This week’s blog post is from Herb Hightower’s column bringing together the cannabis community through strain reviews, tips and tricks, and industry updates.
What Are Cannabis Terpenes?
As the cannabis community grows and becomes more knowledgeable about the cannabis plant we understandably have become more and more fond of the aroma of cannabis no matter what form it comes in. Today’s PhD-worthy marijuana oozes a musky, skunky, and pungent aroma that is remarkably unmistakable. So what is the culprit or hero that houses these wonderful smells? Terpenes are aromatic compounds that dictate the scent of flowers and herbs and provide cannabis with its distinctive odor and flavor.
What’s crazy is the more we learn about marijuana the more we understand how truly complex this plant is. Did you know the cannabis plant contains more than 150 different types of terpenes? The combination of terpenes in Bio-Star, a signature strain sold exclusively at the eight High Level Health dispensaries in Michigan and Colorado, explains its consumers’ aromas of earthy, minty, sweetness character profiles while Mimosa exudes citrus from every microscopic flower gland.
Housing is more than just great smells, terpenes also control the reaction and mood-altering effects consumers know and love.
Where Do Terpenes Come From
Terpenes are compounds found in the trichomes of female cannabis plants. If you are unfamiliar with trichomes they are the clear, sticky glands that engulf the buds of the extremely zoomed-in versions of most all High Times magazine money shots. So, essentially, trichomes hold the glands that control and create terpenes.
Many indicators affect the terpenes of cannabis plants including whether the plant was grown outdoors or indoors, exposure to light, temperature, certain growing mediums, nutrient levels, and when harvesting occurs can all play a role in the final terpenes makeup.
How Do Terpenes Effect The Body
If you’ve ever experimented with or known someone who uses lavender oil to help relax then the concept of terpenes for a purpose is not foreign to you. In fact, essential oils and aromatherapy have been in practice for many centuries. So, as we look at cannabis through an aroma-benefiting lens it is not hard to understand the potential effects terpenes can provide us.
With all the focus on the cannabinoids THC and CBD, we are now just beginning to unpack the benefits of terpenes and how these aromatic compounds provide medicinal benefits.
Preliminary Medical Benefits Of Terpenes
While terpene research is just beginning and more testing in humans is needed there is supporting evidence that terpene compounds provide the ability to kill some viruses as an antiviral, aid as an extract already present in antidepressants, and even exhibit some anticancer activity. Some terpenes have even been shown to mimic cannabinoids by creating a pain-relieving effect.
More recent research has found that terpenes boost cannabinoid activity but it is vital to understand that much is still unknown in regards to terpenes as the majority of research is still based on animals.
Terpenes Found In Cannabis
While there are over 150 different types of terpenes, here are the three terpenes that are the most predominant in cannabis.
If you’d like to learn more about terpenes our friendly budtenders are always welcome to discuss the amazing effects and benefits of the amazing cannabis plant with our customers. Visit a location near you to find out for yourself why High Level Health is the most-awarded cannabis brand in Michigan and Colorado.
Terpheads Unite!
Herb Hightower
Herb Hightower is a freelance writer, and cannabis connoisseur reporting on all things cannabis for High Level Health.
