that's a tough one ... personally, I throw away bud that is questionable in any way ... your health is at stake, being irreversibly ill is no fun ... but, saying that, I suspect it MAY be OK for cooking ... and, I'm just tossing around ideas, here ... wouldn't the cooking process, whch is around 300-350 F, usually, kill any living mold organisms ??? ... I'm no authority, so don't assume I gave it the thumbs-up ... :wtf: