Cannabis 101: What s the Deal with Terpenes?

Terpenes can be simply defined as the primary constituents of essential oils. Apart from that, terpenes are the naturally occurring chemical compounds that are predominantly responsible for the aroma in the case of cannabis. Terpenes and cannabinoids in marijuana work together to create that 'entourage effect.'

In fact, cannabis is a substance where different compounds work in coordination with one another to produce a more powerful effect, which is not possible if they work individually. Scientists are still trying to figure out how these different compounds interact or, for that matter, react with each other.

In other words, terpenes are fundamentally chemical compounds that are usually found in vegetation or plants. However, these compounds can also be present in some animals. They give vegetation its unique aromas, flavors, and colors. In the cannabis world, terpenes are what make certain strains of weed smell and taste different from others.

What's the Relationship Between Cannabis and Terpenes?

Terpenes give every different strain (or breed) of cannabis its signature taste and smell, which makes each cannabis strain unique. Furthermore, while nearly all plants contain terpenes, some of the more common sources from which people encounter them include:

• Cannabis: perhaps the most well-known source of terpenes
• Aromatic herbs, such as sage and thyme: found in many kitchens around the world
• Citrus fruits: a refreshing source of terpenes

Terpenes can also be used to create a variety of products, such as cleaning solvents, pesticides, and dyes. Some terpenes even have therapeutic properties and are used for medicinal purposes.

Cannabis: What Do Terpenes Actually Do?

Terpenes are believed to have properties that protect plants from extreme weather conditions and predators. When it comes to terpenes and what they can do to humans, that is still mostly unknown at the present time. However, cannabis researchers and users are starting to pay more attention to terpenes as a way to identify different cannabis products and predict their effects at the same time.

The main hypothesis in this regard is that the terpene profile, which is believed to be the dominant terpene, of a cannabis strain works in conjunction with the cannabinoid content in order to produce the specific effects that people associate with different strains.

For example, the users might have an explanation for why two different cannabis strains that contain the same level of THC (or tetrahydrocannabinol) produce such contrasting experiences. It must be noted that different strains of cannabis can affect people in different ways, even if they have the same THC levels. So, it is important for the user to know what they are getting into before they try a new strain.

Terpenes: Can They Get You High?

Terpenes won't get the consumer high like THC does. However, there are some terpene types that are considered psychoactive owing to the effect they can have on the user's brain. In other words, some terpenes are thought to potentially affect the psychoactive effects of THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the 'high' feeling associated with cannabis.

It is important for cannabis consumers and everyone else to note that terpenes themselves are not intoxicating. However, there are a number of cannabis experts around the world who recommend choosing strains based on their terpene profiles rather than their THC content. According to them, different terpene profiles can produce different effects, so this is a more specific way to choose a strain that will give you the results you want.

Apart from all that, some preliminary research also suggests that terpenes might provide benefits for certain mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. However, more research needs to be done on this subject in order to confirm the aforementioned claims.

How Can Terpenes Be Compared With Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD)?

Tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol are a couple of the most well-known and well-studied cannabinoids found in cannabis. Just to inform you, there are over 100 cannabinoids present in cannabis. Moreover, cannabinoids and terpenes are two different compounds found in cannabis plants, both of which can give users some indication of a product's effects.

The entourage effect is the hypothesis that the full spectrum of cannabis, including all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds found in it, work together synergistically to produce the sensations and effects of cannabis. In other words, it is believed that a bit of everything might be more effective than a lot of one thing.

In fact, a recent study found that a combination of CBD and THC was more effective for pain management than THC alone. In another study, cannabis extracts were shown to be more effective against breast cancer tumors than THC on its own. However, it was believed that the synergistic effects were mainly due to other cannabinoids and not terpenes.

Conclusion

Terpenes are responsible for the aroma of cannabis. Though they are the least well-known of the compounds found in the cannabis plant, they are the most abundant. Terpenes are the chemicals that give cannabis its unique scent. It can be said that terpenes are mainly the reason that some cannabis strains make you feel happy and relaxed while others provide you with creative energy.

They are present in the essential oils of all plants and are the primary components of turpentine and camphor. Terpene molecules are large, so they can be identified by sight. There are many different types of terpenes, but the most common include myrcene, pinene, linalool, limonene, and caryophyllene. Furthermore, we hope you found all the information given in this article useful and interesting and that you'll keep coming back to us for more such informative write-ups!