Do you have anything like a jewelers loop? If you can get a close look at the trichomes, you can tell the ripeness.

• clear trichomes- Not ripe, but the buzz is more of a heady, speedy high
• Milky white trichomes- Ripe, peak THC
• After you let it go a little longer, the milky white trichomes will turn an amber color. The THC drops, and the cannabaniod CBN will go up, producing more of a sleepy buzz. So you can let the trichomes go to a certain % of amber to milky white trichomes.

So if you go by that guide, you can pick the buds to your preference. Me personally I like to pick at peak THC, with just 10% of trichomes turned amber.