Can You Smoke Old Weed?

The overall consensus is that, yes, it is absolutely fine to smoke marijuana that has sat in your stash for months or even years, with some saying that weed, in fact, has an indefinite shelf left. But this comes with a few caveats, as the quality of the marijuana and the manner in which it has been stored play a big factor to whether you should consume it or not.

While finding old marijuana might be a rare occurrence in itself, there are a couple things to keep in mind. Firstly, not all marijuana is grown and cultivated equally; this goes especially for weed smokers who buy their cannabis from non-reputable sources, like their local dealer. Most medical grade marijuana these days are typically grown in highly controlled environments, shielding them from contaminants. This simple fact significantly decreases the chances that the old nugget of weed you’ve just discovered has grown any mold or fungus.

Smoking moldy weed can expose you to mold spores, which can increase your possibility of developing a respiratory infection like Aspergillus. Aspergillus respiratory infections may present with flu-like symptoms such as coughing, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Secondly, properly storing your weed stash goes a long way in preserving it.  When marijuana is improperly stored, excessive oxidation and mold growth may occur, which substantially degrades the quality and possibly the potency of the product. It may be useful to view dry marijuana like we do dry herbs used when cooking; nothing provides a kick like fresher ingredients.

The following are some indicators that your marijuana may be old and unfit for use.

Appearance: That old nug will not look as aesthetically pleasing compared to a fresher product. It may also be more dry or brittle and crumble easily due to the excessive loss of moisture. Mold can be spotted easily, as it has a distinct appearance when growing on the surface, but it is important to break the marijuana apart for inspection as mold may grow internally as well.

Aroma: Old weed will not smell as it once did, and possibly give off a musty or mildew-like odor; a red flag for the presence of mold. While it may be difficult to differentiate odors accurately, any marijuana enthusiast will know when something doesn’t smell right.

Taste: perhaps the easiest indicator of old marijuana is that it may taste stale and unenjoyable. This is by no means a bad thing but will take some of the enjoyment out of your smoking session.

In all, if your marijuana is stored properly and does not have any alarming signs it should be safe to smoke, with only the possibility of degraded quality and potency of the product being the effect.  If there is any indication of mold present it is best to stay clear.