A male can be just as potent as a female. Lets not forget that cannabinoids are present in the actual plant itself, and not just the trich's. Trouble with a male is that you get less weight, although it does finish quicker... also you have the problem of not pollinating the fem's. There is a specific time to harvest a male (i read that ed' rose' book back when i first started, I only borrowed it for one night though, so my memory is a little sketchy in this area), and i'm sure you smoke the pollen.