PLANT DERIVED TERPENES

What Are Plant-Derived Terpenes, And Why Does it Matter? 

Hi friends, - glad you’re here.

In today’s blog we will dive deep into the world of terpenes, why they’re being added to cannabis products like vape pens and hash oils, the harm this may cause.

Before we do, imagine yourself grinding up some of your favorite strain, and sniffing the grinder. That lovely smell, whether diesel, cheese, mango, dank, sweet, woodsy, or piney, - is the result of the terpenes.

Terps are the best! ~ In the world of natural compounds, terpenes take center stage as fascinating and essential components found abundantly in all plants, including cannabis. These aromatic molecules play a crucial role in the life and survival of various flora, defending against predators and attracting pollinators. They also cause the fruit, flower, or cannabis strain’s distinct scents and flavors.

Cannabis Strains, Known As Chemovars, Each Have Unique Terpene And Cannabinoid Profiles. 

These diverse chemovars, with names like Lemon Kush, Blue Dream, and Sour Diesel, offer various sensory and therapeutic experiences. Lemon Kush's limonene content provides a mood-elevating effect, while Blue Dream's myrcene induces relaxation. Sour Diesel's combination of myrcene and limonene energizes and relieves stress, showcasing terpenes’ profound impact on the cannabis high. .

As we learn at the Ganja Yoga Training, it’s actually the terpenes, not the THC content, that makes a strain. 

The Issue: As The World Learns About The Therapeutic And Flavor Benefits Of Terps, Some Vape Pen And Hash Oil Companies Are Adding Additional Terpenes (Derived From Other Plant Sources), To Enhance The Cannabis Product. 

Each cannabis strain contains a multitude of terpenes, each with a unique composition and concentration level. These ratios can differ even within the same strain depending on cultivation factors. 

Outdoor-grown cannabis tends to have a higher overall terpene content, influenced by natural sunlight and wind, and to prevent pests (pinene for example, repels bugs and bacteria).

However, outdoor-grown cannabis doesn’t look as tight and crystalline as indoor-grown, so even though it often relies on petroleum-based and other toxic growth agents, the market prefers it, resulting in flowers with fewer terpenes. Further, improper drying and curing can lead to significant evaporation of cannabis terpenes, whether the plant was grown outdoors or not. 

Plant-derived terpenes boast a bolder taste and aroma due to their higher volume compared to cannabis-derived terpenes. Adding them can ensure more consistency in the final product. And, increasing the terpene volume in concentrates enhances viscosity, making it more convenient for vape cartridges. Plant-derived terpenes are cost-effective for the company that produces the vape pens and hash oils. They claim these food-grade quality, plant-derived terpenes  match the terp-profiles found in cannabis flowers, and if the chemistry is the same, it must be safe and as effective.

The Deal With Added Terps:

The concentration of terpenes in cannabis flowers is between 2–5% (higher for outdoor-grown). Oils used in pens (or for dabbing) typically range from 5 to 15%, depending on the formulation, which is why I love dabbing with my entire being.

Terps Are Good. They’re Tasty And Good For Us. But There Can Be Too Much Of A Good Thing.

With added terpenes, tests are starting to show 20% terpenes in some formulations, which has been called “terrifying from a public health standpoint” from some scientists who study lab results of cannabis products. 

This is because terpenes are highly reactive molecules, and we don’t yet understand what happens when we heat them and then smoke or vape them. Like, - how the molecules might change when heated, or what degradation products they might release after high heat exposure.

But we’re starting to. And it’s not good.

In one study, scientists exposed rats to a mixture of non-cannabis-derived beta caryophyllene (a terpene found in Girl Scout Cookies and many other strains), mixed with cannabis smoke.

In Stark Contrast To The Either Substance On Its Own, Rats Exposed To The Combination Were More Likely To Develop Kidney Problems. 

When they analyzed the chemical effects of mixing these two, the scientists found that the cannabis smoke had degraded the beta caryophyllene into chemicals known to be toxic for consumption.

The authors warn that mixing these compounds is not advised for humans, - * at least not at the rate our ancestors evolved with (My addition. More on that below).

Many Scientists Will Argue That Terpenes Are Terpenes No Matter Where They Come From, And Will Be Just As Therapeutically Effective And Safe, Whereas Other Experts Will Say Added-terpenes Simply Do Not Work In The Same Manner To Provide That Synergistic Or Entourage Effect, Even If They Are Safe. 

While terpenes from other plants, such as pinene from pine trees or limonene from lemons, have shown health benefits like bronchodilation and mood elevation, questions arise about their compatibility with cannabis products. Can these plant-derived terpenes be extracted and reintroduced into cannabis concentrates to achieve similar effects?

Cannabis-derived terpenes do not exist in a vacuum. They exist in unique combination with other cannabis compounds, which are absent in other plant terpenes. This potent synergy is known as “The Entourage Effect”. 

The effect not only enhances aromatic flavors but also maximizes the psychoactive and therapeutic benefits of pure flower extracts. 

Safety and effectiveness aside, a third danger exists for added-terpenes in our cannabis products: The extraction method. 

Extracting terps from outside sources without precision may lead to essential oils containing impurities that would not be present in cannabis. Moreover, leading extraction companies' use of emulsifiers, over time, may increase risk of cancer. No thanks.

Clearly, Our Ancestors Co-evolved With Cannabis, Originally As Hemp For Rope And Other Use And Its Seed For Omega 3, But Soon Enough, People All Over The Ancient World Were Blazing, In Pipes, Joints, Hookahs, Or Hot-Boxing Their Temples.

The presence of terpenes are vital to experience whole-plant medicinal benefits of the plant. We don’t have any evidence that consuming cannabis, - even smoking several joints a day, poses the same risks as using terpene-added products. But adding extra terpenes to our cannabis products is only a decade old. There just simply has not been enough research conducted to show it’s safe (or effective), - extraction issues aside. 

As Ganja Yoga practitioners, it’s our responsibility to stay educated on best practices for cannabis consumption, so we keep our standards high (pun intended) for our health and wellness. Whole plant medicine only for us! Which means flower, or dabbing rosin, water or bubble hash, and only using pens with absolutely nothing added.

Drop a comment if you’re feeling this blog, or send it to a friend who’s still using products that taste like children’s cereal…. ; ) 

APPRECIATE YOU!
XO D.