Grass Class is in session students, and this time, you are really going to want to do your homework. Today’s topic: Terpenes 101. Think of this as your quick and dirty overview of one of the literal hundreds of chemical compounds that make up our favorite plant (and surprise, most other plants as well!). We receive multiple questions about the inner workings of weed almost daily and today we are tackling one of my personal favs “what the f*ck are terpenes??”
Would it be an educational article if I didn’t include the dictionary definition? No:
To translate this into stoner speak: Terpenes are chemical compounds that are responsible for the smell and taste of a plant. As I mentioned, these can be found in hundreds of other plants and products besides cannabis such as: vegetation, wood, perfumes and beer to name a few! According to Wikipedia (here I am cashing in on my monthly $1.75 donation) there are an estimated 55,000 chemical entities of terpenes! If you are a essential oil girlie/guylie/theylie then you probably know and love terpenes for their hard work in your diffuser…and nostrils? If you are not a follower of the Doterra MLM then understand that the terpenes that make up essential oils are known to set off receptors in your olfactory nerves and prefrontal cortex to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
Which brings me to the medicinal properties of these compounds. Terpenes’ pharmacological effects are partially why cannabis has been used medicinally for hundreds of thousands of years. While terpenes are not known to produce the “high” that you feel during your sesh they do work in tandem with other chemical compounds to make you feel energized, uplifted, sleepy, hungry, etc. This is called the “entourage effect”… but that’s another lesson for another day…;)
Here are some examples of commonly found terpenes and what the scientific community thinks they can help with:
Limonene: Also found in citrus fruits, is known to help alleviate anxiety as well as add a bright, crisp nose to your bud.
Pinene: Also found in pine trees, according to leafly this is “the most common terpene in the natural world”! Studies have found pinene to be good for anti-inflammation and anti-anxiety.
Caryophyllene: Also found in black pepper, this terpene is being studied to show its link to reducing alcohol consumption!
Linalool: Also found in lavender and bay leaves, this terpene has been studied alongside pain medication like opioids for patients to use after having surgery. It is shown to help alleviate chronic and inflammatory pain as well!
While cannabis is becoming more socially accepted and even more importantly, DECRIMINALIZED and LEGALIZED, we as cannabis consumers will get more knowledge about our fav plant due to more testing. Until then, take matters into your own hands. Take notes of what strains you like best and how they make you feel, then research what terpenes are in those strains! Your homework assignment is to conduct your own study at home on your couch or out with your friends— it’s for science 😉
By Taylor Barber, Dank Dykes Co-Founder
