Jokerz, Hella Jelly, Cherry Pie, Purple Majik — we could sit here and list strains all day long. But have you ever wondered how new cannabis strains get made? You’ve come to the right place. In this blog, we explain why cannabis genetics are important, how new strains are created, and what this means for the future of the cannabis industry.
How New Strains Are Made
First, to understand how new cannabis strains are made, we need to talk about genetics. The genetic makeup of a strain can have a significant impact on its attributes and effects. We’ve covered this in some capacity in a couple of other blogs, but here’s a quick summary. Every strain of cannabis has a unique terpene profile, and a strain can have several terpenes. Terpenes are the organic molecules responsible for giving cannabis its unique aroma, flavor, and medicinal properties. There are hundreds of different types of terpenes found in cannabis. Depending on the combination in a strain, effects can be more potent and effective. This is known as the “Entourage Effect.”
To get a new cannabis strain, growers need both male and female plants. These are the parent strains and create the plant’s lineage. Male plants are used to pollinate female plants and the seeds from the resulting plant are grown. In general, a plant’s genetic lineage will influence several factors related to its quality and yield. This includes the color of the flowers, flavor profiles, and the type of high it produces. For consumers and commercial growers alike, understanding the lineage of the plant is crucial to finding the best quality product. Which can help in the search for strains that match activity levels, lifestyles, and overall intended experiences. For example, if the strain Jack Herer gives you anxiety, you would know that Sour Jack — a cross between Jack Herer and Sour Diesel — may not be a great fit for you.
The Best Quality Comes From the Best Source Material
You don’t have to be an expert to understand that premium-quality cannabis is created from the best source material. The starting material is the most important factor in determining the end quality. A cannabis plant’s genetics are the starting material. A plant’s genetics hold a ton of value for each strain to reach its full potential.
Breeders will take cannabis plants and cross them to find offspring that exhibit the best properties of either parent plant. This process is called “selective breeding” (sometimes referred to as artificial selection). Selective breeding has been a common practice in farming for centuries. Farmers have routinely selected the pest plants, breeding their genetics after each crop rotation to improve the following harvest. Cannabis breeders and growers selectively bred over several generations, allowing the experts to push cannabis genetics to their limits. Through this process, cultivators and researchers have been able to create uniquely-tailored strains optimized for a particular use case. Selective breeding has enabled the industry to optimize the size, color, smell, density, and texture of cannabis.
Fun fact: Many of the cannabis strain lineage on the market today can be traced back to the three main foundations of cannabis breeding: Haze, Skunk, and Kush.
The Future of Cannabis Genetics
As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, so will cannabis genetics. The future of cannabis is promising, but more research is required. Currently, cultivars are working to identify commonalities between strains (terpene content, cannabinoid content, etc) that provide positive outcomes for specific symptoms.
Genetic information will continue to become more readily available, and easier to access, leading to a better understanding of cannabis’ lineage. Before the legalization of cannabis, there were reports of inconsistencies, along with a history of underground trading of seeds and growing methods. By understanding a strain’s genetics, we can better identify strains and their possible effects. This will ensure consumers interested in a specific experience can find what they’re looking for. And as cannabis genetics evolve in response to climate change, researchers, cultivators, and breeders can create new strains with increased resilience.
The Takeaway
When it comes to quality cannabis, consistency is paramount. Cannabis companies of all sizes are optimizing strains to produce effects tailored to specific use cases. That starts with understanding a strain’s genetics. Increased research into cannabis genetics means seeds created will be consistent in effects, flavors, vigor, and growth attributes. At the cultivation level, selective breeding of cannabis strains enables the industry to maximize the size of crops. This will lead to more efficient operations with every harvest.
Genetics hold the key to a strain’s attributes and effects. Every strain’s unique genetic makeup serves as a blueprint for growth within the cannabis industry — whether that’s by stabilizing current strains on the market or by creating brand new strains with highly-tailored attributes and effects.
Do you have a specific question about our custom strains or others you’ve found in the market? Drop us a note and we’ll answer your questions in an upcoming blog.
The cannabis community can be a complicated place. Many consumers have questions about what products actually do and whether they are safe to consume. It takes the right knowledge and tools to sift through new brands, quickly shifting laws and regulations, and misinformation within the industry. It’s not impossible to find quality products that you can trust and that suit your needs and/or lifestyle—you just have to know what you’re looking for and how to interpret the information that is available to you.
Cannabis Testing
The problem with cannabis and hemp product labels is that they can often be inconsistent and confusing, which leads to consumer mistrust. Due to the very grey nature of state and federal stances regarding the legality of cannabis, no one body or agency is designated to ensure cannabis safety and quality for the general public. In the past, brands have launched products with unchecked information and zero transparency. However, now, many states with cannabis programs have taken it upon themselves to set up basic regulatory frameworks for cannabis and require laboratory testing on all products, including the State of Michigan.
Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) sets clear, stringent standards for cannabis testing after years of confusion and delay. Now the shift in the cannabis community is aimed at keeping products clean and consumers safe. In early 2020, Michigan relegations required testing for cannabinoid and terpene potency, foreign matter, microbial and mycotoxin contamination, pesticide and chemical residue, fungicides, and the presence of residual solvents.
Despite the increase in cannabis testing, many consumers are unsure about what the results mean. If a company does share the results of their testing, it’s important to understand how to read that information and how it might impact your experience with their product. And if a company does not share the results of their testing, you may want to pause and ask them why.
What is a Certificate of Analysis (COA)?
A Certificate of Analysis (COA or “lab results”) is a verified document that provides details about the testing lab, the brand, and the product in question—along with the potency of ingredients the product contains and confirms the product meets certain specifications set out by the MRA. In the case of hemp, CBD, and cannabis flower, the ingredients in the COA most often refer to cannabinoids like THC, CBD, CBG, and CBN. COAs may also include terpenes, which are the aromatic components that contribute to the product’s scent, flavor, and therapeutic profiles.
In summary, a COA ensures the safety and quality of a given product per the State of Michigan’s standard and also helps paint a picture of what effects you can expect. Cannabis laboratories go through a rigorous licensing process with the State of Michigan that includes ongoing inspections to show how they will inspect the product every time they receive a sample. And to avoid conflict of interest, cannabis labs cannot also hold a growing or dispensing license.
Because these tests are very in-depth and highly regulated, they can be very helpful in understanding the product. But in order for the lab results to be useful, you must know what all the numbers represent.
Where can you find a COA?
Finding a company’s COA can either be easy or difficult, depending on the company. COAs are not cheap to create and many companies forgo this step or fail to post this critical information for consumers to read. Fortunately, many larger and/or more established cannabis companies are already up to speed with providing COAs and better transparency. If a product’s COA is available, you might find it printed on a QR code on the product’s outer packaging, which can be scanned and viewed. Other companies publish their COAs online in the product description portion on their website.
➡️ View COAs for MJ Verdant’s cannabis products here. Click on a specific strain to see the harvest date and the unique COA for each batch tested.
Once you have located the product’s COA, it’s important to also look at the lab that produced it. Aboveboard growers and distributors will have their products tested at accredited third-party laboratories. If you can not locate a COA, you should consider contacting the company to request one before proceeding with the purchase or consumption of the product. This is still a very dynamic time for the cannabis industry, however, it is still very much a “buyer beware” environment and it’s important to do your own research.
How to read a COA
On a typical COA there are five main sections that are most important to the average cannabis consumer:
The Header
Results Summary
Potency (Cannabinoids and Terpenes)
Safety Test Results
Footer
Not every COA will refer to each section with these terms, but they are fairly common across the board. In this next section, we will break down each section of the COA, the most important information, and why it’s important.
The Header
The header of a COA is an important section because it contains details that can help you trust the legitimacy of the data to follow. The first thing you should look for in the header is the “Report Date” which ensures the results are recent and relevant. The name of the lab should also be listed prominently on the results, so you can verify the lab’s existence and credentials. You’ll always want to double-check that the name of the products and the brand listed on the product packing match up. Another way to verify that the results are for the right product is to review the batch number and description. As you can see, all this information is helpful in verifying the lab and the product tested.
Results Summary
The next section following the header is the summary. Most consumers don’t typically look past this section of COAs because it provides all of the key results at a glance. In this section, you can see the potency of all cannabinoids, results of the contaminants safety testing, and terpene information at a glance and whether the product passed or failed. If a product fails testing, it shouldn’t make it on the shelves so it’s not likely you would actually come across its COA. If you do find a COA where any of the subsections in the result summary show failing results, it’s not recommended you consume that product.
Potency (Cannabinoids and Terpenes)
The third section of a COA is where you can see what cannabinoids and terpenes the products contain, and how concentrated they are. This section typically has multiple columns: one that tells you how many milligrams of each cannabinoid is concentrated within every gram of the product (or in mg/ml if the product is a liquid or oil). Another column may show a percentage, which converts the concentration of each cannabinoid from mg per gram to a percentage of the overall weight of the product. The column is just another way to look at the same result and is often easier to understand. If you see blank spots in the potency results, that usually means the lab did not detect a significant level of the specific cannabinoid or terpene.
You can use the potency section to determine whether a product will contain enough cannabinoids or a certain terpene to better determine what effect the product will have on your mind or body, or even the flavor and medicinal properties. It’s also important to note that not all potency sections of a COA will include a breakdown of the product’s terpenes. That is not required of cannabis in Michigan, however, growers who are interested in the flavors, scents, and general nuances of the plant will test for terpenes thus making the information available to consumers.
Safety Test Results
Every COA you come across should include a safety test results section. In this section, you can see how the product tested for harmful contaminants and microorganisms that you wouldn’t want in your body. Most safety test results section will include the following:
Chemical Residue (pesticides, insecticides, fungicides)
Foreign Matter (organic and inorganic)
Heavy Metals (the State of Michigan requires testing for 6 heavy metals)
Microbials (salmonella, e. Coli, etc)
Water Activity and Moisture Content
This section of a COA is important, however, it is not necessarily consumer-centric. This section is where you can ensure that the product tested below all of the safe limits for major contaminants before purchasing and ingesting. As stated before, if a product has failed categories on its COA, it’s not often that a consumer would come across it because the product shouldn’t make it to market.
Footer
Just like with the header of a COA, the footer is an important part of legitimizing the document. The footer lets you know the lab is transparent and accountable for the results in the COA. The footer will also provide more information about who the lab is and how to reach them if you have questions.
In the footer, you should find some form of proof that the lab stands by the results. On the results that we received from Cambium Analytica, the lab’s Director and Chief Scientist both signed off on the COA’s data. Depending on the format of the COA, the lab’s license and credentials may be found here or near the top of the document. Regardless of where exactly the information is, it should be easy to locate. Just remember, all labs must have a license number to be legally compliant.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Now that you have a good understanding of what to look for when purchasing cannabis products and reviewing their COAs, here are some red flags to watch out for:
Missing safety tests
Missing cannabinoids
No lab certifications
Too much THC (flower testing over 40% and vape cartridges over 90%)
Less CBD (or other cannabinoids) than advertised
Fewer terpenes than advertised
Any combination of these red flags should alert the consumer. By knowing what to look out for, consumers can make the most informed purchasing decision, which is crucial when it comes to your body and what you ingest.
The Takeaway
When cannabis growers take testing seriously, they’re showing that they not only value making a profit but the quality of their products and customer safety and satisfaction. Moreover, the willingness to publish COAs along with products shows they are open and honest about what they do and how they do it. The legalized cannabis industry is still in its infancy stage and government agencies are still formulating long-standing regulations and standards, which creates a lot of uncertainty for both producers and consumers.
However, cannabis lab testing is only helpful when used correctly and understood. Full transparency from growers would take the guesswork out of purchasing cannabis and would help the average consumer navigate the industry with more confidence, and be more informed when choosing their cannabis products.
The best cannabis experiences—whether you’re smoking flower, eating edibles, or using tinctures—often come from the best source material or “top-shelf” bud. But being able to identify high-quality flower and other products can be difficult. Even for the most experienced cannabis enthusiasts. There are some key traits that separate good weed from bad weed—and we’re here to break them down and offer some tips to help you spot the good stuff and avoid the bad.
What to look for in high-quality flower:
Look Take a look at the bud and inspect it thoroughly. There are many visual signs that can indicate the quality of the flower. Fresh, healthy flower can display an array of vibrant colors, most often deep green with flaming orange or red hairs. You could also see deep purple and or blue shades within the nugs. Another important visual indicator of high-quality flower is the amount of trichomes and their viability. Trichomes are tiny, crystalized appendages on the plant’s surface. They create the compounds responsible for cannabis’ smell, flavor, and effects. The more frosty trichomes you see, the higher the quality of the flower.
Smell The way bud smells can tell you a lot about its quality. Cannabis cultivated and cured to the highest standards is typically very fragrant and you should be able to easily recognize its herby, sweet, or skunky aromas. The smell may be different depending on the particular strain. But if the product is high-quality, you should be able to pick up on the various notes of its scent profile. The stronger the fragrance, the more nuanced your experience with the bud may be.
Feel High-quality flower should be sticky and slightly spongy to the touch. Good bud is relatively easy to break apart, with stems that snap. It’s not completely dry or crumbly. You don’t want your buds to turn to dust when grinding or breaking by hand. Alternatively, buds shouldn’t be too wet or soft. High-quality cannabis is the perfect balance between dry and sticky. Sometimes buds may seem overly moist but that is most often oily resin glands from the bud (and that’s a good thing).
Taste It may not always be possible to taste the bud before purchasing, but if you do get the chance, try it before you buy it. Similar to smell, taste can tell you a lot about the quality of cannabis. On the palate, good bud is rich, pure, and sharp. The bud’s terpene profile will give way to the flavor—whether it’s gassy, fruity, herby, or earthy—depending on the strain and its intended effects.
Look Whether that’s due to discoloration or an abundance of stems and seeds, low-quality flower has a distinct appearance. Bad weed coloration can range from brown to tan to grey to red and even yellow. Poor coloration may be an indication of mold, age, pesticides, or other chemicals. Bad weed can look very dry, which is not a good sign. Trichomes turn from clear to amber with excess time, heat, and light—which may be a sign that you’ve received an old harvest.
Smell Scent potency is very important in telling the quality of bud. If your flower smells bland or dull, that could be an indication that it may be old, dried out, or nutrient-rich. A nutrient-rich bud sounds like a good thing, but it isn’t. It could be an indication that the cultivator overloaded the flower with nutrients to get a higher yield—bringing down the quality. Low-quality or bad weed can have a musty or hay-like aroma, which is another indication of age or even compromised cannabis. If you’re wafting unpleasant aromas from the flower, it is generally a sign of mishandling, pour cultivation and curing, or old product.
Feel Low-quality flower will feel dry and brittle to the touch, and easily crumble when handled. Dry bud is light and airy, with little weight behind it—unlike high-quality bud which is dense and sticky. Conversely, bud that is overly wet should also be avoided. Overly wet flower has stems that don’t snap and the extra moisture makes the bud susceptible to mold and milder. Wet nugs tear apart rather than break, which is a sign of poor cultivation and curing.
Taste Lower-quality flower will taste bland and produce harsh acrid smoke, you may be able to pick up metallic or very off-putting chemical notes. This is the case for poorly grown and uncured buds. Buds that may be moldy or mildewy may have a sour taste–if so, stop consuming the cannabis to avoid inhaling dangerous substances that could harm your lungs. Overall, it won’t be an enjoyable experience.
Bottom line
Distinguishing between high-quality and low-quality flower can be difficult. However, with a discerning eye and nose, even novice cannabis enthusiasts can find the perfect bud for themselves. Finding the cannabis strain that appeals to your senses and provides the experience you’re searching for doesn’t have to be complicated. The bottom line is, if the bud doesn’t look, feel, or smell right—it’s probably not. The goal is to find the right strain for you and with these indicators, you’ll find a quality strain that perfectly suits your personal taste.
Bugs?! In our cannabis?! No, not necessarily. As part of our mission to growing and nurturing exceptionally good plants, we have taken a clean approach to our cultivation. Not only is our facility clean and efficient – our methods are too. Keep reading to learn more about IPM and what it means to utilize “beneficial bugs” in our precision cultivation system.
What is IPM?
IPM stands for Integrated Pest Management, it’s a blanket term that describes several different environmentally-conscious practices of controlling pests through the use of biocontrols, bioinsecticides, and biofungicides. IPM approaches pest control with techniques of prevention, reduction, and elimination. It combines the use of physical controls, resistant species, biopesticides, and least-toxic chemical controls to manage and prevent insect pests in agriculture production, with an emphasis on prevention. IPM can be, and is, frequently used in cannabis production.
IPM isn’t an organic practice but does discourage the use of pesticides. This approach seeks to use natural predators or parasites to control pests, using only selective pesticides as backup methods only when pests are unable to be controlled by natural means. Under this approach, growers will spray selective pesticides and other chemicals only when a crop needs it, which means generally fewer pesticides are used.
To reiterate, IPM isn’t a single pest control method, but rather, involves integrating multiple control methods based on site information obtained through inspection, monitoring, and reports. Because IPM isn’t a single method, it can be applied to all pests that need to be managed on either an indoor/greenhouse or outdoor crop, including:
Insects (aphids, beetles, fleas)
Arachnids (mites, ticks, spiders)
Microbial organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses)
Weeds
Mollusks (snails and slugs)
Vertebrates (rodents, birds, snakes)
When most people think of pests in their cannabis garden they think of the more common varieties: spider mites, russet mites, aphids, and thrips. However, there are also soil-dwelling pests that can exist without your knowledge. Some of the soil-dwelling pests that plague cannabis plants are root aphids, fungus gnat larvae, and grubs. These pests will decrease the health and vigor of your plants by feeding on the roots – so it goes without saying, it’s just as important to control pests below the soil as it is to control those above soil. IPM can be utilized to control both above and below pests for the healthiest cannabis plants possible.
Another recurring problem in indoor/greenhouse cannabis production is plant diseases. Cannabis plants are especially subject to foliage disease, according to GreenHouse Grower. If you didn’t know, cannabis greenhouses and grow rooms can be quite literally hotbeds for pests and pathogens due to the warm, humid conditions, tightly packed growth, and ample crops for food. Pest problems can develop and spread rapidly in cannabis crops, so getting to the root of the problem before it occurs is a critical pillar of IPM.
In cannabis cultivation, there are two different primary growth cycles: vegetative and flower. These cycles require different IPM strategies which focus on prevention, reduction, or overall elimination depending on where the plant is in its growth cycle.
How does MJ Verdant use IPM?
For MJ Verdant, pasteurization is first and foremost in Integrated Pest Management. We prefer to use applications such as bioinsecticides, biocontrols, and bio-engineered microbes.
“It’s always been important to me to cultivate clean cannabis, far before an MRA existed with an ‘approved pesticide list,’” explains Cultivation Director Chris Gioia.
There are multiple kinds of pasteurization: heat, chemical, dry heat, and steam. We utilized all of these methods to perpetuate our cultivation cycles.
We also utilized a variety of predatory bugs on our crops to do everything from keeping our substrate clean, eliminate pests including aphids, broad mites, thrips, and more, and prevent fungus gnat larvae. The use of these bugs is carefully monitored and adapted as the needs of our crop change. Here is a summary of the predatory bugs we are using right now:
Amblyseius swirskii (swirski mites) are used to target pets like broad mites, thrips, spider mites, and more. When the pests aren’t around A. swirskii consumes pollen.
Aphidius colemani (parasitic wasps) are used to naturally eliminate pests like aphids from the harvest.
Dalotia coriaria (rove beetles) are used to prevent, control, and manage fungus gnat larvae, root aphids, and thrip.
Orius insidiosus(minute pirate bugs) are used to eliminate thrips. They are said to be the most effective because they can attack and kill all mobile stages of thrips.
Steinernema feltiae (parasitic nematodes) are used to keep our substrate clean and the plants in exceptional health.
(Pictured: Orius insidiosus, also known as minute pirate bugs.)
How do we ensure there are no bugs on the final product?
A common concern with the use of IPM is whether predatory bugs and their waste products will be present when the flowers are harvested. This is a myth.
The purpose of biocontrols utilized in IPM is to actively hunt pests to reduce pest pressure.
This means the biocontrols don’t target the flowering nodes and don’t colonize in the inner nodes of a cannabis plant. The predatory bugs utilized don’t inhibit negative effects on the plant, but they do release pheromones to repel pests and create a symbiotic relationship with the plant.
If there is no food source for the predator bugs, they will leave in search of food elsewhere. It’s also important to note that indoor predator bugs are usually very small in size and difficult to see with an untrained eye.
What about waste from the biocontrols? The waste produced is limited and not on the flowering crop itself. It is very unlikely to see signs of predator bugs near the end of the flowering cycle or in the finished product. Even when using larger predatory insects, the bugs will leave the plants when harvested and dried. Here at MJ Verdant, we actively use bioinsecticides and have specific procedures that clean our cannabis plants.
Why does MJ Verdant use IPM?
When deciding to embark on this cannabis grow journey, it was decided early on we would take an exceptionally rigorous and clean approach to our cultivation. We care about every aspect of cannabis cultivation and use precision formulas that take into account strain choices, growing substrate, water delivery, nutrients, and environmental controls.
IPM falls in line with our mission to produce exceptional cannabis and we put the health of our plants, employees, and customers at the forefront of every decision we make. We would never put something on, in, or around our plants that we wouldn’t want in our own bodies. With IPM we can safely minimize both the number of pests and pesticide applications on our plants, which leads to healthy plants with stronger immune systems that can naturally ward off pests and diseases.
IPM is also often considered more labor-intensive than conventional pest control and may require more upfront resources, however, costs generally get lower over time because the underlying cause of the pest problem is addressed.
Whether it’s the vanilla cake frosting scent of Wedding Cake, the strong citrus scent of Tangie OG, or the zesty, skunky scent of Mendo Breath – there is something very intriguing about the aroma of cannabis. But have you ever wondered why certain strains smell the way they do? There’s an explanation behind the sweet or skunky smell of cannabis, so let’s dive in.
The Basics
Every strain of cannabis has a unique terpene profile, and a strain can have several terpenes. Terpenes are what give cannabis its smell and medicinal properties. But what are they exactly?
Terpenes are organic molecules responsible for the unique aroma and flavor, as well as the health-benefiting properties, in cannabis and a variety of other plants, fruits, and organisms. For example, terpenes can be found in lavender flowers, oranges, hops, and pepper.
Cannabis plants have hundreds of different terpenes, which are formed inside secretory cells inside glandular trichomes, the same glands that ooze THC and CBD. Terpene production can be directly impacted by both the spectrum and intensity of light exposure.
“Specific spectra, environmental, and nutrient variables can all be manipulated to enhance terpenes (as well as flavonoids, and cannabinoids),” MJ Verdant Cultivation Director Chris Gioia explained. “This is thanks to the plant’s secondary metabolites.”
Secondary metabolites are compounds within a plant that aren’t required for growth or reproduction but are produced to grant a plant some selective advantages. Growers have the ability to dissect their methods of cultivation and directly impact secondary metabolites, which leads to the optimization of strains to reach their best potential.
Terpenes also play an important role in plants. In some plants, terpenes attract pollinators, while in others they cause a strong reaction to repel insects or foraging animals. Some terpenes help the plant to recover from damage and others help keep infectious germs, bacteria, and fungus away.
When talking about terpenes, some people use the term terpenoids interchangeably. However, terpenes and terpenoids are not the same – the terms actually have different meanings. Terpenes are the natural form of the molecules. They are hydrocarbons, meaning the only elements present in the compound are carbon and hydrogen. Terpenoids are the chemically modified form of the molecules. As a plant dries and cures – in the production of cannabis, for example – the terpenes oxidize and become terpenoids.
The Different Kinds of Terpenes
There are hundreds of different terpenes found in cannabis, but about 11-15 are the most prominent, along with their aromas, flavors, and effects. Here are some of the most primary terpenes in most cannabis strains on the market:
Myrcene is primarily musky, earthy, and herbal. It is also found in lemongrass, thyme, and hops. Potential effects include relaxation, sedation, and mood-lifting.
Limonene is primarily citrus-scented. It is also found in fruit peels, juniper, and peppermint. Potential effects include mood-lifting and stress relief.
Pinene is primarily pine-scented. It is also found in pine needles, rosemary, dill, and basil. Potential effects include energy-boosting, alertness, and memory retention.
Caryophyllene is primarily spicy and peppery. It is also found in black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. Potential effects include relaxation and stress relief.
Humulene is primarily hop-scented, woody, and earthy. It is also found in hops, cloves, and basil. It has anti-inflammatory properties.
Eucalyptol is primarily menthol and mint-scented. It is also found in mint, sage, and tea tree oil. It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Terpinolene is primarily described as a “fresh” scent with piney, floral, herbaceous, and slightly citrusy notes. It is also found in lilacs, nutmeg, and cumin. It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Linalool is primarily spicy and floral. It is also found in lavender. Potential effects include mood-lifting and sedation.
Growers often identify the terpenes in each of their strains and develop a “flavor wheel” to help medical cannabis patients and recreational enthusiasts navigate strains based on effects. By mapping out terpene profiles, it has become easier to predict, and even manipulate the effects and medicinal value of varieties, giving breeders endless opportunities for developing new strains.
It’s not uncommon for cannabis enthusiasts to focus on THC alone or to use the terms “indica” and “sativa” to describe the effects of strains, however, they aren’t actually the best predictors of effects and potency. Understanding terpenes is essential to understanding the effect of a cannabis strain.
Unfortunately, knowing the possible effects of a specific terpene does not mean that’s always the case. The effect profile of any given terpene may change when in the presence of other compounds, meaning the right combination of cannabis compounds can be more potent and effective than an isolated compound. This phenomenon is known as the “Entourage Effect.”
Terpenes and cannabinoids may either exaggerate or suppress one another’s effects, depending on which combination is present in a given strain and how an individual responds to it. Some research has been done to better understand each terpene’s effect when used in conjunction with other compounds, but more is still needed.
Final Thoughts
Terpenes are the organic compounds responsible for the way most plants smell. They are abundant in cannabis but are also found in other plants, fruits, and herbs. As we learn more about terpenes and what effects each combination of compounds exudes, breeders can continue to selectively modulate the terpene ratios in strains to maximize desired benefits.
“To me, specific terpene, flavonoid, cannabinoid combinations play a critical role in the medicinal properties of cannabis – that’s why, when selecting a strain of cannabis, I’ve always found it extremely beneficial to experience the full spectrum effect of that strain,” Goia said. “All of these exciting variables that encompass the passion of cannabis cultivation play key roles for me.”
No two cannabis enthusiasts will experience terpenes in the exact same way or will find the same aromas and flavors appealing. “At the end of the day, it’s all about personal preference. Due to people’s unique biochemistry, these combinations will produce effects that differ for some but align with others. That is the beauty of cannabis. As well as the importance of the preservation of specific strains, whether the preference is for medicinal or recreational purposes.”
When browsing or growing cannabis strains, you may notice they are commonly broken up into three groups: indica, sativa, and hybrid. Many cannabis enthusiasts have used these three weed “types” as a gauge for predicting the possible effects. But what does indica and sativa really mean? What are the differences between them?
What does “indica” and “sativa” mean?
When cannabis enthusiasts think of indica vs. sativa strains, it’s generally thought that indica strains are physically sedating and provide “whole-body” elevation. Sativa strains are thought to be energizing, with uplifting cerebral effects. However, indica does not always mean sedative and sativa doesn’t always mean energizing. As researchers learn more about the cannabis plant, it turns out that the chemical compounds in each strain – the cannabinoids and terpenes – play a huge role in determining the effects felt, not necessarily whether it’s an indica or sativa strain. In fact, the two names are rooted in botany, according to Leafly, not effects.
Origins of indica and sativa
The words “indica” and “sativa” were introduced in the 18th century and used to describe different species of cannabis. Cannabis sativa was the term that described hemp plants found in Europe and western Eurasia. The hemp was cultivated for its fiber and seeds. Cannabis indica refers to the physically and mentally stimulating varieties of cannabis discovered in India. These varieties were harvested for seeds, fiber, and hashish production.
Since their earliest botanical definitions, the terms indica and sativa have shifted. Today, “sativa” most frequently refers to the tall, narrow-leaf varieties of cannabis plants. As mentioned earlier, these varieties are thought to induce energizing effects in enthusiasts. The term “indica” has come to describe the stout, broad-leaf cannabis plants thought to induce sedating effects. The term “hemp” most often refers to the industrial, non-intoxicating varieties of cannabis harvested for seeds, fibers, and CBD.
The cannabis varieties that are most largely consumed by enthusiasts stem from Cannabis indica, even though both terms are used to organize thousands of strains on the market.
Popular Sativa Strains
Popular Indica Strains
Sour Diesel Jack Herer Green Crack Durban Poison Strawberry Cough Amnesia Haze Super Lemon Haze Super Silver Haze
Purple Punch Granddaddy Purple White Rhino Bubba Kush Northern Lights Blueberry Grape Ape Blue Cheese
What about hybrid strains?
Hybrid strains are thought to have a mix of indica and sativa effects; they are bred from both indica- and sativa-descended plants. There is a long history of cross breeding cannabis strains to create new plants that feature the best qualities of its parent plants. Strains that have pure indica or pure sativa lineages are actually rare, according to Leafly. In fact, most strains referred to as “indica” or “sativa” or have a type of dominance in either category are likely hybrids, with genetics, and often effects, inherited from both subspecies.
To glean a better sense of the kinds of effects hybrid strains will have, it’s best to examine the parent strains. For example, if a hybrid strain has more indica in its lineage – it is likely to have more effects associated with those types of strains.
Some popular hybrid strains include Wedding Cake, OG Kush, Blue Dream, White Widow, and Pineapple Express.
So, what impacts the strain effects?
As mentioned before, the terms indica and sativa aren’t really the best predictors of effects. Strain effects depend on a number of different factors, but most commonly known are the terpenes and cannabinoids—the chemical compounds found in cannabis. Cannabis plants are composed of hundreds of chemical compounds.
Terpenes Make the Strain—Not the THC
Every strain of cannabis has a unique terpene profile. Terpenes are the aromatic compounds produced by plants and fruits, and they can also be found in lavender flowers, oranges, hops, and pepper. In cannabis, terpenes are secreted by the same glands that ooze THC and CBD, and they are what makes cannabis smell like cheese, citrus or pine or even fuel.
Terpenes also play a key role in differentiating the effects of various cannabis strains. Some terpenes might promote relaxation and stress-relief, while others potentially promote focus and acuity. This directly challenges the standard beliefs held about indica vs. sativa strains. But still, even more research needs to be conducted to understand how and to what extent terpenes impact a strain’s effects.
There are more than a hundred different known types of terpenes found in cannabis, but some of the most common are myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene, pinene, and terpinolene. In the case of a strain that has myrcene in its terpene profile, it will exhibit a primarily herbal scent, or even smell like hops or lemongrass. This specific terpene profile is believed to help relax consumers. For a strain with pinene in its profile, the cannabis will smell like pine, or rosemary, dill, and basil. This terpene strain is said to help boost energy in enthusiasts.
But knowing the possible effects of a specific terpene does not mean that’s always the case. The effect profile of any given terpene may change when in the presence of other compounds. This phenomenon is known as the “Entourage Effect.” Some research has been done to better understand each terpene’s effect when used in conjunction with other compounds, but more is still needed.
THC & CBD
The two most common cannabinoids are THC and CBD and those are considered the main drivers of cannabis’ effects. THC is the psychoactive chemical in cannabis, and CBD is a non-psychoactive chemical, which basically means THC helps give a feeling of elevation, and CBD does not. THC is said to make enthusiasts feel hungry and relieve symptoms related to pain and nausea. CBD is said to alleviate anxiety, pain, inflammation, and similar conditions.
Strains can be THC-dominant or CBD-dominant, which means they will present more of either cannabinoid and it’s intended effects.
It’s a personal preference
Cannabis and how you select the right strain for yourself is a personal experience. Understanding its nuances, including the differences between indica and sativa, can help you decide which qualities you prefer in a particular strain. Some cannabis enthusiasts can enjoy any strain, any time. For others, approach strain selection with process and precision is key to having a positive experience.
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