What Exactly Are Terpenes and What Do They Have To Do With Marijuana?

If you go into a medical marijuana dispensary, you will often see over 20 different kinds of product. The names of these products will sound like an alternative music rock band name, such as Purple Haze, Northern Lights, OG Kush, Bubba Kush, White Widow, or Sour Diesel.

No established guidelines exist containing quality checks on different marijuana strains, so people cannot be certain of purchasing the identical product between various dispensaries. They would most likely be similar in quality however.

Two general strains of marijuana exist called indica and sativa. Most marijuana on sale today represents combinations of strains. The sativa varieties generally have floral, sweet aromas and are said to be energizing and inspirational. They can be helpful in separating one’s mind from their pain.

Indica blends, on the other hand, have a dry and skunk like odor. They are relaxing, sedating, and relieve stress and pain. Patients often say they work well for chronic pain in conjunction with pain medications.

Patients often believe that the differing blends of marijuana work differently secondary to the varying cannabinoid ratios in them. Cannabinoids are the mind altering components of medical marijuana, with THC being the most well known. By far, THC is the most common cannabinoid in all varieties.

Terpenes are the odor molecules that exist in the essential oils of plants. These essential oils are utilized in aromatherapy because they have been discovered to be excellent modulators of mood and brain function. There are now studies giving credence to the belief that terpenes affect how cannabis works on the human body. If this research is valid, this means knowing a marijuana strain’s odor can predict how it will act on one’s body.

The most common terpene found in marijuana is Myrcene. It’s earthy, fruity, citrus, and mango in quality. This terpene is a strong antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and pain reliever. It is thought to work in combination with THC, decreasing depression, elevating mood, and allowing more THC to get into the brain.

Another terpene, Beta-caryophyllene, smells peppery. It maintains pain relief qualities, but lacks a mental effect. So it is considered non-psychoactive. Pinene is another terpene that is a major component of turpentine. It has a piney odor and has been shown to increase focus, self-satisfaction, and memory. Terpenol smells floral with hints of orange blossom. It has a significant sedative effect and is great for sleep problems.

There are multiple terpenes that help with memory improvement, which is one thing that is usually thought to be negatively affected with existing cannabis varieties. One of these is Pulgone, which slows down the destruction of memory transfer proteins. It helps keep patients alert.

For the most part, patients looking for help sleeping should look for a floral sweet variety of marijuana with Linalool in it. As more research is performed, the different varieties of terpene and its effects on the body will hopefully become more apparent. This will help patients more effectively receiving treatment for their disease.

Want to find out more about Arizona Medical marijuana, then visit Arizona MMC’s site on how to choose the best Arizona medical marijuana doctors for your needs.