As knowledge about the composition of cannabis increases, there is an increasing emphasis on terpene analysis. These additional compounds can improve flavor, taste, and even affect various medical conditions users may have. However, one of the major concerns regarding terpenes is how to best maintain their concentration in a particular cannabis product. Terpenes can be sensitive to light and heat, and they all have specific burning or boiling points. These are the temperatures at which a particular terpene begins to break down. Being among the most sensitive compounds, it is possible that they dissipate during the different stages of production....

The growing acceptance of cannabis as a therapeutic agent has sparked interest in the plant's bioactive or healing molecules, with cannabinoids and terpenes being the focus of discussion. Therefore, factors influencing a strain's cannabinoid and terpene profile have become of great importance. A recently concluded study found that cannabis is only as good as the growing environment, and therefore potency fluctuates depending on environmental factors. This reinforces the ancestral belief that it is indeed nurture, and not just nature, that determines the characteristics of a living being.. Traditionally, cannabis has been grown outdoors by local communities and historic cultivators. But...

New trend goes beyond aromas and flavors to explore potential health benefits Terpenes, terpenoids, or terps, whatever you call them, these compounds found in cannabis that give it its distinctive aromas and flavors are showing up in many consumer products. In U.S. states where medical and recreational cannabis are legal, companies are adding terpenes to tinctures, vape oils, lotions, foods and beverages, in addition to cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Elsewhere, similar products are marketed without THC, sporting labels claiming “whole plant medicine” or “full spectrum CBD” benefits. The idea is that terpenes increase the health benefits of...

An Interview with Ethan Russo Dr. Ethan Russo, MD, is a board-certified neurologist, psychopharmacology researcher and medical director of PHYTECS, a biotechnology company that researches and develops innovative approaches targeting the human endocannabinoid system. Previously, from 2003 to 2014, he served as lead medical advisor and study physician at GW Pharmaceuticals for three Phase III clinical trials of Sativex® for the relief of cancer pain unresponsive to optimized opioid therapies and studies of Epidiolex ® for refractory epilepsy. He has held faculty positions in pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Montana, in medicine at the University of Washington, and as...

Dr. Ethan Russo is a world-renowned board-certified neurologist and psychopharmacology researcher known for his seminal contributions to the understanding of cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis. As Medical Director of PHYTECS and former Medical Advisor to GW Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Russo has dedicated his career to exploring the therapeutic effects of natural cannabis compounds. Here's a look at his research and discoveries on terpenes, these fascinating aromatic molecules that play a crucial role in the effects of cannabis. What are Terpenes? Terpenes are organic compounds produced by many plants, including cannabis. They are responsible for the distinct aromas and flavors of different...