Flower is king! As of the time of this article, in the previous week in MA, sales of flower account for more than 50% of all cannabis sales (masscannabiscontrol.com, 2022). What exactly is the flower and why do most stores promote their highest THC flower?
Don’t hunt for the highest THC
As an avid consumer of flower, it pains me when I walk into a store and am asked whether I am looking for an indica or sativa, followed up with an offering of some of the highest testing cultivars. Those are not great indicators of the quality of the flower or the overall experience. A simple glance at the COA (Certificate of Analysis) can provide information about the cannabinoid profile -does it have CBG, CBD or CBN- and at times, the terpene profile.
Wake up and smell the terpenes
Terpenes, or terps, are the flavor rich compounds found on trichomes of the female cannabis plant. In nature, the terpenes produced by the plant help to deter certain creatures from the plant while others are meant to attract others to assist in pollination (Stone, 2022). The terpenes contribute to the overall experience of cannabis as they produce the aromas and tastes that are often associated with certain cultivars.
Terpenes are found in many items most of us are familiar with such as the following:
- Myrcene
- Found in mangoes and hops and has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties (Baron, 2018).
- Alpha-pinene
- Think of the scent of pine needles- That’s the alpha-pinene.
- It’s the most common terpene in nature and has demonstrated antioxidant properties (Baron, 2018).
- Limonene
- Can be found on the rind of all citrus fruit and is commonly used in foods and drinks.
- Studies have demonstrated success as anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and many other uses (Baron, 2018)
What about the other cannabinoids?
Other cannabinoids such as CBG, CBD and CBN are naturally occurring on the cannabis plant, and they have their own properties which we’ll discuss in another blog. Suffice to say there’s great new research being done on these “other” cannabinoids and their benefits and most of them are non-psychoactive.
Look for a combination of cannabinoids and terpenes
If you want something that has a nice citrus scent and may provide a boost of energy, we’ll have the knowledge to recommend the right pairing, have you smell it, and discuss the cannabinoids and terpenes in the flower.
At Discern’d we want to eliminate the guesswork and confusion around products. We will gladly answer any questions you may have about the products we offer, and we will strive to offer only the highest quality products the market has to offer.
References:
Baron, E. (2018). Medicinal Properties of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids in Cannabis, and Benefits in Migraine, Headache, and Pain: An Update on Current Evidence and Cannabis Science. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, 58(7), pages 1139-1153.
Retrieved Sept 28, 2022 from https://cannabisneurologia.com.br/pdf/cefaleias.pdf
Sales and Product Distribution. Cannabis Control Commission. Retrieved on Sept.1, 2022 from: https://masscannabiscontrol.com/open-data/sales-and-product-distribution/
Stone, Emma. What are cannabis terpenes and what do they do? | Leafly
