Besides cannabinoids, indica, and sativa, you may have heard the word “terpenes” used to talk about cannabis. This is another chemical that has been found in marijuana. What are terpenes, though? How important is it to know what cannabis is in a product and how much there is before you buy it?
What are terpenes?
Both plants and animals have terpenes. They are what give plants more info on their smells, tastes, and even colors. Terpenes are what make cannabis strains smell and taste the way they do. They can be turned into paints, cleaners, and pesticides. Many are good for you.
What exactly do they do?
Terpenes help protect plants from animals and the weather. No one knows what they do. Terpenes are used by researchers and people who use cannabis to classify products and predict how they will make them feel.
The main idea is that the dominant terpenes in a strain work with its cannabinoid content, which is the amount of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and other cannabinoids, to produce the effects that people associate with different strains which can be determined by cannabis potency testing.
They could, for example, explain why two strains with the same amount of THC have different effects.
Do they give you a high?
Terpenes will not make you high in the traditional sense. Some of them are still called psychoactive because they affect the brain. Terpenes don’t make you high, but they may affect THC, the cannabinoid that gives you a high.
Many cannabis fans and budtenders think that THC levels are the most important thing for customers to consider when choosing a strain. Instead, they say that to get the results you want. You should focus on specific terpene profiles.
Experts say that some terpenes may be helpful for mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Why is a lab test for terpenes important?
No matter what strain was harvested, it’s hard to know what the final terpene profile of the product will be until it is tested. Terpenes are found in both hemp and cannabis plants, but their strength depends on the weather, the type of ground, and how old the crop is. Terpene profiles can also differ based on whether they come from the flower or the extract.
Terpenes found in flowers might give more reliable results for potency. When cannabis is heated during the extraction process, the end product often has a big drop in terpenes, which means it doesn’t have the same chemical profile as the whole plant.
You will need to know exactly what your finished product or flower is made of since many people may need the whole plant to feel better. Because of this, you will be able to highlight the terpenes in your marketing materials and teach customers why they should try your product or not, depending on how likely they will have an allergic reaction to it. Click here to learn more on the procedures on cannabis lab testing.
Conclusion
Terpenes change the smell and taste of a cannabis strain. They might work with cannabinoids and other compounds in cannabis to make you feel happy. Aside from cannabinoids and terpenes, your body, the way you use cannabis, and your environment can all affect how you feel. Terpenes are just one piece of the puzzle, but they can be a fun way to try out various products and find out what you like best.
