WHAT IS A CANNABIS STRAIN?

Walk Into A Dispensary In Any Legalized State, And You’ll Be Presented With Jars And Jars Of Cannabis, Each Its Own Strain. How To Choose?

And, - what even makes a strain anyway, - you might be asking.

Well, - let’s get into it.

Different strains of cannabis have different ratios of THC and CBD, along with the eighty-three other cannabinoids.

But cannabinoids aren’t the only consideration that a ganja yogi has to make when choosing a strain. Before we consider which strains will be best for us, we need to take an unexpected journey into the delicious world of terpenes.

Terpenes – More Than Just The Flavor Factor

Ever notice how some weed smells like citrus, berries, musky cheese, diesel gasoline, or a pine forest? Terpenes are the aromatic essential oils that give each cannabis strain its distinctive fragrance and flavor. 

All Herbs, Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers, And Trees Contain Terpenes.

Terpenes protect plants by deterring herbivores or encourage procreation by drawing pollinators and herbivores that spread pollen and seeds.

A certain strain of cannabis expresses multiple terpenes at once, creating completely unique terpene profiles that interact with the many different cannabinoid profiles,  creating thousands of unique cannabis strains.

Meaning: A Strain Is Largely Based On The Terps, And Is So Much More Than The Thc Percentage.

As we’ll see, it’s this variety of terpenes - many of which have an active impact on brain chemistry - that makes “cannabis” not one monolithic drug, but instead a whole class of substances that will have different physiological and psychotropic effects.

Over one hundred different terpenes have been identified in the cannabis plant.

Along with providing the sensual element of sniffing some good bud before you blaze, and savoring the lingering taste on the palette as you exhale, terps offer an array of proven health benefits. Some terpenes can boost serotonin and GABA to create feelings of happiness and relaxation, while others boost dopamine and norepinephrine.

Some terpenes and terpene-combinations have been shown to be especially good for relieving stress, while others help with sleep, or bring mental clarity.

Some people like to equate cannabis strains to wine, both in terms of exploring the nose and palette of different varietals, as well as the art of pairing wines for maximum pleasure, or mixing terpene profiles to find the best strain for the activity and intention.

Medical research on cannabis has been so focused on cannabinoids (not to mention, so late to the game!), we don’t yet know much about terps, but we do know that they modulate our body’s interaction with cannabinoids by also binding to endocannabinoid receptor sites and affecting the chemical output.

Tldr: Terpenes Enhance The Therapeutic And Psychoactive Effect Of Cannabinoids.

Common Terpenes:

Here are some of the most common terpenes found in cannabis. See if you can begin to taste and smell the unique flavors and benefit from the specific healing effects and notice which strains (terp combinations) help you with different activities.

Sativa Terps:

Pinene

One of the most common terpenes is pinene, which is also found in conifer trees, rosemary, and orange peels. This pine-smelling compound has been shown to be a bronchodilator, helping people with breathing conditions. Ever been invigorated by the fresh air in a mountain forest? Pinene was there to open up your lungs. It has also been shown to be anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic (a pain killer), antioxidant and antibiotic, as well as a memory aid and antidepressant. Sour Diesel and Blue Dream are strains that have a lot of pinene, as do many Sativa strains.

Limonene 

This terpene, found in Sativa strains, and also in lemons and other citrus, has been shown to improve mood, offering anti-anxiety and antidepressant qualities. It can lower cholesterol and relieve heartburn and acid reflux, and has some extremely intriguing anti-cancer properties. Strains with that sweet citrus smell include Lemon Haze and Tangie.

Indica Terps:

Myrcene

This musky-smelling terp is present in hops (found in beer), and numerous cannabis varietals, especially strong indicas. It provides a sedative effect, and has been shown to be an analgesic (painkiller), anti-inflammatory, and strong muscle relaxant (giving a deep “couch-lock” experience). Try Purple Kush or Super Silver Haze for myrcene.

Linalool 

Also found in lavender, this terp has anesthetic, analgesic, anticonvulsant, and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. One study found that linalool reduces carcinogenic lung inflammation in tobacco smoke, suggesting that it likely does the same for cannabis smoke.Get some ganja with the name ‘Purple’ in the title for a high chance at scoring some linalool.

How To Decide What To Buy?

The absolute best way to determine which strain to purchase is to stick your nose right up into the big weed jar at the dispensary and notice what flavors (terpene combinations) you’re most drawn to. With legalization, this might not be possible, but man, is it the best.

First, because stronger-smelling weed means more freshness, more active terpenes. But also because cannabis that smells good to you might mean your body needs that particular form of healing.

Health-conscious Cannabis Users Let The Body’s Wisdom Decide What Cannabis Strain Is Needed, Not The Name Or Even Type Of Strain.

Just like when you go to the farmer's market and decide what produce to purchase based on ripe smells, bright colors, or inexplicable cravings, let strain-selection be an intuitive, embodied decision, based on your unique body chemistry and your body’s ability to communicate with you (your mind).

This is important because each person has such an individualized relationship to cannabis, on top of the vast range of cannabinoids and terpenes constellations available.

How a specific strain works on you will not be the same for your friend.

Yogis Are Encouraged To Start A Weed Journal, Recording Each Strain Tried, Where It Was Purchased, What Farm Grew It (If Available), The Main Terpenes, And The Kind Of High And Strength Of High You Felt.

The brand-new Ganja Yoga Strain Journal is the perfect tool for this, shameless plug intended, lol^^

Ok friends, - we close this entry by saying Sativa strains tend to offer a cerebral high, great for mood elevation and cognitive enhancement. Indica strains are usually more sedative and stoney. But everyone feels strains differently, so these are just guidelines.

A Good Place To Start Are Hybrids, Which Offer A Balance Between The Energizing Effects Of Sativa Strains And The Relaxing Effects Of Indica Strains.

There you have it folks: The terp down-low, and why terpenes are so much more important than THC content to making something a “strain”.

Now, time to sniff our strains until our bodies tell us which one to smoke…. Drop a comment below and catch you next time.

APPRECIATE YOU!
XO D.