What Are Terpenes? A Beginner’s Guide To The Flavourful Cannabis Compounds

How Terpenes Affect Your High & Why They Are Essential For a Well-Rounded High

In a few short years, the cannabis industry has gone from asking ‘What are terpenes?’ to being an essential point of discussion among enthusiasts who buy weed online in Canada. Before then, stoners only cared about cannabinoids and not how terpenes affect your high.

While cannabinoids still play a crucial role in the effects and benefits of weed, consumers are now aware that it’s the terpenes that shape the overall experience of consuming cannabis. 

With more research on terpenes in cannabis coming out, we are aware of the role they play in the overall weed experience. Today, you can order weed online based on the terpene profile and better predict the effects it will produce.

But what are terpenes? How do terpenes affect your high?

In this article, we take a look at common cannabis terpenes to figure out how they interact with cannabinoids, the entourage effect and how they influence the weed experience. 

We will also introduce you to LowPriceBud, Canada’s leading cannabis dispensary for premium quality, terpene-filled weed products. Order BC bud at our online weed dispensary today and enjoy the premium benefits of high-quality cannabis.

What are Terpenes? The Basics

Have you ever wondered what determines the smell of a specific strain? Why there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of strains at our cannabis store, and none smells like the other?

The answer? Terpenes. But what are terpenes?

Terpenes are natural compounds found in many plants, including cannabis and even some animals. These are the organic naturally occurring compounds found in many plants’ essential oils.

Now that you have an idea of what are terpenes, what do terpenes do? At the basic level, terpenes give the plants unique smells and flavours.

Terpenes are the compounds responsible for the distinctive aroma and flavours we associate some plants with. For example, the refreshing, zesty, citrusy aroma we associate lemons and oranges with is attributed to the terpene limonene, while pine’s sharp, fresh scent results from pinene.

In the plants, however, terpenes do more than give them unique fragrances and aromas. So, what are terpenes role in plants?

Most of the terpenes in plants are produced to fight disease, keep herbivores and pests away or attract pollinators. Plants can’t run away from danger like humans can, so they developed the chemical defence mechanism by producing particular terpene profiles.

Depending on the pests or animals the plant wants to keep at bay, it produces a mix of terpenes that the animal or pest may find unpleasant. The compounds are also antimicrobial and have properties that may heal the plant if it’s attacked.

Plants also use the terpenes to attract pollinators when they are ready to reproduce. The plant may produce a profile of terpenes with a sweet scent to encourage insects to land on the flowers, carrying pollen when they fly away.

However, humans value terpenes in cannabis for the fragrance and flavours they produce. But as you will find out in this guide to ‘what are terpenes’ they do more than determine the taste and aroma. 

At LowPriceBud, we have a wide range of strains with distinctive terpene profiles. Buy weeds online from our cannabis store today and enjoy the best selection of weed products in Canada.

What do Terpenes Do?

Now that you have the detailed answer to ‘What are terpenes?’, what do they do? Here’s how terpenes affect your high.

Most of the effects of cannabis are produced by the cannabinoids. As such, most consumers focus on THC, the primary cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis. 

If you prefer medical cannabis strains, the most effects are produced by CBD, which is the second most abundant cannabinoid in cannabis and the most common non-psychoactive cannabinoid. 

You are not wrong to focus on the cannabinoid profile of a cannabis strain. But as mentioned in the ‘What are terpenes’ section, common cannabis terpenes can influence how high you get. `

Researchers suggest that while terpenes may not be intoxicating themselves, they may influence how cannabinoids and other cannabis compounds interact with the endocannabinoid system. This interaction is often referred to as the entourage effect.

How terpenes influence THC effects through the entourage effect is not exactly known. The entourage effect and terpenes theory suggest that the various cannabis components work synergistically to induce a more comprehensive experience than a cannabinoid or terpene could offer on its own.

Most compounds mentioned in this what are terpenes article also offer some benefits individually. For example, myrcene, which is the most common terpene in cannabis, has been found to have some relaxing benefits, making it more essential in indica strains.

In the how terpenes affect your high section, we will explore how terpenes influence THC effects. But first, what are terpenes vs cannabinoids?

Terpenes Vs Cannabinoids

Terpenes vs cannabinoids are two very distinct groups of compounds found in cannabis. Both cannabinoids and terpenes play different roles in the overall cannabis experience and benefits.

Cannabinoids are a group of closely related compounds that, regardless of structure or origins, bind to the endocannabinoid receptors of the body and produce similar effects to those produced by the cannabis plant.

Research has found that there are more than 100 cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, all producing distinct effects and benefits. However, there are more than 30,000 terpenes in the plant world and over 200 in cannabis alone.

Cannabinoids do not have any flavours or aromas. In fact, pure THC or CBD has no taste or odour, which is why most commercial edibles are infused using a THC distillate. Terpenes, on the other hand, are aromatic and are responsible for the unique scent and flavours of cannabis.

Both terpenes and cannabinoids are crucial if you are to experience an overall satisfactory experience. If you are looking for high-quality cannabis with intact terpenes, order weed online at LowPriceBud, the leading marijuana dispensary for premium nugs at the lowest prices.

How Terpenes Affect Your High?

Now that you know the answer to the what are terpenes question, we can now discuss how terpenes affect your high and the unique cannabis terpenes effect. Here’s why you should consider terpenes when you order weed at an online dispensary in Canada.

There is a direct relationship between terpene profiles and strain effects. This is because the terpenes in cannabis have been shown to have some influence over the overall weed experience. As such, always consider the terpene profile when you buy Canadian weed online at our cannabis store.

So, what are terpenes effects on your high? There are several ways how terpenes affect your high. 

The first is through the individual terpene’s benefits. Research shows that each terpene has some benefit when consumed. Some, like myrcene, caryophyllene, and pinene, have antimicrobial, anti-anxiety and relaxing benefits which supplement the effects of THC.

Terpene profiles and strain effects are also inseparable because the terpenes determine the high you will have. Here’s how terpenes affect your high:

Some terpenes, such as myrcene and linalool, are known for their sedative effects, so while taking THC alone is stimulating, consuming THC alongside these terpenes will result in a relaxing, indica-type high.

That’s why myrcene is associated with strains that produce a sedative effect. On the other hand, terpenes like limonene promote a more uplifting and energetic high due to their stimulating effects.

Browse through our online dispensary in Canada and choose the flower with your preferred terpene profile. All weed products at our cannabis Canada online weed dispensary are well-handled and stored to preserve as many of the terpenes as possible.

There is also the entourage effect and terpenes angle. Research studies suggest that terpenes influence THC effects through a mechanism known as the entourage effect. 

Through the entourage effect, terpenes could act synergistically with cannabinoids and other compounds to provide more intense effects, or they could modulate the effects of THC. Terpenes and cannabinoids offer a more comprehensive high than cannabinoids or terpenes alone.

Top 5 Common Cannabis Terpenes and Their Effects

Armed with comprehensive answers to what are terpenes and how terpenes affect your high, let’s take a look at the five most common terpenes in cannabis and their effects.

1. Myrcene: The Most Common Terpene Cannabis

Browse our selection of quality buds at the LowPriceBud online cannabis dispensary Vancouver, and you will find out that most strain terpene profiles have myrcene in high concentrations. 

Myrcene has an earthy and musky aroma reminiscent of cloves and hops. It is also the terpene responsible for the ‘green, hoppy aroma’ in hopped beer. This terpene is mostly associated with sedative and relaxing strains.

Researchers believe that myrcene may have a role to play in facilitating the transport of cannabinoids across the blood-brain barrier, enhancing the overall potency of the high.

2. Caryophyllene: The Most Unique Terpene

Caryophyllene stands out among the 200+ terpenes in cannabis because it’s the only one that interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors. This terpene has a spicy, peppery, woody aroma and is a major constituent of black pepper.

Through its interaction with the endocannabinoid receptors, researchers have found that caryophyllene may produce anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits.

3. Limonene

As the name suggests, this terpene is also found in lemons, oranges and other citrus fruits. Limonene is responsible for some strains’ refreshing, lemony fragrance and flavour.

Limonene is widely used in aromatherapy for its energizing, mood-enhancing and antianxiety attributes. As such, it is often associated with bright, stimulating daytime strains.

4. Linalool

This is the terpene that gives lavender its woodsy, floral scent. In cannabis, it’s mostly responsible for the floral notes in some strains and also some calming and anti-anxiety effects.

Linalool is often associated with strains that produce a relaxing, calming and sometimes sedative high. If you are looking for a soothing experience, seek out strains rich in linalool at our cannabis dispensary.

5. Pinene

This terpene is known for its fresh, pine-like aroma. It is a common terpene in both cannabis and pine trees and is associated with heightened alertness and memory retention.

Researchers believe that pinene may help counteract some of the short-term memory impairment effects associated with high THC strains. It has also been found to help open up the respiratory system in some people.

Buy High Terpene Strains Online in Canada Today

We hope we have adequately answered the ‘What are terpenes?’ question. You now know what they do, why they are important and why you should always seek the high-terpene products when you buy weed online in Canada.

At LowPriceBud, we understand how terpenes affect your high, so we only sell high-terpene BC bud at our dispensary. Order weed at our online weed shop today and enjoy highly aromatic lower, low prices and Canada-wide shipping.