Do you know why different cannabis strains have different effects? We’ll give you a hint: It’s not because they’re Indica or Sativa. Those terms actually refer to a strain’s origins, not its effects. Moreover, they’re inaccurate, and almost every strain on the dispensary shelf is a hybrid. Hmmm. So what is it, then? Why does Jack Herer get you up and Grandaddy Purple chill you out? If you guessed “because they have different cannabinoid and terpene profiles,” you nailed it.
Every strain has a different cannabinoid and terpene profile, and that’s why different strains affect people differently. Although the science behind these compounds is complex and the research is new, some basic knowledge will empower you to use cannabinoid and terpenes profiles to make wiser choices about weed.
So, it’s high time we break down the basics of cannabinoids and terpenes because it’s always wise to get wise about weed.
What are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that cannabis plants produce naturally.
How many different cannabinoids are there in cannabis?
Science has identified over 100 different cannabinoids. This makes cannabis the most plentiful and varied source of cannabinoids on the planet.
Are cannabinoids psychoactive?
Yes, but not in their natural state. Cannabis plants produce cannabinoids as acids such as THCA and CBDA. For THCA and CBDA to become the THC and CBD we know and love, they must be heated in a process called decarboxylation. This is why smoking weed gets you high.
Where are cannabinoids found?
Did you ever wonder why weed is so sticky? Well, it’s because of these things we call trichomes. Trichomes are the resinous glands that cover cannabis flowers and make them look so frosty and delicious. Trichomes also contain cannabinoids. Maybe this is why that frosty appearance is so prized. More frost = more cannabinoids.
Why does the cannabis plant produce cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids serve numerous functions essential to the health and survival of the cannabis plant. For example, the latest research suggests cannabinoids and trichomes may deter predatory insects and pests, mitigate water loss, absorb harmful UV-B radiation, and work as a sunscreen that protects the plant.
How do cannabinoids work in humans?
Cannabinoids interact with our Endocannabinoid System(“ECS”). Every human has one, and no two are the same. The human ECS are like fingerprints. This is why different people may respond differently to the same cannabis.
What does the endocannabinoid system do?
The ECS helps the body maintain homeostasis by regulating sleep, pain, memory, mood, and appetite. Visualize it as a signaling network comprised of endocannabinoids (produced by the body) and cannabinoid receptors that extend throughout the body.
How do cannabinoids affect the endocannabinoid system?
The human body contains CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and organs. Naturally produced endocannabinoids stimulate these receptors. But they’re not the only thing that does. The cannabinoids in cannabis plants are so similar to endocannabinoids that they can mimic and bind with those receptors. This is what triggers the feelings of euphoria, paranoia, pain relief, or creativity that you may feel when using cannabis.
The Most Common Cannabinoids
While over 100 cannabinoids have been identified, THC and CBD are the most prevalent, researched, and well-known.
What do THC and CBD do?
THC and CBD exist in cannabis in much higher concentrations than the other cannabinoids. High THC and high CBD are both commercially desirable traits, so some may be attributable to selective breeding.
These two organic compounds differ significantly despite their shared structural and chemical biology. Many claim that THC is psychoactive while CBD isn’t; however, this isn’t accurate. THC and CBD both impact nervous system function and may change perception, cognition, mood, and behavior. This makes both of them psychoactive cannabinoids. However, THC is also an “intoxicant” that can get you high, while CBD is not.
THC and CBD have a wide range of therapeutic uses supported by extensive research.
- PTSD
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Insomnia
- Migraines
- Glaucoma
- Inflammation
- Poor appetite
- Crohn’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Opioid withdrawal
- Inflammation and Pain
- Autoimmune disorders
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Neurodegenerative conditions
Important Minor Cannabinoids
As awareness and knowledge of cannabis increases, so called “minor” cannabinoids like CBG and CBN are also being researched for their potential therapeutic properties.
What does CBG do?
Cannabigerol (“CBG”) just might be the most important cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Known as “The Mother Cannabinoid”, without CBG, no other plant chemicals would exist. All other cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, are made from the non-acidic form of CBG, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA).
Like CBD, Cannabigerol (“CBG”) is a non-intoxicant. It is also most prevalent in high-CBD cultivars such as hemp. CBG may fight inflammation, pain, nausea and slow the proliferation of cancer cells. Research has shown it also significantly reduces intraocular eye pressure caused by glaucoma. High CBG strains may also treat conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, and cancer.
What does CBN do?
Cannabinol (“CBN”), is a mildly psychoactive cannabinoid derived from tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THC-A) when it oxidizes. CBN is often used as a sleep aid. It may also help regulate the immune system and relieve the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis and Crohn’s disease. CBN may also work as an anticonvulsant and benefit people with epilepsy.
What are Terpenes?
While we’re poking around those frosty trichomes checking out cannabinoids, we should drop in and visit their neighbors: Terpenes. Just like cannabinoids, these essential oils are compounds produced by the cannabis plant and found in its trichomes. Terpenes give cannabis that unmistakable scent that hits you like a brick when you open a fresh 1/8th from your favorite dispensary.
How many different terpenes are there in cannabis?
There are over 150 of them.
Are Terpenes Psychoactive?
While more research is needed, there is some evidence that terpenes may influence the effects of cannabis in what’s called the entourage effect (More on that later.)
Why does the cannabis plant produce terpenes?
Terpenes affect the plant’s color and pigmentation and produce aromas that attract beneficial creatures and deter harmful ones. By way of example, the terpene linalool may attract insects that spread pollen, while geraniol may repel insects that eat cannabis. Terpenes also support the plant’s immune system by communicating information about stressors in the environment and triggering immune responses.
How do terpenes work in humans?
Terpenes are a new frontier in cannabis medicine. Some research identifies various therapeutic benefits associated with terpenes, but these studies have not been performed on humans. In one study, alpha-pinene showed promise in killing viruses. Another found that limonene may inhibit the activity or growth of cancer cells. A 2021 study found that terpenes may mimic the pain-relieving effect of cannabinoids.
What’s compelling about the 2021 study is that it concerned the effects of terpenes when combined with cannabinoids. The study found that pain-relieving terpenes activate the body’s CB1 receptors and improve pain relief. This supports the theory that terpenes and cannabinoids work together in an entourage effect. (We’ll get to it soon. We Promise!)
Beyond the emerging science, a simple way to understand how terpenes work is to understand that they are not unique to cannabis, and we’ve been using them forever. If you ever put lavender oil behind your ears to relieve anxiety, you’ve used terpenes.
The Most Common Terpenes
There are over 150 terpenes found in cannabis, but a few are very prominent.
What is Myrcene?
Myrcene is very potent. Its aroma is musky and spicy, and its flavor is mildly sweet. You can also find myrcene in hops, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and mangoes. Some research suggests cannabis with myrcene levels above 0.5% may be more relaxing, and strains below 0.5% may be more energizing.
What is Limonene?
You know that smell when you peel some citrus? That’s limonene. Although limonene is a prominent terpene with many potential therapeutic benefits, we don’t know how it works in the human body or what concentration is needed. In the studies we have, the concentrations of limonene used were much higher than those found in cannabis.
What is Caryophyllene?
Caryophyllene has a spicy aroma like cracked pepper and is one of the most abundant terpenes in nature. The cannabis research community is taking a closer look at caryophyllene because it may activate cannabinoid receptors like a cannabinoid. While THC binds to the CB1 receptor in the ECS to produce a euphoric effect, caryophyllene attaches to the CB2 receptor and may provide health benefits such as reducing inflammation.
The Entourage Effect
There are over 100 cannabinoids and 150 terpenes found in cannabis. Moreover, every unique cannabis cultivar has different combinations of these compounds. Most agree that this is why different strains look, smell, and taste different. But there is controversy over whether these compounds work together in an entourage effect.
Where did the entourage effect theory originate?
In 1999 the term entourage effect was coined by the chemists Raphael Mechoulam and Shimon Ben-Shaba to describe their theory that the cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis work synergistically. It was a controversial theory because it clashed with the established belief that marijuana’s effects were attributable to THC. The theory remains controversial today due to the lack of cannabis science.
Why don’t we know more about the entourage effect?
While it may seem odd that in the era of AI and commercial space travel, we have limited information about marijuana, cannabis has been classified as a Schedule I narcotic in the Controlled Substances Act since 1973. Unfortunately, this has severely stifled research on the plant.
Is there any additional evidence that supports the entourage effect theory?
In addition to the 2021 study on terpenes and cannabinoids, a 2011 Review of Studies in The British Journal of Pharmacology found that taking cannabinoids and terpenes together may provide additional therapeutic benefits for the treatment of:
- Pain
- Anxiety
- Inflammation
- Epilepsy
- Cancer
- Fungal Infection
There is also significant evidence to suggest that CBD may modulate the effects of THC by buffering THC-induced anxiety. While there is no scientific research that establishes precisely how CBD modulates the effects of THC, the theory that CBD changes how the body processes THC by impacting how THC interacts with CB1 cannabinoid receptors is promising. Anecdotally, the belief that CBD may help with the negative side effects of THC is widely accepted within the cannabis community.
Finally, a study regarding the neuroprotective capability of CBD found that CBD may be more effective when taken with THC, even in trace quantities.
Terpene and Cannabinoids are What Differentiate Cannabis
Cannabis culture still uses the words Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid to divide cultivars into three distinct effects-based categories. According to the culture, Sativa strains are typically uplifting, energetic, and characterized by a head high. Indica strains are more calming, relaxing, and characterized by a body high.
But research has shown that Indica, Sativa, or Hybrid are not accurate terms to describe the experience or effect of a given strain. Moreover, pure Indicas and Sativas are nearly extinct. Almost everything we refer to as Indica or Sativa today is actually a Hybrid. Psychopharmacology researcher Dr. Ethan B. Russo went so far as to call the Sativa/Indica distinction as “total nonsense and an exercise in futility.”
Cannabis is an extraordinarily complex plant with over 100 cannabinoids and 150 terpenes. But what actually creates the odor, aroma, and effects of cannabis are the different cannabinoid and terpene profiles in a given cultivar.
Due to this complexity and the emerging science, there is a push to transition to the words “chemotype” or “chemovar” and move away from strain, Indica, and Sativa as the terms that characterize cannabis. A chemovar is a given plant’s chemical fingerprint. It denotes its unique blend of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Is it still ok to use the terms Indica and Sativa?
Yes, this is still common language. Just think of them as slang, and don’t get hung up on them.
Are there any shortcuts to help me get started?
There are a couple of very good ones. First, a good budtender will be familiar with every strain on the shelf. They should be able to provide information based on their experience and the experience of their customers. Second, trust your nose. If a strain smells good, it will likely be good to you.
Find the Perfect Cannabis at Phenotopia
Phenotopia lives and breathes California cannabis. We leave no stone unturned in our desire to bring you that fire. With the best flower menu in Santa Rosa and a staff that’s knowledgeable and friendly, you can’t miss at Phenotopia. So stop by today or order online for convenient pickup!
