The Significance Of Terpenes In Cannabis Plants

The Cannabis plant has been used by mankind for hundreds if not thousands of years. In the twentieth century weed was mainly used for its recreational properties but recent scientific research has rediscovered its medicinal properties and whilst this plant remains banned in many countries, others have legalised therapeutic practice, and a few have gone so far as to de-criminalise all cannabis use.

The cannabis business sector is becoming one of the fastest growing sectors today, with millions invested into commercial grow operations, medical training, dispensaries and medical research. 

Botanically, cannabis is a simple plant, with its origins in an annual weed growing and thriving in the most hostile environments all over the globe. Seeds sprout in spring, the plant grows through to midsummer when it flowers as either a male or a female plant. Its only through the intermingling of female and male flowers that seeds can be produced and result in the next generation of plants the following year. 

What are Terpenes?

The term ‘terpene’ is derived from turpentine and covers a diverse number of organic compounds found in all plants. Plant species that have strong distinctive smells, such as lavender or pine trees do so because they have higher terpene production. Hundreds of terpenes are known today. Their unique scents and effects make them interesting, because those plants with strong aromas also often have traditionally medicinal effects. When you extract an essential oil of lavender, you are distilling and concentrating the terpenes.

So, what is the significance of terpenes in cannabis?

Terpenes are present in high levels in cannabis. Without a doubt, weed is a distinctively smelly plant. And whilst taste and smell are separate senses, they are intimately entwined: if something has no smell or a bad smell, we will find it flavourless or distasteful. How often do you prejudge the quality of a bag of weed based on the strength of its smell?

The type of terpenes present varies with each cannabis strain. Laughing Buddha cannabis strain will have different terpene composition from Strawberry Kush.

The most commonly found terpenes in cannabis are as follows:

Out of these, myrcene are the most commonly found terpenes in cannabis. It has an important function in addition to producing a distinctive smell: its believed that myrcene enables THC to cross the blood-brain barrier, thus allowing your brain to receive more THC and create a greater high. Interestingly it makes up about 3% of chemical content in pure indica strains and only 0.5% in sativa strains. It has been found in several studies that myrcene concentration decides whether the strain will have energetic sativa effects of sedative indica ones.

We can hypothesise that synergistic effects vary when combined with terpenes and cannabinoids.  

Significance of terpenes in cannabis

1. Terpenes have a direct affect on the ‘high’ and influence the Entourage Effect of cannabis

Just like cannabinoids, terpenes fit receptors in the brain and trigger different effects.

A research paper was published by Ethan Russo which discussed the activities of terpenes and cannabinoids. He described how they influence the effects of each other in the ECS of the human body. Him along with his team proved how THC is not the only popular element in marijuana. CBD, other cannabinoids and terpenes can influence the effects of THC and other chemicals affecting ECS.

For example, myrcene increases the effects of THC and induces sleepiness. It also fights cancer and has anti- inflammatory properties.

2. Medical properties

Dr. Russo also reveals in his paper how terpenes can synergise in accordance with treatment of inflammation, pain, anxiety and depression, epilepsy, cancer, addictions and infections.

Several marijuana doctors believe that most of the terpenes present in cannabis are either anti- inflammatory in nature or analgesic. Legalized states permit to buy weed online as well as offline.

3. Natural flavour of vape oils and cannabis

Apart from medical properties, terpenes are also responsible for providing the flavour to cannabis. Terpenes evaporate at a lower temperature than cannabinoids and their benefits are limited if exposed to high temperatures. A low heat vape pen allows you to get the most from the terpenes in your cannabis. 

Cannabis extracts like seeds, CBD oil and strains are all vital in the medical area. Nowadays, states which have legalised cannabis also permit its citizens to grow cannabis. There are several guides which instruct how to grow weed.

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