The Entourage Effect: How to Mix CBD and THC Together
There are many things to love about the cannabis plant, but most people become interested because of the natural cannabinoids contained in cannabis flower. Cannabis plants can have over 100 different phytocannabinoids, which interact with your body’s existing endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system interacts with many other parts of your body, promoting balance in your bodily functions.
Cannabinoids from the cannabis plant can interact naturally with your body’s endocannabinoid system. Among all of the cannabinoids, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are generally regarded as the most important. These two cannabinoids have been the focus of most cannabis research, and they’re what people are normally looking for.
Some people want to consume strictly CBD or strictly THC. Some people believe that it’s actually best to have both of these major cannabinoids. The presence of additional cannabinoids and organic compounds like terpenes (also known as terpenoids) can affect the way cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system in the human body. This is known as the entourage effect, and it’s one of the most important theories in the cannabis community right now.
Before you can dive into the science behind the entourage effect, it’s important to start by understanding the difference between the two most popular cannabinoids. A small background of CBD and THC knowledge will help you learn more about how they interact with each other, with terpenes, and with other organic compounds from the cannabis plant.
What Is the Difference Between CBD and THC?
The primary difference between these two cannabinoids is that THC is psychoactive and CBD is not. In other words, THC is responsible for the high feeling people get from marijuana, while CBD isn’t intoxicating. There are still a number of other reasons people buy CBD products, though. The biggest reason people buy CBD is that they’re trying to achieve a general sense of wellness.
The Legal Difference Between THC and CBD
In part because of the difference mentioned above, CBD is legal on a federal level in the United States. This is the result of the Farm Bill in December of 2018, which made industrial hemp a legal agricultural commodity throughout the nation. The legality of hemp-derived CBD may still vary from location to location because various states and municipalities can make their own laws about it.
THC is still illegal on the national level in the United States, but like with CBD, states can make their own laws about it. Here in Colorado, of course, THC is legal. To help make legal distinctions between the different types of cannabis plants, people call these plants hemp when they have no more than 0.3% THC. Plants with higher levels of THC are referred to as marijuana.
Since the state of Colorado licenses Green Sativa to participate in the legal, regulated cannabis market, we can sell products that include either CBD, THC, or even a ratio of both. Products with both of these two primary cannabinoids are appealing to medical marijuana patients and recreational cannabis consumers alike. It’s easy to find anecdotal evidence about the effects of CBD and the effects of THC, and scientific researchers are hard at work to make more definitive conclusions as well.
How Do CBD and THC Work Together?
A wide variety of people has reported the benefits of combining CBD and THC. Some recreational cannabis consumers say they like to enjoy THC and CBD at the same time because the psychoactive effects of THC seem less overwhelming to them when there’s CBD involved. Some people associate this with more of a clear head.
If you’re interested in learning more about the medical benefits of marijuana, consult with your doctor. Even though recreational cannabis is legal in Colorado, some people still apply for qualification as medical marijuana patients because they want to access the plant before they turn 21 or they want specific types or amounts of cannabis products.
We may be able to infer things about how these cannabinoids work together by looking at the medical marijuana program laid out by legislators of our state. Colorado’s medical marijuana laws allow people to become medical patients if they have any of the following conditions which have been deemed life-threatening, severe, or debilitating:
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- AIDS
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV
- Muscle spasms that persist
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Seizures
- Severe nausea
- Severe pain
- Any condition for which a physician could prescribe an opioid
Even beyond those conditions, we’ve heard reports of people buying cannabis products for a wide variety of reasons. Depending on what you want from your experience with marijuana, you can select the ratio of CBD to THC that suits your lifestyle. In addition to the relationship between these two cannabinoids, the terpenes in cannabis can affect how the plant interacts with the human body.
What Are Terpenes?
Terpenes, also referred to as terpenoids, are organic compounds that occur naturally in the cannabis plant. They give the different strains their unique flavors and aromas. When you notice that your cannabis flower smells like sweet fruit, pine, herbs, spice, skunk, or gasoline, you’re getting a whiff of the terpenes.
In addition to being flavorful and aromatic, some people liken these terpenes to essential oils with potentially therapeutic effects. Choose a strain that smells especially dank or loud if you want something with a vibrant terpene profile. We’re starting to learn that the terpenes present in a strain may also impact how cannabinoids interact with the human body, and we call this phenomenon the entourage effect.
What Is the Entourage Effect?
The entourage effect is how we talk about how cannabinoids behave differently depending on the other cannabinoids and terpenes present. Just as some people behave differently depending on the entourage they have with them, cannabinoids seem to interact with other organic compounds from the cannabis plant. This is why the nuanced differences between strains go so much deeper than just indica, sativa, and hybrid strains.
For more information about the entourage effect, look into this research published by the British Journal of Pharmacology back in 2011. Dr. Ethan Russo takes a deep dive into the science and the research behind the entourage effect. He explores the potential synergistic effects of the various organic compounds that occur naturally in cannabis, based on his understanding of pharmacology.
Unless you have a chemistry and biology background, some aspects of the entourage effect may be hard to wrap your head around. Still, doing a little bit of research may be able to help you solve the mystery of why different strains have different effects. It all has to do with the way cannabinoids and terpenes work together.
Get Quality Cannabis at Green Sativa in Federal Heights, CO Today!
When you visit Green Sativa at our cannabis dispensary in Federal Heights, you’ll be greeted by our knowledgeable staff. Our employees can talk to you about the entourage effect and help you identify which cannabis products appeal to you most. Whether you’re a medical marijuana patient or a recreational cannabis consumer, stop by today to explore our dispensary menu!
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