Considerations For Purchasing Cannabis

THC is the psychoactive cannabinoid that some people consider a beneficial effect. Many people consider this an unwanted effect. THC does have some other benefits such pain relief, appetite stimulant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and neuroprotective. CBD is the cannabinoid that is most associated with medical treatment and has those benefits, is not psychoactive. It also is anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, anti-insomnia and bone stimulating. CBD also competes for CB1 receptors in the brain, therefore decreases the psychoactive effects of THC. Some conditions are improved only from a combination CBD and THC. This is part of the entourage effect. The cannabininoid profile of the different strains are similar in amounts and ratios. The main differences are in the terpene content. Ideally, laboratory testing would provide the content of CBD, THC, and the three most concentrated terpenes. For example, data compiled NAPRO Research provided the following information on terpene content found normally in the following strains:

Common strain name                                          Terpenes

                                       Primary                            Secondary                    Tertiary

Blue Sky                       Caryophlylene                   Humulene                     Limonene

Bubba Kush                  Limonene                          Caryophylene               Linnalool

OG Kush                       Limonene                          Caryophylene               Myrcene

Purple Uride                  Myrecene                           Caryphylene                Pinene

Jack Hammer                Terpinolene                       Caryophylene               Humulene

Train Wreck                  Terpinolene                       Myrcene                       Limonene

Blue Dream                   Myrcene                            Pinene                           Caryophylene

Understanding the  properties of the different terpene content of the strain of cannabis may make it possible to look for products that target the desired effect. Properties of some the most common terpenes are as follows:

Limonene: anti-depressant, anti-anxiety and alertness

a-Pinene: anti-depressant, analgesia (decrease pain), neuroprotective and        bronchodialation.

B-Caryophylene: anti-inflammatory and antifungal

Myrcene: sedative, muscle relaxant, analgesic and inti-inflammatory

Humulene: anti-inflammatory

Terpinolene: sedative

Linalool: sedative, analgesic, anti-anxiety and anti-convulsant    

James Brent DDS