Question 1

What Is The Entourage Effect?

Accepted Answer

To understand the chemical makeup of marijuana and how it works, it’s important to have an understanding of The Entourage Effect. The Entourage Effect is the term used to describe the interplay between the compounds found in weed when you get high. It isn’t just the chemical component THC creating the psychoactive effect – the high happens when all of the compounds found in cannabis synergistically interact with each other. The interacting compounds include terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids. This is your entourage!

Question 2

What Are Terpenes?

Accepted Answer

Have you ever wondered what gives pot its unique flavor and smell? It comes from terpene compounds, one of the three main components that comprise The Entourage Effect. There are a number of different terpenes that exist, including but not limited to myrcene (herbal), pinene (pine), limonene (citrus), and terpinolene (fruity). The combination of terpenes can change from plant to plant, and when they interact with THC, the experience and potential benefits you gain (health or otherwise) when smoking a particular strain is directly influenced by the specific terpenes in that strain. So next time you get a whiff of a dank doobie, remember that the smell will actually play a role in your high. Trippy.

Question 3

What Are Flavonoids?

Accepted Answer

While terpenes influence the scent and flavor of bud, the presence of flavonoids – compounds that are also found in fruits and vegetables – add to the sensory experience by influencing flavor and color. They also provide a range of potential positive health benefits that scientists are still unlocking, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer effects. It’s known that flavonoids play a role in The Entourage Effect, but how exactly is still in large part a mystery.

Question 4

What Are Cannabinoids?

Accepted Answer

Cannabinoids contain the compounds that most of us think of when we think about getting high: THC and CBD. Cannabis can contain many other cannabinoids, but these two divas are considered the stars of the show. Their interaction with terpenes and flavonoids produces The Entourage Effect, and cannabinoids act as the carriers of the psychoactive effect by latching on to neurotransmitters in our bodies.

Question 5

What Are Isomers?

Accepted Answer

Under the umbrella of cannabinoids are isomers. You’re familiar by now with the chemical component THC found in marijuana, but what you may not know is that there are two different compounds of THC: delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC. Both are considered psychoactive, but delta-8 is gaining popularity as a milder, more relaxing experience than the high-as-a-kite feeling you get with delta-9 – yet it doesn’t have a sedative effect like you might expect with an indica strain. Delta-8 occurs naturally in cannabis, but it can also be derived from CBD in a laboratory.

Yes, you have an entourage!