A Beginner's Guide to Cannabis Terpenes and how they impact your experience
If you have ever thought about why two strains of cannabis with similar percentages of THC can be so different in terms of how they feel or taste, then terpenes are your answer. Terpenes are probably one of the most overlooked and misunderstood elements of cannabis. Once you get an understanding of terpenes, you will likely view shopping for cannabis differently.
What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are organic chemical compounds with fragrant aromas that occur naturally in the cannabis plant — specifically in the trichomes (resin glands) where all cannabinoids are produced including THC and cbd. The combination of terpenes contribute to each individual strain’s aroma/flavor profile and influence the total effects of the cannabis product you choose to Consume.
It is also worth noting that while terpenes are found within cannabis, they are present in many other types of plants such as citrus fruits, pine trees, Lavender, black pepper and hundreds of others.
Most important terpenes found within cannabis
Terpene | Aroma | Associated Effects | Found In |
Myrcene | Earthy, musky | Relaxing, sedating | Indica-dominant strains |
Limonene | Citrus, lemon | Uplifting, mood-elevating | Sativa and hybrid strains |
Caryophyllene | Spicy, pepper | Grounding, tension-relieving | OG Kush, Cookies |
Pinene | Fresh pine | Alert, clear-headed | Jack Herer, Blue Dream |
Linalool | Floral, lavender | Calming, anxiety-reducing | Wedding Cake, Lavender |
Terpinolene | Fruity, herbal | Energising, creative | Durban Poison, Jack Herer |
What makes Terpenes Important over Potency (THC %)
The THC % gives you an idea of how strong a strain is; The Terpene profile shows you the quality of the experience you will have when you smoke that same strain.
A 25% THC Strain that has Myrcene as its most prominent Terpene will produce a much different experience compared to another 25% THC Strain that has Limonene as its most prominent Terpene — even though both strains are the exact same strength.
That’s why experienced Cannabis users look at the Terpene Profile before they choose their next strain based on a number, which is typically THC %.
Entourage Effect
Terpenes do not work in isolation. Terpenes interact with Cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBG) to create an effect, or modify an existing effect. This interaction among plant chemicals is called the entourage effect. That is why Full-Spectrum products usually give a more complete feeling than Isolated THC.
How to use this knowledge
When you go shopping for your next strain take a moment to view the most prominent Terpenes and compare them to the type of experience you want. If you are looking for a relaxing/medicinal effect you would probably be best served using a strain that is heavy on Cbgs/Cbd’s and/or B-Caryophyllene.