Ever since NIDA (The National Institute For Drug Abuse) has lost its stranglehold on marijuana research, a new understanding of marijuana’s chemical properties has been surfacing. It’s likely that you already know about THC if you’ve found yourself reading this article, but, THC is the cannabinoid responsible for a lot of the effects associated with the altered state of consciousness. CBD on the other hand is popular in the medical community because of its unique ability to treat a plethora of medical conditions as well as being non-psychoactive. In light of new scientific information, many medical patients and recreational connoisseurs have moved away from picking their buds based off of THC and CBD percentages. While high THC and CBD percentages are usually indicative of good quality bud, the terpene profile of the plant is just as important. Certain terpenes help regulate the amount of THC that is able to cross the blood/brain barrier, in essence, terpenes are an important factor in how high you’re able to get. Recent studies have shown that certain terpenes also have medical benefits such as anti-microbial, anti-inflamatory, sedative effects as well as many others. If you have two different marijuana strains that have similar THC percentages, terpenes are whats responsible for many of the unique effects you experience.
According to Weebly.com:
[In Cannabis:
-over 120 different terpenes can be manufactured by Cannabis, some only in trace amounts with others in double-digit percentage
-produced in the Trichomes, the same glands where THC is produced, comprising between 10 and 20 percent of the total oils produced by the glands
-about 10-29 percent of marijuana smoke resin is composed of terpenes/terpenoids
-drug sniffing dogs are able to smell odorous terpenes, not THC
-age, maturation and time of day can affect the amount and ratios of terpenes. They are constantly being produced but are vaporized by heat and light of the day… so harvest in early morning!
-climate and weather also affect terpene and flavonoid production. The same variety, even genotype, can produce a different terpene profile when grown in different soils or with different fertilizers.
-in addition to many circulatory and muscular effects, some terpenes interact with neurological receptors
-a few bind weakly to Cannabinoid receptors
-others seem to alter the permeability of cell membranes and allow in either more or less THC
-others affect serotonin and dopamine chemistry (neurotransmitters)]
With all that being said, there is still a looming gap of information concerning marijuana and its incredible capabilities. With currently over 40,000 different uses for the cannabis plant, we are bound to find more. So for now, whether you choose your buds based on THC percentage, terpene profile, or aesthetics, it is still your own prerogative. Enjoy responsibly, you’re an ambassador for the legalization movement.
-EW44
