Cannabis Sommelier Logo

Grading Cannabis Quality

Those who are new to cannabis often wonder if all the hubbub around ‘good weed’ actually has anything to it.
Is more expensive cannabis actually ‘better’?
How can you tell?

Read: 4 Key Tips for Judging Cannabis Quality

Are you having troubles with the form below?

Fill out the form externally.

AAAA+ = greater than 95 pts
AAAA = 85-95 pts
AAA = 75-85 pts
AA = 65-75 pts
A = 55-65 pts

4 Key Tips for Judging Cannabis Quality

There are countless people out there who grew up under the timeless motto, ‘weed is weed’. Before legalization, most people in North America would get whatever cannabis they could get, and quality product was incredibly difficult to come upon. Back then, few had the opportunity to experience the true potential of this plant.

Well, those days are gone. Today, legalization brings us an enormous variety of cultivars at all types of quality ranges.

So, how can you tell if your purchase is reflective of supreme quality? Here are some key pointers.

1. Analytics

Before you ever open a jar, there are ways to determine whether you can expect some semblance of what the cultivar is meant to smell like, or whether you will smell dull, hay-like aromas.

Funny enough, the one piece of data that people on both sides of the counter focus on thus far is not actually the best indicator for quality. THC content does not define the ‘strength’ of a high, nor does it in itself make cannabis ‘good’.

Moisture Content (the total amount of water inside a sample) and Total Terpene Content (the sum of the content of all terpenes tested) are by far the best pieces of data to predict overall quality.

Medical cannabis
Unfortunately, the majority of cannabis growers fail to include this information on their product labels. Without these essential pieces of information, the cannabis connoisseur will never know what to expect until after the purchase is made.

2. Nose

It’s all about the nose! How strong your cannabis smells and the unique character of that aroma directly correlates to how that flavour tastes and transforms when consumed.

When you open your jar and the whole room quickly fills with the aroma emanating from the jar, you know you have a winner.

Remember that the strength of a smell also directly correlates to the Total Terpene Content data point discussed above. The unique character of that aroma is be partially defined by the individual terpenes that make up that smell.

The reason why it is so important to pay close attention to your nose rather than just focusing on the interpretation of analytics, is because:

Field of cannabis plants

a) we are not able to fully quantify all of the biochemicals in the cannabis plant; and

b) we do not fully understand how all of these biochemicals come together to produce complex aromas/nuanced effects that have different types of effects/degrees of appeal to different individuals. 

This means that there is nothing more effective in this world that will tell you what you personally like or dislike than your nose, your palate, and what your body instinctively tells you is ‘good’ from where you are standing.

By combining the sensory skill of careful aromatic appreciation with the repeated interpretation of analytics, your skills for determining quality will increase exponentially.

3. Look & Feel

Sometimes you can’t get batch-specific analysis. If you grow your own at home, you may not test at all. In cases like these, your nose must come together with the rest of your senses to find the tell-tale signs of quality.

When it comes to look and feel, we primarily focus on one thing: Trichomes!

These smelly oily secretions contain the bulk of the cannabinoids and terpenes contained in the cannabis plant. When kept in appropriate moisture levels during curing and storage, trichomes can remain well-preserved on the bud surface producing a crystally sheen that is perceptible to the naked eye, together with a ‘gooey’ feel which can be felt by lightly rolling and squeezing a bud between two fingers.

If your bud is not sticky at all and demonstrates none of the ‘crystally’ look associated with high trichome density, chances are that you are not looking at a high-quality bud.

A handheld microscope can reveal even more detail in terms of the density, size, and maturity of trichome expression. Good quality cannabis tends to have dense trichome expression with large cloudy heads.

Keep in mind that not all cultivars are genetically primed to produce the same amount/size of trichomes, so one must learn to gauge the quality of trichome expression based on the unique qualities of each distinct cultivar, comparing like-to-like based on repeat experience.

4. Burn & Flavour

Vaping will not suffice when trying to determine if a flower will perform well under all circumstances.

Determining the quality of cannabis in its ultimate sense means to gather all of the available information to make the most accurate and relatable description of a product’s strengths and weaknesses. Burning a joint is the least forgiving of all tasting formats when it comes to flower. It provides every opportunity to spot defects in the performance of the cannabis flower while vaping is simply too forgiving, potentially covering up common defects.

Learning to determine the purity, or quality of the ‘flush’ of a flower sample is a key—and often overlooked—component of judging cannabis quality.

To ‘flush’ simply means to allow excess nutrients to be ‘flushed’ out of the plant by providing it with water that is free of excess nutrients. Hydroponic and soilless-medium growers that use bottled fertilizers typically need to stop feeding their plants for a 2-3 week period before harvest in order to allow for optimal burn and flavour.

‘Burn’ is best judged in joint form, and refers to how well the joint burns all the way down to the end and how it tastes. Questions, like, ‘Will it burn evenly?’, ‘Will it constantly go out?’, and ‘Is the ash going to be black and chunky?’ can only be answered by smoking a properly rolled joint.

As you will find over time, each of these visual/tactile inquiries is not only about the functionality of being able to comfortably smoke a joint, but also about detecting the common signs associated with low quality, horrible tasting smoke.

When a desirable genetic is grown and cured right, it should provide a smooth and flavourful inhale, free of harsh hay-like flavours. If you think all good cannabis should make you cough and gag, think again. Even if it does make you cough, smoke from ‘good’ cannabis should be delicious when the flavour matches your personal preference. Some cultivars with particularly high terpene contents (typically in excess of 2%) will even coat the mouth with an oily sensation that endures well after your toke. This is a sign of quality that is seldom seen, and again can only be experienced in the form of smoke.

Smoking is not for everyone, but it is important to know that this method of ingestion is a particularly effective tool for those that are trying to analyze flower quality at any level.

Learn more about how to judge cannabis quality in our free online cannabis education sessions or dive into our Cannabis Sommelier Level 1 online certification. Learn to grow quality cannabis in Living Soil at Home.

Share Us
Welcome to CannaReps!
Please read and submit the following Waiver & Release to continue your enrolment confirmation.

WAIVER & RELEASE (the “Release”)

This event is conducted by CannaReps Consulting Ltd. (“CannaReps or Company”). Please read and submit below.

I am an attendee at an event hosted by CannaReps (the “Workshop“). I release CannaReps from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions and causes of action whatsoever arising out of or related to any loss, damage or injury, including death, that may be sustained by me while participating in the Workshop.

I understand and agree that:

  • Any cannabis or cannabis products that I bring to the Workshop is from my personal supply and was lawfully purchased.
  • I will not possess in excess of thirty (30) grams of cannabis, unless I am lawfully permitted to possess more under the applicable regulations. If I am in possession of medical cannabis, I will not share my medical cannabis.
  • I will not distribute, sell, display, consume, or lose custody of the cannabis or cannabis products that I bring to the Workshop and will adhere to all applicable laws, and regulations.
  • Any promotional material I bring to the Workshop is in accordance with the applicable laws, and regulations. I will include the promotion of the safe consumption of cannabis.
  • CannaReps reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to eject, disqualify, or remove any exhibition or person for the contravention of any applicable laws and regulations.
  • The use of cannabis or cannabis products may impair your judgment, ability to react. By law, you should not drive or operate heavy machinery while under the influence. Please read the statutory rules and regulations surrounding cannabis in your jurisdiction for clarification.
  • Any advice or recommendations given by CannaReps is for informational and educational purposes only and CannaReps does not warrant or guarantee the completeness or correctness or the information provided.
  • I freely and voluntarily accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers, and hazards associated with attending the Workshop.
  • I certify that I am over the age of 19. This Release shall be effective and binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, assigns and representatives in the event of my death or incapacity.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Any confidential or proprietary information or material relating to the Company’s operations or business which I obtain from the Company or its officers, employees, agents, suppliers or customers or otherwise by virtue of my participation with the Company or by the Company’s predecessor. Confidential or proprietary information or material includes, without limitation, the following types of information or material, both existing and contemplated, regarding the Company or its parent, affiliated or subsidiary companies: corporate information, including contractual licensing arrangements, plans, strategies, tactic, policies, resolutions, patents, trademarks, printed or digitized materials, handouts and brochures. Including any marketing information including sales, investment and product plans, customer lists, strategies, methods, customers, prospects and market research data. Including trade secrets; technical information, including drawings, designs, personal information (the “Confidential Information”).

I understand that the copyright and proprietary interest of any material provided to me belongs to CannaReps. All shared experiences from the Workshop are to remain confidential and private. I agree not to disclose any of the information learned during the Workshop outside of the Workshop except with others who attend the Workshop. I will not use any audio or video recording equipment during the Workshop, unless CannaReps approves of the recording and filming by providing prior written consent. I understand that any audio or video recording made during the Workshop is the property of CannaReps. I will not use CannaReps’ information for business or commercial purposes, without first obtaining the prior written consent of CannaReps.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

I understand, acknowledge and agree that all copyright, trademarks, trade secrets, intellectual property rights, and any other rights arising from any designs, and all of the work products and materials conceived, developed or created by the CannaReps and any rights ancillary thereto (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) which were solely or jointly with others, conceives, designs, creates, derives, develops or makes in the course of or in connection with the work with CannaReps shall belong solely to CannaReps. If you haven’t already, you shall promptly disclose to CannaReps in writing any and all Intellectual Property Rights, conceived, created, derived, developed or made in the course of or otherwise in connection with my participation with CannaReps, whether alone or with others, and whether during work shop hours or through the use of facilities and properties of CannaReps.

INDEMNITY

I agrees to indemnify and hold harmless CannaReps, its officers and directors, employees and its affiliates and their respective successors and assigns and each other person, if any, who controls any thereof, against any loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any and all expenses whatsoever reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation commenced or threatened or any claim whatsoever) arising out of or based upon any false representation or warranty or breach or failure by me to comply with any covenant or agreement made by me herein or in any other document furnished by me to any of the foregoing in connection with this transaction.

CONSENT

Notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, I consent to and grant CannaReps, the Workshop, and its assignees, the right to photograph and record me, my name, voice, appearance and likeness and other material furnished by me for use on trusted online media which include, but are not limited to, their website and social media pages. My hereby release said matter in perpetuity to CannaReps without prejudice and acknowledge that this consent is freely given without expecting compensation.

By submitting my email address below, I agree to receive electronic communication from CannaReps including personal course information, news, updates and promotions regarding CannaReps’ products. I understand that I can withdraw my consent at any time.

PRIVACY POLICY

Protecting your privacy is important to CannaReps. This Privacy Policy (“Privacy Policy”) set outs the ways in which we use your information and how we ensure its protection.

CannaReps will only collect personal information (“Information”) that will allow us to provide, enhance, market or improve our events and services. Information is collected by means of registration for any CannaReps sponsored event or service. Information collected may include name, age, gender, address, email address, payment information, and geographical information.

CannaReps may share Information. CannaReps retains the right to share Information and other statistics with our partners, prospective advertisers, and other third parties for the purposes of improving, protecting, enhancing, and promoting our events and services. CannaReps may also disclose information to our affiliates, agents, contractors, and service providers in order to facilitate the functioning and maintenance of our events and services. We will not sell any information to advertisers or other third parties.

This Privacy Policy only covers the treatment of Information and other non-identifiable information gathered by CannaReps. This Privacy Policy does not apply to the practices of any third-party services. CannaReps does not take responsibility for the content or privacy policies of any third parties. CannaReps recommends that you review the privacy policies of any third-party service providers or events you access, use, or register for through our events or services.

This Privacy Policy has been established to help you understand our commitment to protecting your privacy. CannaReps reserves the right, at any time, to change or replace any portion of our Privacy Policy. You will be notified of any changes, if we believe, they materially impact your experience at our events or services. Continued use of our services after any change to the Private Policy constitutes an acceptance of those changes.

By submitting this Release and providing Information during the registration process, including the Exhibitor’s Agreement, you consent to the collection and use of your Information for these purposes.

If you have any questions or concerns please email us at info@cannareps.ca.