘residue.’ Always clarify what someone means if they invite you to smoke ‘resin,’ as it may refer to a stronger drug than you may be used to, or it may be the unpleasant residue from smoking earlier. For the purposes of this article, ‘resin’ will refer only to the natural substance produced by plants.

Pinkman Goo is considered to be one of the strains with the most resin. This indica strain, a cross between Grandaddy Purple, Grape Ape, and Northern Lights #5, has a distinctive glob of resin on its buds. Lab tests revealed that samples with the “goo glob” had 4 per cent more THC than samples without goo. This supports the theory that resin contains much of the THC found in the cannabis plant. The resin lends the strain a sweet flavour. Pinkman Goo’s effects are reportedly very calming.