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How Do Terpenes Affect Medical Marijuana’s Effects?


Medical marijuana patients in West Virginia are looking for relief when shopping at dispensaries, and picking the right cannabis strain for your symptoms can make a huge difference for patients.

While there are many factors that go into how a cannabis strain will ultimately work, terpenes play one of the most critical roles in providing therapeutic or medical benefits in cannabis.

In this article we’ll talk about different terpenes, their therapeutic values, and the strains you can find them in!

What Kinds of Medical Benefits do Terpenes Provide?

Thousands of Terpenes, Hundreds Found in Cannabis

There are over 20,000 terpenes that have been discovered so far, with around 100-150 terpenes having been identified in cannabis plants.

Finding a comprehensive list of all terpenes is actually quite difficult, so we’ve done some of the hard work for you.

Although there are over a hundred terpenes that can be found in cannabis plants, there’s a handful of common terpenes that make up the large majority of what is found in cannabis.

Dominant vs Secondary Terpenes

An important thing to note about how terpenes will produce different effects within cannabis, is that there will be different concentrations of terpenes in a single cannabis strain.

Dominant terpenes will produce the majority of perceived effects, aroma, and taste, but alongside those big hitters will be smaller concentrations of less pronounced terpenes that will offer potential benefits or effects too.

For most cannabis strains, the terpene profile will be based on the dominant terpenes, since those are the ones that are present in high enough numbers to produce perceivable or significant effects.

List of Common Terpenes in Cannabis

Common vs Rare Terpenes

Some of the more common terpenes you’ll find in cannabis strains probably represent the majority of terpene profiles. There’s a small handful of terpenes that are usually present in most cannabis strains, so we’ll cover those.

And while there are rarer terpenes that can be found in cannabis strains, they are far less common and are sometimes even grown to experiment with the benefits of those terpenes.


List of Terpenes & Their Medical Benefits

The combination of all terpenes in your cannabis strain is called a terpene profile and it usually represents all the terpenes present in the strain.

· Alpha-Pinene – Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, energetic, bronchodilator, cognition improvement, anti-bacterial


· Caryophyllene – Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, digestive protectant, anti-depressant, antiseptic


· Humulene – Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, appetite suppressant


· Limonene – Anti-depressant, antifungal, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anxiolytic, gastroprotective immunostimulant


· Linalool – Analgesic, anticonvulsant, antiepileptic, antineoplastic, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, sedative


· Myrcene – Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, antispasmodic, muscle relaxant, sedative



· Terpinolene – Antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, sedative


Common Medical Benefits Among Cannabis Terpenes

Choosing the Right Terpenes

You likely noticed the number of terpenes in the list that share common medical benefits like anti-inflammatory properties.

This is a perfect example of why a strain’s terpene profile becomes so important, because in combining dominant terpenes like myrcene, caryophyllene, and alpha-pinene, you could end up with a strain that is very effective for inflammation.

Combining dominant terpenes like humulene, limonene, and terpinolene could make up a strain with powerful antifungal properties, which could help with things like athlete’s foot, ringworm, or candidiasis.


Cannabis Strains Grown for Specific Symptoms

Cannabis growing technology is becoming extremely advanced, and we’re entering a new age of medical marijuana for the United States.

Growers are increasingly producing specific strains to treat very specific conditions or symptoms, and we’re only beginning to realize the potential that cannabis has to offer for many different medical conditions.

With dispensaries in West Virginia officially open, patients can look forward to shopping all the different strains, and finding a strain that works for you is getting even easier as more growers come online.


Get Your Medical Marijuana Certification in West Virginia

With dispensaries open in West Virginia, certified medical marijuana patients can choose from a variety of strains and products that can provide significant relief.

Take the steps to schedule your medical marijuana evaluation appointment today and get access to legal marijuana products available at dispensaries!

Being a West Virginia medical marijuana patient allows you the freedom to take your medication the right way for you. We’re dedicated to helping patients every step of the way! Feel free to give us a call at 877-303-8424 and we can answer your questions about getting a medical marijuana card in West Virginia.

 

Doctors Who Care.

Relief You Can Trust.

West Virginia Marijuana Card’s mission is to help everyone achieve

wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana.

Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for

our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.

If you have any questions, call us at 877-303-8424, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!

Check out West Virginia Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in West Virginia.


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