cannabis

Talking About Terpenes

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What are terpenes? Where are they found? And what do they do?

Most seasoned stoners know that different strains of cannabis produce different effects. Some strains boost your energy and stimulate your mind. Others unlock unknown creativity. Still others can make your limbs tingle pleasantly or help you drift off to sleep. Often, the cannabis community uses terms like Indica, Hybrid and Sativa to differentiate between effects. But some experts have indicated that terpenes actually account for many of the effects and benefits of the plant.

Terpenes are a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants. Basically, they’re everywhere. They give plants their distinct flavors and smells, like citruses, florals,  pine, or eucalyptus.

Terpenes makeup essential oils from plants and flowers. Western and alternative medicines use terpenes for their healing benefits. Aromatherapy, fragrances, and flavorings often use terpenes for scent and flavor and effect. Fun fact: Vitamin A is a terpene!

Aromatherapy works by targeting the specific effects of certain terpenes to affect the body in different ways:

  • Lemon and citrus can be stimulating.
  • Lavender tends to relax and calm.
  • Mint can help open airways in the lungs, benefiting respiratory function.

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Terpenes in cannabis play major roles in contributing to the effects of each strain. Several factors can influence the development of terpenes like genetics, climate, soil type, age and maturation, and soil conditions.

Some terpenes also bind to the receptors in the brain responsible for the production of psychoactive effects, leading many to believe that terpenes play a key role in determining the high the consumer experiences. That means there are a lot of contributing factors to strain potency, beyond total cannabinoid percentage labels.

While THC content can certainly suggest a stoney product, terpene profiles also affect how stoney and the specific qualities associated with a strain. Some terpenes can modify how much THC passes through the blood-brain barrier–the more, the stonier. Certain terpenes can affect dopamine and serotonin by changing their production and destruction.

So how do you know which products will provide the stoney outcomes you’re looking for?

Check out this breakdown of commonly found terpenes, their characteristics, and their medical benefits:

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Alpha-Pinene and Beta-Pinene

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Aroma: Pine

Effects: Alertness, memory retention, counteracts some THC effects

Medical Value: Asthma, antiseptic

Also Found In: Basil, dill, pine needles, parsley, and rosemary

High Pinene Cannabis Strains:

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Myrcene

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Aroma: Musky, cloves, earthy, herbal with notes of citrus and tropical fruit

Effects: Sedating “couchlock” effect, relaxing, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic; good for muscle tension, sleeplessness, pain, inflammation, depression

Also Found In: Hops, lemongrass, mango, and thyme

High Myrcene Cannabis Strains:

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Limonene

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Aroma: Citrus

Effects: Elevated mood, stress relief, antifungal, anti-bacterial, anti-carcinogenic, dissolves gallstones, mood-enhancer; may treat gastrointestinal complications, heartburn, depression

Also Found In: Fruit rinds, rosemary, juniper, peppermint

High Limonene Cannabis Strains:

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Caryophyllene

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Aroma: Cloves, pepper, spicy, woody,

Effects: No detectable physical effects, Gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory; good for arthritis, ulcers, autoimmune disorders, and other gastrointestinal complications

Also Found In: Black pepper, cloves, cotton

High Caryophyllene Cannabis Strains:

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Linalool

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Aroma: Floral, citrus, candy

Effects: Anxiety relief and sedation, anti-anxiety, anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, anti-acne

Also Found In: Cinnamon, certain types of fungi, lavender, and mint

High Linalool Cannabis Strains:

 

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Alpha Bisabolol

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Flavor / Aroma – Floral, citrus, and candy

Medicinal Uses – Can be used to heal wounds, fights bacteria, and can be used as deodorizer. Some folks think alpha bisabolol has been effective in treating a variety of inflammations.

Strain –

  • Oracle

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Geranoil

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  • Flavor/Aroma Floral: specifically like geraniums occasionally fruity like passionfruit, peaches, or plums
  • Medical Uses: Can be used as a mosquito repellent. Can also potentially act as an anti-fungal, an anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, and as a neuroprotectant
  • Also found in: stonefruits like passionfruit, peaches, and plums, as well as several types of flowers
  • Strains

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Delta 3 Carene

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Borneol

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  • Flavor / Aroma – Earthy and like camphor.
  • Medicinal Uses – Borneol can be used as an analgesic, anti-insomnia, anti-septic, and bronchodilator. It can also be an effective natural bug repellant.
  • Strains:

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Camphene

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Eucalyptol

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  • Flavor / Aroma – Spicy. Eucalyptol is used as a cooking spice and fragrance.
  • Medicinal Uses – Can be effective in removing mucus from airways, reduce asthma symptoms. Eucalyptol is used in a variety of products including cough suppressants, mouthwash, and body powder. Can also be found in bay leaves, tea tree, sweet basil, rosemary, common sage, and other aromatic plant foliage.
  • Strains – Some cannabis strains contain eucalyptol, however, it is typically in very small amounts. An analysis of Super Silver Haze showed .06% eucalyptol.

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Caryophyllene

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  • Flavor / Aroma – Hoppy. Cannabis and hops are basically cousins.
  • Medicinal Uses – Studies suggest that caryophyllene may help treat anxiety and depression.
  • Strain – Green House Seeds tested a hydroponic and a soil-grown specimen of Train Wreck. They found the soil grown cannabis contained .33% caryophyllene. The hydronic only contained .07% caryophyllene.

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Terpineol

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  • Flavor / Aroma – Pine, clove. Also occures in pine trees, lime blossoms, and lilacs.
  • Medicinal Uses – Studies suggest cannabis-extracted terpineol contains antioxidant properties. Antibiotic, antioxidant, anti-tumor, sedative, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and anxiolytic
  • Strain – A marijuana testing lab claims terpineol is a unique terpene found in

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Which terpenes and flavors are your favorite?
Comment below!

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*Note: Not every batch of any given strain will have high levels of these terpenes as they are subjected to variable growing conditions. The only way to be sure is through a lab’s terpene analysis.

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Cannabis Research

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Why I have trust issues:

If you’ve been in the weed game for longer than five minutes, you probably already know the problematic nature of cannabis research. Since the scheduling of cannabis deemed it to be a narcotic with “no medical value,” laws make it nearly impossible to do clinical research. An article in the L.A. Times reported, “Some prominent researchers complain approval is unreasonably tough for scientists whose work aims at finding beneficial uses for the drug.”

Until recently, scientists in the United States performed studies under the directive of proving the dangers of cannabis. Propaganda ensued. Regrettably, claims of lowered IQ, premature aging, lung disease, and addiction (among scads others) enveloped the plant in misinformation. The government even released a study claiming that cannabis kills braincells. However, researchers have never been able to replicate these claims and have largely debunked them. Regardless, concerned parents across the country still quote this when confronted with cannabis.

But even research that indicates cannabis can help treat symptoms of diseases should be approached critically. Because research institutions have national grants and must comply with federal law, scientists must research exclusively with the federally legal source of cannabis, provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Where does research weed even come from?

Until very recently, 12 acres of campus at the University of Mississippi has provided all the cannabis used for studies. The director of the Marijuana Project at Ole Miss, Mahmoud A. ElSohly, leads the long-time legal grow operation. The garden has begun gearing up to grow around 30,000 plants to facilitate the growing demand by researchers.

ElSohly runs the heavily regulated, out-door facility. He grows the plants for scientists seeking to research its effects after receiving special licensing through several federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). ElSohly has been quoted saying, “Pot should never be smoked. You do that to get high and there are ways to move the curative chemicals into your system without getting stoned…THC is not absorbed through the rectum,” in an article for the L.A. Times in 2014.

With regards to legalization happening across the country, ElSohly said in the same article, “The liberalization of those laws really scares me. To have marijuana available just like that? I feel sorry for Colorado and Washington state. In a few years, you are really going to see the impact of the liberal laws they have there.”

To date, Washington state has collected around $401 million from the cannabis excise tax, greatly impacting local communities.

Though ElSohly does believe in the potential benefits of cannabis, he has also admitted having never consumed it. Many long-time cannabis growers have scoffed at his admission. Some compare growing cannabis to professional chefs: how are you going to make a good sauce if you’ve never tasted the recipe?

What does that mean for research?

Basically? Research bud is bunk schwag. And a recent study out of the University of Colorado can confirm.

Using statistics provided by NIDA and lab results from Steep Hill from Denver, Oakland, Sacramento, and Seattle, researchers compared data. “Our results demonstrate that the federally produced Cannabis has significantly less variety and lower concentrations of cannabinoids. Current research, which has focused on material that is far less diverse and less potent than that used by the public, limits our understanding of the plant’s chemical, biological, psychological, medical, and pharmacological properties,” the study reported.

It’s kind of like only testing Xanax at an eighth of a dose.

And while centuries of use—spanning cultures and generations—teaches us incredible amounts about the herb, we still have so much research to do. What are the full effects of cannabis on things like tumor growth or movement disorders? We don’t yet know.

Cash-Only Cannabis

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We’re your local provider of potent marijuana products & friendly, expert advice. Our large selection of cannabis flower includes a wide variety of quality bud strains.

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With each passing election, our country ushers in a new era of legal cannabis consumption. To undermine the illicit markets, many states have legalized the sale of cannabis for patients and recreational users. But one thing bears an odd resemblance to the old black market: cash-only cannabis.

Customers constantly question why cannabusinesses can’t accept credit cards. And rightly so. Many believed that this would be one of the biggest difference between legal and illegal weed. But for some reason, we still need to get cash before we can grab any green.

So why no plastic?

Banks answer to the federal government. And federal regulations even define transporting marijuana money as a felony. That means that even in legal states, federally insured banks cannot legally process the money. Across Washington state, cannabusinesses struggle to find safe and legal banking options, usually turning to credit unions, who can provide necessary services, but at an incredible cost.

And Washington isn’t alone. Cannabusinesses in Colorado, Oregon, California, and Alaska (to name only a few) can’t get loans or use federally run banks. Some banks have even shut down personal accounts of business owners, jeopardizing college funds, savings accounts, and mortgages. Because of banks’ inability to get involved, dispensaries remain cash-only.

Many businesses have turned to community financial credit institutions for services. But since credit card processing companies won’t work with cannabusinesses, dispensaries are stuck. With the industry doing billions in sales in 2016 nation-wide, the issue of cash-only cannabis dispensaries weighs on the minds of many.

What do businesses do?

Many have set up ATMs. All The Joint locations, for example, have an ATM for customers who didn’t come in with enough cash. Beyond that, there isn’t much.

However, in Washington and Oregon, a transitional company called PayQwick allows companies to electronically transfer money between sellers, customers, and growers. The company also works with the Treasury Department to file the required paperwork, relieving banks of the additional task. These types of companies usually function as an at-register ATM, and often charge customers for services. Your personal bank could also charge you for using an unauthorized ATM.

Federally reforming the classification of cannabis remains the only solution for cannabusinesses trying to secure finances and accept customer’s credit cards. Once the federal government deschedules cannabis, banks can legally accept their business. And businesses can legally accept your plastic!

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Lab Cannabis Testing

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Should we trust cannabis testing results for product potency?

Customers comment often that the coolest quirk of legalization is cannabis testing. Don’t guess which strain is fire: our consumers feel it only takes a quick compare/contrast of the tiny test results on the back of each baggie before they know which product is powerfully potent. But how effective is that?

Experts across the state have raised their collective eyebrow, questioning the accuracy of these tests by up to 10%. Any budtender will tell you, if you have four different grams for sale, it doesn’t matter if gram A is the frostiest. The highest testing will sell out first.

“Customers rely heavily on printed numbers,” a Pot Shop budtender explained. “I’ve looked a customer in the eye and explicitly said, ‘I’ve tried all of these. Don’t believe the numbers. This one is the most potent,’ only to have them nod along and grab the highest testing anyway. Even when it clearly won’t look, taste, or smoke as good.” This attitude proliferates through the cannabis community.

But I thought numbers don’t lie?

Due to regulations, most consumers put blind faith in the numbers on each bag, but mounting evidence suggests we shouldn’t. “There are clear indications that a large number of potency values are higher than reality,” Donald Land, a chemistry professor at UC Davis and part-owner of Steep Hill Labs, told Seattle Weekly. “That’s not because of errors, that’s intentional.”

The issues stem from laws requiring regulations, without laws clearly defining regulatory standards. That means Washington says that cannabis must be tested, but doesn’t yet specify how. Through this grey area, laboratories around the state (and in other cannabis-friendly states) can pad their numbers, ensuring growers return to that lab for more fast-selling lab results.

Not only that, but the natural variations of a plant means that differences will occur flower-to-flower on the same plant. Just like how one rose bush could produce five flowers. The top flower might grow to be enormous and fragrant. But another flower could look sickly and only half bloom, from the same plant. That happens with cannabis too. The plant’s biological components vary enormously. Yet the state only requires tests of one bud from one strain. This leaves space for natural variability and major inaccuracy.

So what is WA State going to do about testing?

In light of testing inconsistencies, the WA Liquor and Cannabis Control Board have proposed requiring labs to test three samples of each product. According to Joanna Eide, the coordinator for the LCB: “The hope is that [average] is a more accurate potency of the plant.”

But Land has reservations about this change. “Just doing the three samples alone won’t solve the problem of bad actors. Bad actors can manipulate three measurements just as easily as they can manipulate one,” he says. And he’s right. Since nothing stops labs from using “business-friendly” results currently, nothing would stop them continuing that practice.

Others have suggested that the three samples be tested by different labs, ensuring independent numbers, and (theoretically) more honest averages. The conversation, however, is ongoing.

Currently, the LCB has opened up the topic of cannabis regulations to the masses. A public hearing will be held 11 January 2017, before a vote on 25 January. If you have opinions on the validity of cannabis testing (and as a consumer, you should), contact the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Control Board.

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