Cannabis is a complex plant. There are over 60 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, many of which have opposing effects on the human body and mind. Humans have an entire system of receptors and neurotransmitters that transmit and receive cannabinoids—the effects of cannabis on humans may be even more complex than the plant itself.
This may explain why different users have such varied experiences with cannabis—different strains have different cannabinoid compositions, and certain metabolisms will process those cannabinoids in different ways.
All of that, and we haven’t even begun to factor in terpenes—the compounds that are largely responsible for giving cannabis (and other plants like pine and citrus fruits) its smell and taste. There’s evidence that terpenes are also processed by our bodies in myriad ways.
These chemicals are absorbed together when cannabis is smoked or consumed in a variety of ways. Their combination is sometimes called “the entourage effect”. In this article, we’re going to tackle three topics: What cannabinoids are, what terpenes are, and whether or not the entourage effect actually exists.
What Are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are compounds found within the cannabis plant that bind to cannabinoid receptors. Most animals produce cannabinoids (known as endocannabinoids), and both endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors may have an important effect on cognitive function, appetite, mood, and memory—though research is still ongoing, as the endocannabinoid system was only somewhat recently discovered (in the 1990s).
The cannabis plant produces a number of different cannabinoids. The two most recognizable are:
- Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is the primary psychoactive substance in cannabis.
- Cannabidiol (CBD) is not reported to have psychoactive effects and may have anti-anxiety and analgesic effects.
It’s important to remember that THC and CBD are not yet well studied or understood. This is in part because our biological cannabinoid systems are not perfectly understood and partially because THC was only recently legalized in Canada, so studies have been difficult to conduct.
Some users report that cannabis strains with higher levels of CBD improve their experience with THC—as of 2023, there hasn’t been enough rigorous scientific study to understand why that might be the case.
What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are chemicals that are largely responsible for the odours of various plants, including pine trees, many citrus fruits, and some flowers. Over 150 different terpenes have been found within various cannabis plant resins, including:
- Myrcene
- Alpha-pinene and Beta-pinene
- Limonene
- Caryophyllene
How these terpenes affect humans is still something of a mystery. There’s some evidence that terpenes have anti-inflammatory or analgesic effects, but studies are still preliminary.
Is the Entourage Effect Real?
The honest answer is: We don’t know.
Some studies have found evidence that the entourage effect is real—that different terpenes and cannabinoids interact to produce widely different effects. Other studies have shown that there’s little evidence that the entourage effect works.
The effect is incredibly difficult to study. At the best of times, the psychological and physiological effects of cannabis are subjective—different metabolisms, different settings, and different strains all seem to produce different effects.
This makes cannabis incredibly hard to study—but scientists are doing their best. In the meantime, don’t worry too much about the science—experiment with different strains and try to find the one that works best for you. Visit our cannabis store in Winnipeg—we can help.
