Cannabinoids and Terpenes

You may have heard the terms cannabinoids and terpenes when purchasing or learning about cannabis. Terpenes, or terpenoids, are the aroma compounds that are produced in the flower that you smell coming from the plant. Cannabinoids are the components that come from cannabis and directly interact with the cannabinoid receptors in our body. Both cannabinoids and terpenes increase blood flow and enhance cortical activity.

Terpenes provided the distinct flavour and fragrance of the cannabis strain. It’s also known to have an effect on the high you receive from consuming cannabis. Tangerine Dream and Blackberry Kush got their names and aromas because of their distinct terpene compounds. Each strain of cannabis has their own terpene profile which is also believed to have developed in the plants to ward off pests and insects. They occur naturally in the essential oils of the plants and are technically a combination of carbon and hydrogen.

Terpenes are responsible for the physiological effects that come with cannabis. These aroma compounds have a wide range of medicinal properties and work with cannabinoids to provide a therapeutic sense of relief when consuming cannabis. With every cannabis strain having a unique terpene profile, it’s important to know which products have a robust and natural terpene profile. This will drastically influence the type of high you’ll experience when consuming cannabis.

Different terpenes have different effects depending on your body and method of consumption, they can have an affect on your mood and physical state. For example, the terpene that produces citrus is known to have a mood-elevating and stress-reducing effect where as a lavender terpene is known to help make you relax and drift to sleep. Terpenes are an essential component to how you will experience your cannabis consumption. There are over 200 different terpenes found to date and we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of their properties.

THC and CBD are both considered to be cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant. However, they’re both very different and have unique influences and effects when consumed. THC is the cannabinoid that makes you feel the experience. You get a high feeling from consuming THC. The effects of CBD however cannot be felt, it’s not an intoxicating cannabinoid. The most common use of CBD among users is it’s ability to help manage pain.

When we consume cannabis, these cannabinoids interact with our body and give us the euphoric or relaxed feeling you get when consuming cannabis.

While neither cannabinoid is fatal, high THC consumption has been connected to long-term negative psychiatric effects. Both cannabinoids are stored in your body’s fat and can also show up on drug tests days/weeks after you’ve consumed them.

Now, not every drug test can detect CBD, however there are CBD-sensitive tests available. Standard drug tests generally look for compounds related to THC which would show up on a screening. Keep in mind, hemp can produce levels of both THC and CBD which could be cause for a positive test. It’s important to note that products that claim to be THC-free may not be free of THC, so if you’re drug tested, you shouldn’t use any CBD or THC products.