Detailed Guide: Terpenes or ‘TERPS’
Maybe you have a go-to strain because of its lemony scent. Or, maybe you’re into its uplifting effects. Whatever your preference, understanding the associated terpenes can open you up to a wider range of cannabis experiences at our dispensaries in Massachusetts and beyond.
What are terpenes?
Those sugary trichomes you see on your bud create terpenes! Not only do they help protect the plant as it grows, terpenes are what gives each cannabis strain it’s signature aroma, taste, and medicinal effects.
While terpenes add to what makes each strain characteristically sativa or indica through the entourage effect, it’s the harmony of all the components of cannabis that shape the physical and mental experience. There is a certain synergy that occurs between the terpenes that produce both the psychological and pharmacological effects of your favorite strains.
Entourage Effect
In 1998, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and Professor Ben-Shabat developed the term “entourage effect.” Our endocannabinoid systems interact with cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other organic material to create the cannabis experience. These elements all combined, provide psychological and pharmacological effects which are individualized based on our specific endocannabinoid systems. To fully understand how these complicated systems work together, federal regulations of cannabis need to be removed and much additional research is required.
