What are Terpenes?

Have you noticed that depending on the strain of cannabis, the aroma and scent may vary? Think of the citrusy scent of super lemon haze or the skunky, deep scent of Sour Diesel. Terpenes are to thank for the noteworthy scent your nose is able to pick up on when taking a whiff of various strains of cannabis flower. The distinct and unmistakable aroma of cannabis is evidence of the many terpenes in the plant.

Terpenes are oils secreted by glandular hairs found most densely on female plants' floral leaves and flowers.1

Terpenes are found in plants and herbs such as lavender, rosemary, citrus and cannabis. In recent years, terpenes have been associated with cannabis, due to the high concentration of terpenes in the plant. Terpenes also work with other compounds in the cannabis plant to produce desired effects.

The entourage effect is when terpenes and cannabinoids work together to produce an array ofmore prominent benefitst than if the cannabinoids and terpenes were isolated. The entourage effect plays a unique role in CBD, among cannabis, terpenes, and flavonoids in CBD products.

When CBD products are consumed, they enhance the efficacy of CBD and THC while reducing potentially unwanted reactions.

Are there terpenes in the products you use? Are you familiar with the entourage effect? Let us know in the comments below!

Sources:

1 Leinow, L. and Birnbaum, J. (2017) CBD: A patient's guide to medicinal cannabis. Berkeley, CA, CA: North Atlantic Books.