{"id":3406,"date":"2021-01-08T20:50:38","date_gmt":"2021-01-08T20:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/?p=3406"},"modified":"2026-02-22T13:50:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T13:50:53","slug":"smoking-moldy-weed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/weedmaps.com\/learn\/cannabis-and-your-body\/smoking-moldy-weed","title":{"rendered":"The risks of smoking moldy weed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This may sound obvious, but consuming moldy weed may present certain health hazards, particularly to the lungs. Less obvious is the fact that vapes and concentrates may pose some of the same dangers. Luckily, knowledge is the best preventative medicine. Here we'll cover how to assess the health risks of smoking moldy weed, how to tell if you've encountered moldy weed, and how to avoid smoking it at all.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tWhat are the risks of smoking moldy weed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe main concern is a reaction to the mold. Some people are more sensitive to mold than others. A mild reaction to inhaling mold might be coughing and throat irritation,\u201d said Dr. Melanie Bone, board-certified OB-GYN and cannabis specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coughing and throat irritation, when moderate or severe, should be warning signs to scale back on smoking, whether mold is suspected or not. Mold is not the only factor that can cause these symptoms, so reduce your cannabis smoking if you find yourself experiencing a hacking cough or burning throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other more serious symptoms may also arise from smoking moldy weed. \u201cOn the opposite end of the spectrum, those who are very sensitive or allergic to mold might experience significant problems with a fungal infection in the throat and lungs,\u201d said Bone.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"moldy\n\t\t\t<\/a>Photo by: Gina Coleman\/Weedmaps<\/cite>
A review in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that 13 of 14 weed samples not purchased from dispensaries contained fungi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t\t