West Virginia is looking forward to a big year in cannabis, where many new patients will be registering for medical marijuana and starting their journey to relief with cannabis.
New patients will be looking at different cannabis strains and products to use in their treatment plans, and terpenes will play a big role in how those products will work.
In this article, we’ll talk about terpenes, why they’re important for the cannabis plant, and how you can use terpene profiles to shop cannabis strains.
What Are Terpenes & How Do I Identify Them?
Terpenes Are the Backbone of Cannabis
Terpenes play a huge role in how cannabis tastes, smells, and works in your body!
Without terpenes, your cannabis wouldn’t taste or smell like much of anything, and you’d be missing out on a ton of therapeutic benefits as well.
These important compounds provide the backbone of how a cannabis strain really comes together, and they play a very central role in producing the entourage effect.
What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes are aromatic compounds found within many different plants. They are typically responsible for producing smells and flavors, and they can offer bioactive effects such as therapeutic benefits.
Terpenes are found in plants such as rosemary, cannabis, and thyme, and fruits like lemons, oranges, and mangos.
How Terpenes Play a Role in Cannabis
Different Terpenes Do Different Things
Terpenes play a significant role in how cannabis smells, tastes, and works in your body.
There are hundreds of terpenes out there and they can all produce different flavors, smells, and effects.
For example, some terpenes like pinene, humulene, and myrcene, produce anti-inflammatory effects, while other terpenes like phytol, limonene, and linalool have anti-anxiety properties.
It works the same way for flavor and aroma too, there are a variety of different flavors from earthy to spicy, and even menthol is a terpene on its own.
What is a Terpene Profile?
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. How many, and of which kind of terpenes that are present really drives a large majority of how the strain works.
There are usually dominant terpenes present in larger numbers that produce the effects, flavor, and smell.
Alongside the dominant terpenes are usually concentrations of smaller amounts of terpenes that produce less noticeable flavor or taste, but still offer some therapeutic values.
How to Shop a Cannabis Strain Based on Terpenes
Shopping at a Cannabis Dispensary
Since terpenes offer a lot of how cannabis tastes, smells, and works, knowing a strain’s terpene profile comes in handy if you want an idea of how the cannabis strain will work for you.
Many dispensaries offer the strain’s terpene profile, or at least its dominant terpenes, on the packaging or in the description on the dispensary menu.
Talking to the budtender at a West Virginia dispensary can provide a wealth of knowledge about different terpene profiles available in strains they have, and probably offers one of the best ways to figure out a strain’s terpene profile.
Look Up Cannabis Terpenes Online
Another way to figure out a strain’s terpene profile is to do some online research.
This is pretty easy with sites like Leafly offering strain profiles, detailed analysis, and even reviews from users who have purchased a strain for free, but it does have some setbacks to look out for.
Every cannabis strain is unique, and even plants in the same grow can have different levels of terpenes. This is especially true when comparing strains online because the strain that you are considering purchasing was likely not grown by the same cultivator as one listed online.
While you can use Leafly to get a fairly robust idea of how strains work overall, getting a strain’s exact terpene profile is best done by talking to your budtender.
Get Your Medical Marijuana Certification in West Virginia
West Virginia medical marijuana patients can shop all the available strains, terpene profiles, and cannabis products safely and legally.
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!
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