The Benefits of an Expanded Cannabinoid and Terpene Profile
A lot has changed over the last decade with the transition from black market cannabis, to grey market medical cannabis, and finally to the legally licensed and regulated system that we have today in Washington state. One of the most important changes has been the testing that is required on cannabis products. There used to be no way of telling what you were buying, and more importantly, any indication of the strength and potency of the cannabis. These days everything is tested for at least THC & CBD, but something that we greatly appreciate at The Novel Tree Medical is when an expanded cannabinoid profile is provided by the grower.
What we mean by expanded profile is any information beyond CBD & THC content or ratio. That can be the quantity of lesser cannabinoids like CBG or THCV, or it could include terpene profiles. Any extra information that can be provided helps us tremendously in finding what the most ideal product for someone will be. Much is still being learned about how lesser cannabinoids, even when found in small amounts, can enhance and alter the effects and benefits of a product. Making that information available to consultants, budtenders, and consumers helps people learn to look for things that they may like and may work best for their unique set of needs.
Many of the companies that we carry at The Novel Tree Medical provide additional information on their packaging. Skagit Organics and Puffin Farms are two cannabis growers that really go above and beyond in this respect. They include information on their packaging to help people make the most educated decisions, and to see how a cannabis varietal or strain can change from batch to batch and harvest to harvest.
Skagit Organics and Minor Cannabinoids
Skagit Organics sources high quality, pesticide-free cannabis from licensed growers around Washington state. They then process this premium cannabis flower into amazing FECO, RSO, distillate, and other concentrates. These high-potency oils can be an amazing and cost-effective way for people with chronic conditions to achieve relief from pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, nausea and many other issues and ailments.
Each batch of Skagit Organics CBD oil and RSO is tested for cannabinoid content, even minor cannabinoids like CBN, CBD, CBC and CBT.
Every harvest of cannabis, even the same plant from the same grower can have slight variances. So, while we will always have similar products, we might not have the identical product. Skagit’s expanded cannabinoid profile includes at least 10 different cannabinoids including THCV, CBDV, CBG, CBN, and CBT. While many of these lesser cannabinoids are found with less than 1% total quantity, these small amounts can have a major impact, influencing the effects of the THC and CBD. Over time, what you might find is that a product with a small amount of one of these lesser cannabinoids is significantly more effective for you. Going forward you can then look to see if a product has that cannabinoid and have a bit more confidence that it is the ideal product.
Puffin Farms and The Entourage Effect
Puffin Farms grows Clean Green, and Sun + Earth certified cannabis. This means they are going above and beyond what is legally required in Washington to show that they are producing high quality, clean, and ethically sourced cannabis. On both their flower and concentrates, Puffin provides information on dozens of cannabinoids and terpenes. The combination of cannabinoids and terpenes is what we experience as the differences between varietals or strains. If you were to just look at THC percentage, most cannabis varietals look pretty much the same, they mostly have somewhere between 15%-28% THC. However, as most people will tell you there is a huge difference between the effects of Dutch Treat that tests at 20% THC, and Blackberry Kush that tests at the same 20% THC.
Puffin Farms lists a full breakdown of cannabinoid and terpene levels on their packaging. This kind of detailed information is very helpful when choosing a medical cannabis product for a specific issue or ailment.
This is due to something called the entourage effect, and how all the different constituent compounds work together to interact throughout the body to provide the different effects we experience. One of the primary differences between Dutch Treat and Blackberry Kush are their terpene profiles. Dutch Treat usually is high in a terpene called terpinolene, and this is why Dutch Treat has a bright piney smell. The way this interacts throughout our body, we perceive it to be more mentally stimulating. This is where the “Sativa” effects come from, the combination of cannabinoids and terpenes.
Blackberry Kush is typically predominant in myrcene which can also be found in hops and may have small amounts of linalool which is also found in lavender. These properties tend to be more calming, relaxing, and sedating. This combination of cannabinoids and more relaxing terpenes is where the “Indica” effects come from. The expanded profile from Puffin Farms allows us to see aspects and numbers down a hundredth of a milligram. While very minor, it can still lead to a unique effect or benefit that people can begin to understand and look for when deciding on which cannabis to purchase. It is also the best way for a medical consultant or budtender to help you select the best cannabis.
More Informed Choices
The more information a grower provides us about a plant’s lineage, how it was grown, and especially an expanded cannabinoid and terpene profile will be the best way to find what cannabis product is ideal for different issues or ailments. It can also help people to figure out what cannabis product may be best for different times of day or different activities. While something stimulating and invigorating might be ideal for a big daytime pursuit, another strain with an opposite profile and calming, relaxing, and anti-inflammatory benefits may be more effective for helping with recovery. We pay very close attention to these details at The Novel Tree Medical. Our team of state-certified medical cannabis consultants can help you learn about the nuances of a strain, terpene or cannabinoid, and guide you towards the most informed choice.
By Matt Kovarsky