The advancement of cannabis growing methods is allowing manufacturers to target specific terpene and cannabinoid profiles, further enhancing the plant’s benefits.
On May 8 at Bud’s Glass Joint in Phoenix, Trulieve, in collaboration with Modern Flower, hosted “Elevate Your Knowledge AZ: Terpenes & Cannabinoids, A Full Spectrum Experience,” featuring Trulieve lead medical director Dr. William Troutt, extraction and cultivation specialist Thomas Verderame, and brand educator and strain specialist Joel Longie.
In an interview following the event, Troutt said more knowledge about optimal growing practices allows cultivators to target different terpene and cannabinoid profiles.
“We talked quite a bit about, obviously, having optimum cultivation practices,” Troutt said. “You’re going to get the best terpenoids and cannabinoids out of the plant when it’s grown in the best condition.”
Cannabinoids and terpenes are similar in structure because they come from the same parent molecule in the plant, but each serves different functions.
Cannabinoids are compounds that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which uses the cannabinoids to regulate inflammation, stress, sleep and pain tolerance. The cannabinoids interact with either the CB1 cannabinoid receptor, which balances out electrical activity of the nervous system, or the CB2 receptor, which regulates inflammation, to inhibit a chemical reaction, producing effects such as stress relief. Common cannabinoids found in cannabis include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN).
Terpenes are found in all plants, including cannabis. There are at least 150 different terpenes found in cannabis. Terpenes affect the flavor and aroma of different cannabis strains. When they interact with different receptors in the body, the reaction can relieve pain, calm anxiety, lower inflammation and even ease depression for some people.
Troutt highlighted the terpenes limonene and caryophyllene for their different aromas and effects.
“Caryophyllene is a very common one, which is also found in black pepper, and has a little bit of that kind of spicy scent to it, known to be very anti-inflammatory, or have those types of properties,” Troutt said. “Limonene is another one that’s very common. Limonene is kind of that citrus, lemon smell that you find in many citrus-type products, also known to be very common in cannabis products…Many people report that limonene has a nice sense of a positive type of effect that comes along with it. A motivated type of effect that reduces anxiety for some people.”
Troutt said growers can target and enhance specific terpene and cannabinoid profiles with new growing and extraction methods, such as live extraction, which is when a freshly harvested cannabis plant is flash frozen and extracted in that state. Troutt said the method has been shown to maintain a higher terpene profile.
“We talked about live extraction processes, where we take a fresh, green cannabis plant that’s just been harvested and we’ll flash freeze it, and then take it to extraction in that flash frozen state, which has been shown to maintain more of the terpenoids and have a higher terpene profile,” Troutt said.
He said terpenes are highly volatile, so the idea of live extraction is to keep the terpenes from evaporating.
“Because these terpenes are volatile and they’ll kind of evaporate off into the atmosphere, when you freeze it right after cultivation, the thought process is that you hold and maintain more of those terpenes in the process,” Troutt said.
The discovery of new extraction and growing methods has led to some unique strains over the years. Troutt said the strain “Jack Herer” is unique, because it features terpenes that aren’t common in other strains.
“Jack Herer is a really unique cultivar,” Troutt said. “It is very dominant in terpinolene, which is not a real common terpene to be the most dominant in different cultivars. So it has that real, real distinct smell that comes along with it.”
Troutt said terpinolene acts as a mild sedative, but Jack Herer also features limonene and pinene, known for their uplifting effects, which is what the strain is more known for.
He said pinene inhibits cholinesterase enzymes, which break down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for memory and consciousness.
“It’s believed that’s why those cultivars are high in pinene or a little more clear-headed for many individuals and kind of support that activity of the endocannabinoid system,” Troutt said.
Troutt said he enjoys speaking at the Elevate Your Knowledge AZ events. He said he looks forward to more in the future.
“I thought it was amazing,” Troutt said. “And we love those opportunities to bring people together and just talk about the research that’s out there, talk about these different cultivars and what works for different individuals.”
