White vs Black Cannabis Ash: Does Colour Matter?

Spend any amount of time passing a joint around a coffee table with seasoned smokers, and you’ll quickly become exposed to some quintessential cannabis controversy. Various debates continue to rage in the world of weed, from the efficacy of holding in a hit to the accuracy of the terms “indica” and “sativa” when describing the effects of a strain. Among these contested topics, the idea that ash color indicates bud quality remains one of the most argued.

Some cannabis users stand by the idea that white ash signifies pure, flushed, and high-grade weed, whereas black ash points to poor-quality bud. In contrast, others completely disregard this distinction and take the view that ash color represents nothing of importance. So, should you care about ash color when smoking weed? Let’s dive into both sides of the debate below.

The White vs Black Ash Controversy: A Primer

In truth, most cannabis users probably haven’t considered the color of the ash at the end of their joints. However, some connoisseurs among us not only hold it as an indication of flower quality in general, but use this metric as a way to highlight the quality of their homegrown flowers. To them, white ash testifies to correct cultivation, flushing, drying, and curing—resulting in finer flowers and a superior smoke.

However, this conclusion rests only on anecdotal accounts and loses its weight when we consider the subjective experience of other cultivators and smokers. Rather than deriding white ash and praising black ash, this other camp simply disregards the importance of ash color altogether, putting it down to pseudoscience and superstition.

The Shaky Science Behind Ash Color

It will likely come as no surprise that scientific investigation has yet to clear up the hazy air shrouding the white ash vs black ash weed debate. As the cannabis industry continues to expand and researchers focus their efforts on breeding, agronomy, and pharmacology, the color of cannabis ash is simply not a pressing issue for most. For now, the debate remains firmly in the domain of lay growers and smokers. However, some experts in the field of cannabis science have flung their opinions into the melee.

Proposed Factors That Affect Cannabis Ash Color

A long list of factors impact the overall quality of cannabis, including genetics, cultivation methods, the growing medium, and post-harvest processing. But do these variables also influence weed ash color? Find out which factors are proposed as the most impactful when it comes to white vs black ash.

• Flushing

Conventional wisdom has, for decades, dictated that flushing weed before harvest increases the quality of cannabis flowers. In this vein of thinking, withholding nutrients for a matter of days or weeks causes a weed plant to use up its nutrient stores, essentially metabolising compounds that taste harsh when smoked, resulting in a smoother and more pleasant smoking experience. However, even the act of flushing is a controversial topic, with individuals such as cannabis biologist Dr Robert Flannery contesting the concept. His master’s thesis^[1], titled “Irrigation Management Strategies for Medical Cannabis in Controlled Environments”, found that, in contrast to common conceptions, flushing does little to remove any significant amount of nutrients from cannabis flowers.

All that said, many growers and smokers still propose that this technique alters the phytochemistry of flowers to some degree, resulting in buds that create “desirable” white ash. However, growers who don’t flush also report white ash when smoking their homegrown—so the jury is still out.

• Growing Medium

While research has yet to conclude if and how the growing medium impacts the ash color of the buds, some growers have found that certain media broadly benefit flower quality. Today, many growers are migrating away from hydroponics and synthetic nutrients, and towards “living soil” systems that utilise organic nutrients and rely on the microbial members of the soil food web to deliver nutrients to their plants. Adherents to this cultivation philosophy often report producing higher-quality weed, which, following general opinion, would likely produce white ash.

• Combustion Temperature

Regardless of flushing and other cultivation methods, one thing that very well may underpin ash color is combustion temperature. Josh Wurzer^[2], co-founder of SC Labs in California, has stated that black ash results from incomplete combustion. Too much moisture and not enough oxygen can impact combustion temperature, resulting in cannabis that burns improperly and forms black ash.

• Moisture Content

Building on the above, drying and curing may hold significant sway over whether weed produces black or white ash. These post-harvest processes remove excess moisture, which not only reduces the probability of mold but enables buds to burn at a higher temperature, increasing the likelihood of white ash color.

• Additives and Contaminants

Some growers see black ash as a sign of contamination, and white ash as a sign of purity. According to this outlook, black ash can signal that the buds are contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, and other chemicals. While a possibility, no research exists to support this claim.

• Resin

The impact of resin also throws another spanner into the works. Wurzer has stated that increased amounts of resin can cause cannabis to produce black ash by inhibiting proper combustion. However, high resin content itself has traditionally indicated high bud quality, as this viscous substance contains cannabinoids such as THC as well as aromatic terpenes that contribute to taste and aroma.

Is Ash Color a Reliable Way to Assess Cannabis Quality?

Does white ash mean good weed? Not necessarily. Ultimately, there are much better ways to judge the quality of cannabis. Ash color fails to inform users of the most important properties and overall calibre of their herb. In some circumstances, it could simply indicate improper combustion; in others, it could be down to the efficacy of the drying and curing processes post-harvest.

How to Properly Assess Weed Ash Color

Either way, if you’re still keen to assess the color of your weed ash, you can get a good gauge of the color simply using the naked eye. Just tap the ash from the end of your joint, or scoop it out of a bong or pipe bowl, and place it into an ashtray. Use a dabbing tool to break it apart to get a good look at the interior and exterior of the bundle to make a good judgement on the overall color.

If you want to take your ash assessment slightly more seriously, you can use simple magnification. A magnifying glass or jeweller's loupe will help you get a close look if you’re struggling to figure out if it’s mostly white or black.

Alternative Means of Assessing the Quality of Your Weed

As mentioned, there are far better ways to assess the quality of your cannabis than ash color. Discover the best ways to find out if you’re smoking high-grade or poor-quality buds below.

• Visual Inspection

Simply grab a bud and take a close look. It should have a good layer of trichomes and feel sticky, but not wet. It should also be neatly manicured with no large sugar leaves remaining. Immediately discard any buds that show signs of mold.

• Aroma and Flavor

Regardless of ash color, if your bud smells and tastes good before and during smoking, then it’s likely of high quality. All strains feature a slightly different aroma and flavor; expect anything from wood, pine, and pepper to fruit, candy, and skunk. Poorly grown, dried, and cured weed often smells like grass, hay, or mildew.

• Moisture Content

Not only does excess moisture produce black ash, but it detracts from the flavor of a bud, making it harsh to smoke. Not only that, but moisture can cause buds to develop mold during storage. Properly processed cannabis flowers should feel sticky but suitably dry. Overly moist or damp buds are a sign of improper post-harvest and/or storage processes.

Factors That Influence the Quality of Weed

If you grow your own weed, you have a good amount of control over the final quality of your harvest. Discover the key factors that will enhance your results.

• Genetics

Strain choice plays perhaps the largest role in final weed quality. Aside from choosing a variety that matches your preferences, aim to source genetics that are known to consistently produce quality results. Unless you’re a breeder, limit your scope to feminized seeds that produce female buds, as this will give you the best bang for your buck.

• Abiotic and Biotic Stress

Small amounts of abiotic stress (i.e. stress from non-living sources) can help plants thrive and produce more cannabinoids and terpenes. However, too much stress in the form of drought, overwatering, or excessive training and defoliation can cause stunted growth, low yields, and poor-quality flowers. Meanwhile, biotic stress—from living sources—such as pest insects and pathogens can contaminate buds and make them dangerous to smoke.

• Microbiology and Terroir

Aim to cultivate in living soil. Not only will this approach increase the fertility of your soil year after year, but research suggests that a healthy population of beneficial microbes plays a key role in weed flower quality when it comes to potency and taste. The concept of terroir—the environmental factors that impact crop taste and characteristics—also means your local climate will produce a unique phytochemical profile in your flowers when grown well.

• Flushing

While research suggests that flushing flowers doesn’t do much in the way of purging nutrients, some growers swear by its ability to improve taste and smoothness. Flushing may impact the concentration of certain harsh phytochemicals, such as chlorophyll, to produce a more pleasant smoke.

• Brix

If you’re a serious cannabis connoisseur, you probably own a refractometer that measures Brix levels. This handy device allows for a quantitative assessment of bud quality. You should aim to maintain a Brix level of 12–15% for the healthiest plants and highest-quality weed possible.

• Drying and Curing

Drying and curing are among the most important factors when it comes to cannabis quality. Done correctly, these processes preserve the shelf-life of buds and give rise to a smooth and flavorful smoke.

White vs Black Ash: A Poor Indicator of Cannabis Quality

Alongside the misuse of the terms “indica” and “sativa”, the importance of ash color to the cannabis smoking experience is likely much less relevant than some smokers think. While black ash might indicate improper combustion due to excess moisture, it can also point to high levels of resin. White ash, on the other hand, likely arises due to higher combustion temperatures, but by no means suggests superior quality. Instead of relying on ash color, consider the variables of flavor and aroma, moisture content, and the way your weed looks and feels when attempting to assess its quality.