Cannabinoids & Terpenes

How an industry is adapting with science!

The aroma, flavour and colours found in cannabis are attributed to terpenes which also appear in pretty much anything with a taste, smell, or colour. Terpenes are found in the oils of things like flowers, fruits and plants including cannabis. Those oils can be extracted for use in other products such as perfumes, food, and beverages – or in this case, cannabis products. That crazy mango flavour in that shatter you got was Myrcene. It can appear naturally, or it can be added after the extraction process. Researchers have found more than 400 terpenes present in various cannabis cultivars.

Cannabinoids are a chemical compound found in cannabis. Initially, cannabis was thought to be the only plant that produces cannabinoids, but recent research shows that broccoli, cocoa, and echinacea have the same cannabinoids that our body has or can at least influence our Endocannabinoid System (ECS) by helping increase endocannabinoids in our body. Out of 480 compounds present in cannabis; 66 are termed cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids influence our ECS. The ECS is a cell-signalling system that helps us manage many of the functions within the body. Even if you do not consume cannabis, you still have an ECS because your body produces cannabinoids called endocannabinoids. These compounds are essential to the central nervous system and can impact everything from sleep to fertility.

Cannabinoids bind to the ECS receptors to alter various signals within the body by mimicking endocannabinoids. Our bodies have two main receptors named CB-1 and CB-2. The CB-1 receptors are found in brain cells and the central nervous system while the CB-2 receptors are found in the central nervous system outside of the brain and spine, as well as the immune system.

Although the science is still new and requires more studying before we can confidently make any health claims, there appears to be a strong correlation between cannabinoids and terpenes. This combined with your physiology, the environment or reason in which you use cannabis, and any past experiences will ultimately play a part in how you feel after consuming cannabis.

If you want more evidence of how the cannabis industry is adjusting to scientific data showing a correlation between how cannabinoids and terpenes will affect your experience, just check out the screenshot below from the OCS.ca website where you can filter your search based on 38 specific terpenes.

Although the OCS.ca features 38 different terpenes – there are 6 major terpenes that appear more often and in larger quantities. We’ve listed those terpenes below with their potential effects or health benefits.