Terpenes – The Next Frontier

Some cannabis users may know about the effect of eating a ripe mango 45 minutes before smoking. It is said that doing so can greatly increase the effect of marijuana. One theory here is that mangoes contain Myrcene, a terpene that we can find in some fruits. The Myrcene acts in synergy with the THC and directly alters how it affects us.

These findings showing the role of terpenes in producing very distinctive types of highs are now elevating the cannabis industry, research, and cultivation to all-new promising levels. Terpenes are now becoming the worthwhile focus, not just for connoisseurs who seek a certain flavour, but also to those wanting to understand and maximise marijuana’s effects. The medical cannabis industry, in particular, is interested in the effects of terpenes and their synergy with cannabinoids.

Terpenes make way for plenty of new and exciting research: We can now directly influence the herb’s high and “tune” it according to our needs.

By adding limonene, for instance, we can get a stimulating effect. In the same way, we can add linalool if we desire a more relaxing and sedative high from the plant.

Laboratories are beginning to test strains not just for THC and CBD but also for their terpene content. When we understand what types of terpenes are in a particular strain, we can know beforehand about its effects.

Understanding about terpenes opens new levels of medical research about the effects of cannabis. This means new exploration opportunities for cultivators and seedbanks. One may speculate that it won’t take too long until a strain’s smell will be sufficient enough information to be able to predict its particular effect.

As discussed before, there are more than 100 different types of terpenes in marijuana; however, this doesn’t take into account the many different variations – such as amount and concentration. A good example of this would be to compare a lemon to an orange. Both fruits contain the exact same type of terpene, limonene, but in different concentrations. A small variation of the amount is enough to make a lemon smell quite different to an orange.