The Evolution Magazine Janaury 2025 | Page 12

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Missouri Cannabis Education

Terpenes

Understanding How They Can Help

One of the most difficult things is to determine the effect of a particular cannabis strain . by Leah Maurer , contributing writer

Leah

Leah Maurer , a native Missourian , is a canna journalist and activist living in Portland , OR . She is a co-owner of The Weed Blog www . theweedblog . com Co-Owner 420-420 Digital Media Solutions and the text code 420-420 . In 2014 , Maurer founded Moms for Yes on Measure 91 through grassroots efforts alone , which proved pivotal in adult-use legalization in Oregon . During that time , she also co-founded Show-Me Cannabis to help launch the legalization effort in Missouri . Maurer is a social justice activist at the core and hopes to see the end to the prohibition of cannabis globally .

What are terpenes , and how can they help consumers determine what effect a cannabis strain might have on their bodies ?

One of the most difficult things to determine without at least a little trial and error is the effect that particular cannabis strains will have on each individual cannabis consumer ’ s body . Everyone has a different endocannabinoid system , and our bodies interact differently with cannabis strains because of this . For example , a particular strain might have a sleepy effect on one person but a creative , head-high effect on another person .

Traditionally , consumers thought that the overall effect could simply be determined by knowing if the cannabis strain was Indica or Sativa . It was thought that Indicadominant strains describe stoning , heavy , sleepy varieties , whereas Sativa strains were always described as an energetic and more uppy and head-high . For many consumers and patients this still may ring true , but research in recent years has proven that the terpenes in cannabis strains can actually determine effect as well .

More recent discoveries from scientists link the effects of a strain to its specific cannabinoid and terpene profiles . Although Indica and Sativa classifications certainly correlate to the morphology of a strain , they don ’ t necessarily determine the chemical profile within . Through what some refer to as the Entourage Effect , terpenes determine whether a high will be physical and stoning or cerebral and stimulating . Either way , terpenes enhance the “ high ” a person gets from using cannabis . The Entourage Effect implies that terpenes enhance or alter the effects of cannabinoids in the body .

First , little terpene background . Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in many plants , though many people commonly associate them with cannabis because cannabis plants contain high concentrations of them . These aromatic compounds create the characteristic scent of many plants , such as pine and lavender , as well as fresh orange peel ( and , of course , cannabis ). The fragrance of most plants is due to a combination of terpenes . In nature , these terpenes often protect the plants from animal grazing or infectious germs .

Terpenes differ from cannabinoids . Cannabinoids are chemical compounds in the cannabis plant that activate receptors in the body ’ s endocannabinoid system , which is what creates the “ high ” that people experience when they use cannabis . Tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) and Cannabidiol ( CBD ) are the most well-known cannabinoids , but they are just two of many cannabinoids that the cannabis plant contains .

Terpenes may also act on the endocannabinoid system in the body in a similar way to cannabinoids . The key difference is that “ each ” body absorbs and uses these compounds in different ways . While there are many terpenes in the natural world , scientists have only studied a handful .

Examples of better-known terpenes within the scientific community that are common in cannabis include :

Limonene

Limonene is a common terpene that most people recognize by its potent aroma . Limonene gives the rinds of fruits such as lemons and oranges their citrusy smell .

12 January 2025