Weed-ucational #1: All About Terpenes
Weed-ucational Purposes: All About Terpenes
There you are, strolling down the chip aisle at your local grocery store, a jar of salsa con queso in one hand and a bag of tortilla strips tucked under your arm. As you reach for a bag of pretzel sticks (variety is the spice of life!) you suddenly catch a whiff of a very strong, skunky odor. With a hint of...lemon? Either you just hotboxed your car on the way to the store, or someone else here is holding!
How did you know just from the smell that it was marijuana? The answer is obvious: terpenes!
For most pot smokers, distinguishing certain scents or flavors in various strains is easy. Understanding how those varying scents and flavors exist in a single plant is a bit more complex. Today we are going to take a deeper look into terpenes (A.K.A. the terps!), and specifically what they are, what they have to do with weed and why the average marijuana user should care.
What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are not unique to marijuana. Many plants and insects secrete these strong-smelling oils as a form of protection. They can ward off herbivorous (plant-eating) animals or even lure carnivorous (meat-eating) predators to the area. Medicinal properties of certain plants as well as many of the fragrances used in perfumes, and even some food flavors, are the result of terpenes.
Terpenes are created by many organisms but they are also significant structural pieces in almost all living things. Many popular fruits and other plants owe their delicious and unique scents and tastes to terpenes. But terps are so much more than that, and their connection to the effects of marijuana medicinally and recreationally are difficult to deny.
Excellent information for further study on what terpenes are can be found here by Leafly (including their infographic Terpene Wheel) and here from Medical Jane.
The Weed Connection
So, what exactly do terpenes have to do with that glorious, green herb?
Certainly not every person that uses marijuana, in whatever form, is consuming for medicinal purposes. However, a significant subsection of so-called “potheads” are actually seriously seeking alleviation of symptoms from various physical and mental illnesses. Understanding the unique relationship between the brain and the psychoactive ingredients in marijuana is necessary to properly medicate.
Some studies have shown that not only do terpenes enhance and compliment the effects of THC (the main psychoactive ingredient in many recreational and medicinal strains), they also interact with the brain in a similar fashion to many common antidepressants. With more states and countries legalizing marijuana, more in-depth studies may show exact correlations and relationships.
Although there are somewhere between 120 to 140 or more terpenes associated with cannabis, there are six major terpenes that are often the most recognizable.
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Why We Care
Let’s head back to the grocery store. Specifically the produce department, just in case you didn’t notice that many of the common scents and flavors of popular strains are similar to several fruits, flowers and less-psychoactive herbs.
Photo credit: The High Road LLC, Newport WA
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This photo by The High Road (a display during one of their recent vendor days) gives a great visual example of other foods and plants that secrete terpenes. Consider the effect some of these other plant products have on your mood as well as the memories and experiences associated with the scents and tastes.
A sweet and slightly bitter glass of cool lemonade in August. A warm bath with lavender after a long day. A morning walk in the woods, the fresh scents of pine and earth filling the air.
Not only do these familiar scents evoke pleasant and emotional memories, the terpenes that create them interact with THC and neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain associated with serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine levels. Commonly referred to as the “feel-good” chemicals, these are the same areas targeted by antidepressants and some opiate-based prescription pain medications.
According to www.medicaljane.com, as we start “mapping out terpene profiles, we are able to predict and even manipulate the effects and medicinal value of varieties”. The more we study and learn about the multitude of psychotropic ingredients and effects of marijuana, our capability to alleviate a significant amount of suffering for fellow humans increases.
With the U.S. currently in the throes of a national opioid epidemic and President Trump and his cronies categorically barring the potential for marijuana to ease this crisis, it is ever more incumbent on legalization advocates to band together for the common cause. Removing the negative stigma associated with marijuana (and those who use it), through avenues of legalization, can bring new opportunities to openly study the effects, clinically and anecdotally.
Terpene-Focused Brands
- The High Road (prints the specific terpenes and percentages on the label)
- New Day (access on website to terpene counts and full analytics)
- Jungle Boys/ Exotikz (well-known growers focused on terpenes)
These are just a few brands available in Washington state dispensaries (do we still have dispensaries??) and bud shops with an emphasis on terpene content.
Do your research and learn as much as you can. Experiment, in moderation, and remember that not all strains are created equal. If your intention is relief of symptoms associated with a physical or mental illness, take notes and be honest with yourself about the effects. Talk with your budtender, see if they can make suggestions for strains to help with your symptoms.
Most importantly, remember to keep calm and smoke on.
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