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Mould growth on CBD flowers

cbd flower mold

As I'm sure you're aware, the CBD world is evolving in somewhat murky waters. After the European Court of Justice approved the sale of CBD, French legislation seems to be struggling to cover all aspects of this fast-moving industry.

As one friend put it: CBD is the Wild West!

Taking advantage of the lack of legislation and regulation, many unscrupulous sellers and suppliers have no hesitation in supplying a product of dubious quality.

Poorly stored, badly ripened flowers lose their quality. Worse still, mold develops! This can be a real health hazard. Follow this article to learn more about mold on CBD flowers, the dangers it entails and how to avoid it.

What is mold?

Molds are micro-organisms involved in the fermentation and decomposition of organic matter. These organisms develop rapidly in humid environments.
Eventually, these microscopic organisms, invisible to the naked eye, grow and accumulate, forming stains and/or moss of various colors.

What kind of moulds can grow on CBD flowers?

The moulds that most often develop on CBD flowers are :

Aspergillus :

A filamentous fungus. A colony appears as a white fuzz. They're everywhere, all around us. There are usually between 1 and 20 spores per cubic metre of air. So, without realizing it, we inhale an average of between 10 and 30 a day!

Penicillium :

The Penicillium family is better known than the others. There are 9 species, not all of which are bad for humans. Among them is Penicillium glaucum, from which penicillin (the famous antibiotic that has saved billions of lives) was developed. Also in this family is the famous Penicillus roqueforti, which forms the dark stains on Roquefort cheese. Or Penicillium camembertii, which forms the white rind of camembert cheese.

Cladosporium :

Much less attractive than penicillium and smaller than aspergillus, cladisporium is also a fungus. It grows almost exclusively on plant matter, whether living or dead, and is generally found on fruits such as lemons. Colonies develop as olive-green, brown or black, slightly fuzzy spots.

Alternaria :

The latter includes some 300 species. They are known as plant diseases. They primarily attack seeds. Some are parasitic, and some are more dangerous than others. But almost all can cause respiratory allergies in humans.

These molds are the most commonly found in the environment. They travel in the form of spores carried by the wind until they find a surface offering the nutrients and conditions necessary for their development.

Conditions for mold growth

The moulds that grow on CBD flowers are all different, but all are a kind of fungus. The conditions favorable to their development are more or less the same for each of them:

  • Humidity and ventilation: if you live in a small apartment in a big city, you're probably aware of this in your bathroom: mold loves enclosed, damp, poorly ventilated spaces.
  • Temperature: heat also plays a role in the development of mold and bacteria of all kinds, which is why food keeps better in the fridge.
  • Light: direct light slows down the growth of fungi and moulds, but it also degrades flowers, their colors and, in the case of cbd, their cannabinoids! 

For all these reasons, we always recommend storing your cbd flowers in a closed container, away from light and humidity. This will prevent the spores from coming into contact with your flowers and developing!

mouldy CBD leaf

Health risks :

As you can see, there are a multitude of forms corresponding to each family of bacteria. And although some are more dangerous than others, we have no problem living with them every second of our lives. However, when all the right conditions are present, bacteria can develop and concentrate, which is when they can become dangerous for us. Particularly when inhaled or ingested. Depending on the particular mold species and concentration, they can cause :

  • Gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea)
  • Respiratory problems
  • Allergic reactions (skin rashes, itching, sneezing)
  • Neurological problems (nervous system disorders, memory disorders, headaches, dizziness) 

What's more, it should be noted that heat, combustion (forbidden in the case of cbd) and vaporization in no way alter the potential health risks associated with consuming flowers corrupted by mold.

How to recognize and avoid buying moldy CBD flowers?

Recognizing moldy flowers can be a tricky business. In fact, the only way to do this is by visual inspection of the flowers, as fungus colonies become visible when they reach a certain stage. A light white, black or grey down, or spots of the same color, can be recognized.

But the main problem is recognizing healthy flowers before buying them. And that's much more difficult, especially when buying cbd online!

The easiest way is to find a quality dealer you can trust. Here are a few tips to help you find one:

  • Check the reviews of your retailer's website on Google and Trustpilot
  • Make sure the seller provides sufficient information about the flowers you intend to buy. In case of doubt, don't hesitate to contact the seller to find out more about where the flowers come from, when they were picked, how they are packaged and how they are stored...
  • Look at the price of cbd flowers or resin. Because price is often - not always - an indicator of price. As they say, if it's too good to be true, beware!

Now that you know all about it, all that's left is to put your knowledge into practice by inspecting your flowers, and to shine in society thanks to your knowledge! Feel free to browse our blog for lots of other useful and fun information about CBD!

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