Smell That Dank? What Cannabis Science Says About Sticky Icky Weed

Forget indica or sativa. Recent cannabis science research suggests terpenoids may be the reason certain strains of cannabis have a mellow or energized high.

Smell that dank — like a forest of Fruit Loops with a circus inside. And for that, you can thank terpenoids, chemical compounds that give cannabis its aroma and flavor. They’re derived from the same terpenes shared by hops that make your IPA dance like a drunk hipster all over your tongue.

Though the science is still fresh and sticky, cannabis science research suggests these terpenoids do far more than just make weed smell like a Christmas tree. Scientists now think they interact with cannabinoids in interesting and profound ways — make one strain of cannabis heady and energized, give another a mellow body buzz.

So forget indica or sativa. The traditional classifications of indica or sativa have been thrown right out the window — like they’re about to get pulled over in Texas. The secret sauce is actually in the THC/CBD ratio of a strain, and how those cannabinoids interact with terpenoids to bring about a mellow or brighter buzz.

Indica & Sativa: a New Understanding of Cannabis Species

If you’re even an occasional toker, you’re probably aware of the indica or sativa subspecies classifications for cannabis — and it’s only recently turned out the differences don’t mean as much as we once thought.

The terms remain relevant as subspecies of cannabis. Indica plants grow broader leaves and are shorter in stature. They have a shorter flowering season and are easier to grow in cooler climates — which is why they tend to be more prevalent in winter. Indica yields also tend to be greater than sativa.

The leaves of a sativa plant are splindier and thinner, and the plants are taller — so they’re harder to grow indoors. Sativa plants are more indigenous to warmer climates with longer summers. How to pass a hair follicle drug test

And then of course you have hybrids — a mixture of the two.

But the next time you study a dispensary menu, pay less attention to the subspecies classification — focus instead on the THC/CBD dynamic and reported effects.

Keep on Toking: A Tradition of Herbal Heritage

Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years for recreation and remedy. Nearly 5,000 years ago, Chinese Emperor Shen-Nung recognized cannabis treatment for over 100 ailments including gout, rheumatism, and malaria. And he probably never heard of terpenoids either.

And while we are only beginning to understand cannabis science, we’re already well aware of the effects. Fortunately, you don’t need to know why an herb works to understand that it does indeed work. That’s the beauty of herbal medicine — it’s been passed down by the ancestors across millennia. We know what herbs do, even if we don’t always understand why they do it.

As the Bible (and that classic Cypress Hill cut) says in Genesis 1.29: “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” Moses didn’t necessarily know why — but he knew what’s for dinner.

The Earth is a pharmacy cornucopia. Eat your greens and be happy.