Cannabinoids & Terpenes: What Are They? How Do They Differ?

This question was submitted recently by a reader. Read on to find out the difference between cannabinoids and terpenes.

Cannabis is a versatile plant known for its various effects and applications. Understanding its key components, such as cannabinoids and terpenes, is crucial to harnessing all the benefits it offers. In this article, we strive to clarify the differences between these compounds and address common misconceptions.

What Is Cannabis?

Cannabis refers to a group of plants in the Cannabis genus, primarily Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. Cannabis plants have been utilized for centuries for their medicinal, recreational, and industrial properties. They contain a complex array of chemical compounds that contribute to their unique effects.

What Are Cannabinoids?

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds that interact with our body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which helps regulate functions like mood, appetite, and pain sensation. Scientists have identified over 113 cannabinoids to date.

The most well-known cannabinoids include:

• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): Responsible for the psychoactive effects, or the “high,” associated with cannabis use, and therapeutic benefits, including relief.
• Cannabidiol (CBD): Non-psychoactive and studied for therapeutic benefits, such as modulating pain perception, and reducing anxiety and inflammation.

These compounds are unique to cannabis and are found in varying concentrations across different strains.

What Are Terpenes?

Terpenes are aromatic molecules that give plants their distinct scents. They are essential oils. In cannabis, terpenes contribute to the characteristic aroma of each strain. Hundreds of terpenes are known to exist, and some have been identified.

Some known terpenes in cannabis include β‑Myrcene, Limonene, α‑Pinene, β‑Caryophyllene, and α‑Humulene.

Unlike cannabinoids, terpenes are found in many plants beyond cannabis, such as lavender and citrus fruits. In addition to having specific aromas, terpenes are currently being studied for their potential anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and sedative effects, and anti-anxiety benefits.

It is theorized that the higher the concentration of terpenes present in a product, the more effects will be felt by the subject consuming it. Some people in the cannabis industry have proposed that the “entourage effect”, stemming from the interaction of cannabinoids and terpenes, enhances the benefits of both compounds.

More research is needed to determine the extent to which terpenes modify cannabinoid activity or enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Cannabinoids vs. Terpenes

Cannabinoids and terpenes, while they both co-exist within the cannabis plant, are not the same.

Key Differences Between Cannabinoids and Terpenes

• Function: Cannabinoids directly interact with the endocannabinoid system’s receptors to produce various therapeutic effects. Terpenes primarily influence the plant’s aroma and may potentially modulate the effects of cannabinoids, although more research is needed.
• Chemical composition: Cannabinoids are complex compounds known as terpenophenolics; they originate partly from terpene building blocks (like geranyl pyrophosphate) but are uniquely fused with phenolic groups, giving them structures capable of interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system. Terpenes, in contrast, are smaller, volatile hydrocarbons (and their oxygenated derivatives) that contribute aroma and may potentially subtly modulate cannabinoid activity.
• Plant Presence: Cannabinoids are unique to cannabis plants. Terpenes are widespread in nature and found in numerous other plants.
• Psychoactivity: Some cannabinoids, like THC, are psychoactive. Terpenes do not produce psychoactive effects.

Do All Products Containing Cannabinoids Also Have Terpenes?

A common misconception is that terpenes are found in all products containing cannabinoids, but that is often not the case. Many reliably sourced topical CBD products, CBD tinctures, and CBD edibles, for instance, contain few or no terpenes at all as the essential oils have been removed during the distillation process that occurs when cannabinoids are extracted from the cannabis plant. Terpenes, being volatile, tend not to survive the heating and separation steps required to extract cannabinoids from the plant.

CBD isolate, a pure crystalline extract, does not contain terpenes. CBD distillate, in broad or full-spectrum variety, may contain traces of terpenes, but it is unlikely to be enough to produce noticeable effects. The cruder the extract and the less refined the oil is, the more likely it is that terpenes will be retained.

CBD distillate and isolate are used to infuse creams, lotions, salves, edible treats, and oil-based tinctures. While they may not contain terpenes, they are high in cannabinoids, the compound in cannabis that delivers the most therapeutic benefits.

In contrast, cannabis in its purest form (flowers and leaves) does contain terpenes; when in doubt, follow your nose!

Understanding the roles of cannabinoids and terpenes enhances our appreciation of cannabis’s complexity. We hope this article helped to shed light on the differences between cannabinoids and terpenes. If you have any questions, please submit a query on our website!