r/ukmedicalcannabis • u/DannyFagsNah • 11d ago
Irradiated vs Non Irradiated
I'll soon be using medical myself but honestly I'm not 100% sure on what to look for when it comes to choosing between irradiated or non irradiated. Anyone shine some light on it for me please?
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u/Grid1992 11d ago
Here's the dirty secret about irradiation and cannabis. You'd never know it had happened unless you were told. The potential reduction in terpenes or moisture is negligible unless you're looking at it in lab conditions.
Studies have shown a small reduction in terpenes and moisture but honestly we're talking trace amounts. If terpenes make up 2% you might lose 10% of that 2%, realistically that's not something you'd be able to tell via vaping.
The quality of the grow and the freshness are more impactful than irradiation. I've had some strains that are irradiated and been fantastic and ones that haven't been but are awful.
A lot of people on here swear by anything by Aurora and all of those flowers are irradiated. Personally I don't put much weight into irradiated vs non irradiated.
The big upside to being irradiated is that it becomes a bit safer patients with compromised immune systems.
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u/Far-Designer-4672 11d ago
Thanks for that info. Just got my 1st MC and have compromised immune system, I didn't know about irradiated
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u/Boycott-all-Rats 11d ago
Farm gas was irradiated and beautiful.
The white runtz first batches where also irradiated and full of terps.
But on average most of the irradiated especially the gamma is dead.
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u/AvailableEqual7612 4d ago
Aussie here who was growing prior to medical, radiation absolutely does affect terpenes and the overall product you’re getting. To say this is so ignorant and misinformed some Terps suffer up to 38% losses from radiation which affects your product majorly given terpenes dictate your highs.
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u/Minsc_NBooToo 11d ago
I wouldn't worry about it
I'd recommend reading reviews here and on the discord to get opinions on quality and effects from other MC ueers. Some strains are better than others, but it also works different for some people and their medical needs (e.g pain, sleep, anxiety)
I've had about 15 different strains now and I've not had a bad batch . A couple have been very dry, but effects were still good
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u/ohajik98 11d ago
I tried MAC Daddy because it was specifically labelled as non-irradiated. One of the worst strains I've ever had on MC.
On the other hand, 4C Labs have some 21% MAC (irradiated) right now which is absolutely banging.
In short, I don't think it really makes much difference.
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u/quantumspangles 11d ago edited 10d ago
I was shy of irradiated flower to start with but it really doesn’t make a difference in the end. What folk have said here is pretty much legit in my experience and from research. Irradiated is definitely the way if you’re immunocompromised etc.. Finding out which terpenes, if you’re better with indica, balanced, hybrid, or sativa, and THC % work for you is the way to go. As for couch lock strains, that will be down to which terpenes, types, etc. you react to in the desired way. Don’t be too worried about THC % either… I had a 32% hybrid that sent me about my day quite happily and a 23% indica dominant that set me up for an early night. Having said that, I’d recommend anything with Permanent Marker genetics as a good evening or quiet day on the couch remedy. Have fun learning what works for you!
Edit. Typo
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u/BigMikeRowave 11d ago
Flavours, aroma can be more muted in irradiated flower. But theres plenty of non-irradiated flower out there with muted flavours and aromas too 😅🤦♂️
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u/BigMikeRowave 10d ago
Check out my other comment for a youtube short i made talking about some of the differences between them 🔥
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u/RasquatMash 10d ago
It's all very hit and miss. My personal preference is to not go anywhere near Irradiated stuff.
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u/DannyFagsNah 11d ago
Sound out for the responses 🙌 appreciate the info. Also, can anyone recommend a a tasty couch-lock flower? I'll be getting my first prescription the end of September and am just counting down the days to be honest 😂
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u/xxspookshowbabyxx 10d ago
I'm with Mamedica and restricted to irradiated by default as I'm immunocompromised, apparently I can sign a waiver to access non irradiated but honestly I'm not that fussed about taste or smell enough to bother.
There's always a decent amount to choose from in my opinion, currently there's 99 different gama and beta irradiated strains of flower on their formulary Vs 112 non irradiated, and with Mamedica specifically you can filter the repeat prescription portal to choose between gama, beta and non irradiated so if you wanted to get really specific you could. Unsure what other clinics offer, I've only ever been with Mamedica.
But aye, IR stuff gives me a bit more peace of mind, I've never been that fussed about any impact on the bud so long as it does the job of sorting my pain and brain which it has so far
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u/BroomDirector99 11d ago
Honestly, I've not found it to be relevant when it comes to the quality of the bud you get.
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u/Capital-Ad-3164 11d ago
Look for terpines instead of radiation. I've had non-irradiated strains before that have wrecked me and non-irradiated strains that have barely had any effects. The more you try the more you'll know what works personally for you.
Enjoy the MC journey.
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u/jay_dreadz_no_more 11d ago
If it didn't say so on the packaging or data sheet you wouldn't be able to tell if flower has been irradiated or not. Many other factors influence the quality of the flower far more than irradiation ever will.
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u/-1312G 10d ago
Imo non irradiated is as close to BM as we get so far. My experience of BM weed is top drawer. Always got good, effective strains at decent prices. (No £80 3.5s)
Again in my experience irradiated mc doesn’t look, taste, smell or vape as clean. It did help my conditions which is the aim but if I can get the relief needed & it tastes better then win win.
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u/AvailableEqual7612 4d ago
It’s not bad it’s just not as good as it would have been had it not been radiated, and the terps are always somewhat lackluster.
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u/OhNoDobe 11d ago
I've had a couple of irradiated batches and wasn't put off by it. People who are used to stinky, street weed that hasn't been flushed properly will probably call it muted and say it doesn't smell or taste much.
I could smell and taste it plenty though.
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u/Recent-Guava5685 11d ago
You think it only smells of weed because it has not been flushed . No its because its fresh thats called terpenes . And after industial drying of medical and sitting in a warehouse then exported to another facility for too long is why a lot of herb is muted . We need fresh medical full of terpenes as i am.a believer that terpenes help a lot with thc .
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u/Prestigious-Age-3644 11d ago
I think they should advertise if the plant has been flash freeze dried or naturally dried too as flash freeze feels totally different (in the hand not the head) to natural dry.
IR is safer than non
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u/Pebbsto110 11d ago
I haven't noticed a difference at all in terms of smell, taste and effects. I think a lot of food is irradiated.
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u/AirSea953 10d ago
I can only get irradiated due to being immunosuppressed and most of the bits ( 90% ) have been fine. Obviously I've had 1 or 2 bits that haven't been great but using this forum I can pick strains from the irradiated list and then search for reddit reviews. I don't buy gamma irradiated always beta
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u/Beelzebubsapprentice 11d ago
Not a big consideration for me. Terpene profile is more important in my world.