Cannabis Remediation: Why Health Conscious Consumers Are Avoiding Remediated Weed

If you’re serious about consuming cannabis and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you want the absolute best product. In our 35,000 sq. ft operation at The Hive, that means full terpene expression, diverse cannabinoid profiles, and an experience that reflects our plant’s truest potential. Unfortunately, many producers in this industry use remediation as a shortcut to pass lab tests and ultimately compromising quality and experience in the process. At Wojo Co, we refuse to cut corners, ensuring that every product we put out on shelves delivers a clean, unaltered, and premium experience that we’ve always been known for.

What Is Cannabis Remediation?

Cannabis remediation is a post-harvest process used to remove mold, bacteria, yeast, and other contaminants. Sounds good, right? Wrong. When these measure are taken, it is often a sign that a grower didn’t maintain clean cultivation practices from the start. Instead of preventing contamination naturally, they rely on remediation to “fix” poorly grown cannabis…after the fact.

Types of REMEDIATION

Common remediation methods include:

• Radiation
• Ozone Treatment
• Heat Treatment

Cannabis remediation methods aim to eliminate microbial contaminants, but often they impact the plant’s quality. Here’s how each method may affect cannabis and its terpene profile:

1. Radiation (Gamma or Electron Beam Exposure)

This method uses high-energy rays to sterilize cannabis. Research indicates that gamma irradiation does not significantly alter cannabinoid content, ensuring that THC and CBD levels remain stable. However, some studies have observed a reduction in certain terpene levels post-irradiation. For instance, research on cilantro leaves showed a decrease in terpenes like myrcene and linalool after gamma irradiation, suggesting a potential for similar effects in cannabis. In the same study, exposure to irradiation significantly impacted the levels of various cannabis terpenes, particularly the more volatile monoterpenes. In most cases, terpene reduction ranged between 10% and 20%, though some compounds experienced losses as high as 38%.

2. Ozone Treatment (Ozone Gas Oxidation)

Ozone, while effective at eliminating contaminants, poses significant risks to both humans and plants. Even at low concentrations, exposure to ozone can lead to respiratory issues such as coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain, and can worsen conditions like asthma, increasing susceptibility to infections. While ozone dissipates quickly, its presence at unsafe levels remains a concern. Striking a balance between using enough ozone to sterilize an environment and maintaining safe exposure levels is challenging, as research indicates that the amounts needed for effective bacterial removal far exceed recommended safety thresholds. Studies have shown that while some health organizations cap safe ozone exposure at 0.1 to 0.5 parts per million (ppm), effective sterilization often requires levels as high as 25 ppm for extended periods, which would be extremely hazardous to breathe. Additionally, although lower ozone concentrations may help combat issues like powdery mildew, they still approach the limits of what is considered safe for human exposure. Beyond human health risks, excessive ozone can be detrimental to cannabis plants by interfering with chlorophyll production, an essential component of photosynthesis. Prolonged exposure can damage healthy cells, leading to plant stress, inhibited growth, and eventual death. Ultimately, while ozone can sterilize cannabis, it risks compromising both human safety and plant health, making it a risky method for ensuring product purity.

3. Heat Treatment (High-Temperature Remediation)

Applying elevated temperatures can effectively reduce microbial contamination. However, many terpenes are volatile and can evaporate at relatively low temperatures, leading to a loss of the plant’s natural aroma and flavor. Additionally, excessive heat can convert THC into CBN, a cannabinoid with more sedative effects, potentially altering the desired potency and experience.

While these remediation methods are effective in sterilizing cannabis, they likely impact its sensory attributes and chemical composition. Understanding these effects is crucial for consumers seeking high-quality cannabis products.

Why Remediated Cannabis Is Inferior

Remediated weed is like drinking a flat Faygo soda…technically it is still there, but lacking that fizz. Just like Faygo…”Save the best for first and skip the rest..” If you care about flavor, potency, and purity, remediated cannabis isn’t for you. Here’s why:

Terpene and Cannabinoid Degradation

The rich aroma and effects of cannabis come from terpenes and cannabinoids. Remediation, especially heat and radiation, destroys or degrades these delicate compounds, leading to:

• Weaker flavors and aromas
• Altered effects
• A stale, dry smoking experience

Unnatural Chemical Byproducts

Some remediation methods alter the chemical composition of the plant, creating unknown byproducts that don’t naturally occur in cannabis. Do you really want to inhale something that wasn’t supposed to be there?

The “Lifeless” Bud Problem

If you’ve ever bought cannabis that smelled weak, felt too dry, or had an oddly bland taste, there’s a good chance it was remediated. Many seasoned consumers describe remediated weed as lifeless, missing the depth and complexity that high-quality flower should have. According to Tess Eidem, a microbiologist with experience in cannabis remediation, preemptive remediation can lead to products that, despite passing lab tests, have already suffered quality degradation. She notes that if a product requires remediation to meet safety standards, “damage has already been done,” affecting its overall quality.

How Wojo Keeps It Clean Without Remediation

We believe in more of a proactive vs. reactive approach. Instead of using band-aid fixes, our cultivation team works tirelessly to achieve top-tier quality from seed to harvest. Not only do we pop our own seeds and cut our own clones, ensuring no outside mold, mildew, or pests make their way in, we implement strict environmental controls that prevent mold and microbial growth, keeping our plants healthy from the start. Also, rather than relying on chemical pesticides, we embrace nature’s own defenses, using beneficial insects like ladybugs and predatory mites to keep pests under control without introducing harmful residues. Because we take these proactive measures, our cannabis remains clean and natural, eliminating the need for remediation altogether.

Beneficial Bugs: The Natural Way to Keep Cannabis Clean

Rather than blasting flower with radiation or heat, we embrace nature’s own pest control methods. Beneficial insects work as a sustainable, chemical-free way to maintain plant health.

Meet the WOJO Clean Team:

Neoseiulus cucumeris aka Amblyseius cucumeris is a versatile predatory mite known for its ability to target the juvenile stages of various thrips species, including western flower thrips and onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). In addition to thrips, it preys on a range of plant-feeding mites such as broad mites (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) and cyclamen mites (Phytonemus pallidus). When food sources are limited, it can also sustain itself by consuming pollen. This mite tends to prioritize the most abundant prey available, so increasing release rates may be beneficial in environments where multiple prey species coexist.

This approach keeps our flower naturally clean and the very best way we know how to keep its full terpene and cannabinoid profile.

How to Spot Remediated Weed

If you want the highest-quality cannabis, here’s how to avoid remediated products:

1. Check the Lab Results

• If the microbial count is high but passes testing, it was likely remediated.
• If the terpene levels seem unusually low, heat or radiation may have degraded them.
• If the results or anything mentions “remediated” or “treated,” it’s a clear sign.

2. Use Your Senses

• Smell – If the aroma is weak or absent, it may have been remediated.
• Feel – Remediated bud is often extra dry or brittle, even when fresh.
• Taste – If the flavor is dull or slightly “off,” you’re likely not getting a full spectrum product.

The Wojo Co Difference: Pure, High-Terpene, Unremediated Cannabis

We grow cannabis the right way. That way we never have to fix it after the fact. That means:

• Rich, robust flavors from untouched terpenes
• Full-strength effects from undamaged cannabinoids
• A pure, natural experience with zero artificial interventions

If you care about quality, purity, and getting the best from your cannabis, ask for products that have no been remediated. Ask for full lab reports, use your senses, and choose brands like Wojo that prioritize clean cultivation from the start.

Want to Experience the Best?

Check out our latest strains and see what pure, high-quality cannabis really tastes like. No shortcuts. No compromises. Just premium flower as nature intended.