[Tony Aroma]

Back when I was in high school and college in a large midwestern city -- late 70s - early 80s -- the most common and generally preferred weed was what was called "Colombian." You could occasionally find some sinsemilla like what is so common today, but it was rare and expensive. The Colombian (who knows where it really came from) was mostly buds, had lots of seeds (ugh), and was golden brown in color. Most notable about this weed though was its aroma. "They" used to say the good stuff "smelled like a musty basement." That's pretty much what it did smell like, though I think I would describe it more as "earthy." Not at all unpleasant. I've never smelled anything like it in the last 20 years.

What I'd like to know is, how did this stuff get that smell? I think I heard somewhere years ago that it came from a fungus. The fungus was supposedly a result of it being packed tightly when wet and exposed to high temps during shipping. That was also the reason for the golden-brown color. Is this true? Was I (and everybody I knew) smoking fungus-laced weed for all those years?

[MickTheBrag]

probablly because when it was smuggelled into the US. Drug runners usallly dump their weed for a couple of months to let things settle to see if they've been rummbled by the feds. and it was more than likely stashed in a "musty basement" so the weed then takes on a distinctive smell. or left to cure in a musty basement. columbian is good sh#t man.

[isit4.20yet]

My friend and I were just talking about columbian last night. He was beginning to say "it smelled like..." and I jumped in and said "DIRT". lol We both nodded and said how we hadn't had any in years, although i got some seeds in a bag of street weed not too long ago that had a promising odor and taste. There could be some old genes in there. I guess I'll know in 8 wks when it's done.

[linux420]

Earthy Herb.
I was seeing some good Columbian RedHair fluffy buds as recently as the late 90s when I was liing in the colorado area. It was cheap ($100/oz - $1000/lb), fluffy, deep red and green, smelt like peet moss in a cedar box. It smoked very well and the seeds sprouted bushes that would grow to ungodly sizes.
The guys I got it from always got it in bales rather than bricks.
I miss it. There was also a Oaxacan strain that smelt like a new book and tasted like coffee.

[Chiefsmokingbud]

It was brown because it was dried in the sun. UV rays will tint the color. Why it was called columbian "gold". I got the stuff up until the late 80's but the best stuff I goti heard was from Texas (not brick)

[Vernalization]

haze?

[Dog Star]

There is a time dilation in this thread...

[Weird]

i run a bagseed sativa that has a dogshit to almost musty profile at times

been running it 15 years or so

[CosmicGiggle]

I always thought the musty smell was from mold, which grows very well in 'dank' basements.

...... does any one of you real oldtimers remember the rumor going around back in the day that mold on pot increased the potency?

[vaporizeWa]

what your smeeling is mildew and mold (just like you smeel in a basement yes) as a result from improper drying and packing techniques topped of with crappy storage methods