Why Are Cannabis Derived Terpenes So Sought After?
Aromatic, flavorful, and fragile, terpenes are simultaneously highly sought after and difficult to harvest and preserve. As more consumers learn about how terpenes influence the cannabis experience, it becomes more important for licensed providers to give consumers a clear breakdown of the terpenes present in their products, and maintain these natural compounds.
In this blog, you will learn:
What terpenes are and why understanding terpene profile is important
Why cannabis terpenes are difficult to harvest
If New Jersey requires licensed manufacturers to test for terpenes
What are cannabis-derived terpenes?
Terpenes are organic compounds present in all plants, including cannabis. In cannabis, they are particularly concentrated in the resin of the cannabis flower. Terpenes are known for their tastes and scents, earning names like "pinene" or "limonene" because of their fragrances and flavors.
There are thousands of terpenes existing in nature, and roughly 200 have been found in cannabis plants. Terpenes play a bigger role than just flavor and aroma too -- terpenes are thought to contribute to cannabis’s therapeutic benefits alongside cannabinoids in a phenomenon called the “entourage effect.” For many consumers, this offers an opportunity to select precisely the right product for their goals, especially if the full results are available from a cannabis testing lab.
Terpenes have been studied far more extensively than phytocannabinoids, as they appear in a wide range of plants across the world and are commonly used in a variety of consumer products from cosmetics to perfumes to food preservatives. As a result, we know a fair amount about them, even if the precise way in which they interact with phytocannabinoids remains a topic of interest to researchers worldwide.
Here is a closer look at some terpenes commonly found in cannabis:
Myrcene: This terpene has a musky aroma and is also found in thyme, lemongrass and mango. It is the most common terpene found in cannabis.
Limonene: This citrus scented terpene is also found in lemon rinds, orange rinds, and juniper.
Pinene: One of the most widely encountered terpenoids in nature, pinene has a strong pine scent. It is commonly found in pine needles, rosemary and basil.
Terpinolene: This terpene boasts a floral and herbal aroma also found in lilacs, nutmeg and cumin.
Linalool: This floral aroma common to lavender and coriander. It has been reported to help with mood enhancement and sedation.
Pulegone: This terpene, which has a minty smell, is commonly found in herbs like rosemary.
Caryophyllene: The dominant constituent in black pepper and cloves, beta caryophyllene has a spicy and peppery aroma.
Humulene: Humulene gives off an earthy aroma and is commonly associated with hops and wood.
Ocimene: Ocimene is a sweet and herbal aroma found in mint, parsley and orchids.
Why are cannabis derived terpenes so hard to preserve?
Cannabis derived terpenes are difficult to stabilize because they are highly volatile compounds that easily degrade over time and when exposed to air, light, heat, and humidity. Some can evaporate at room temperature. Even when a plant has significant terpene content, these compounds still evaporate: Terpenes are constantly replenished while the plant is growing, and terpene content begins to diminish as soon as the plant is harvested.
As a result, without clear insight, it was difficult for growers to pinpoint the terpene profiles that made a particular cultivar taste, smell, and act the way it does. In turn, that meant replicating these cultivars was challenging. Luckily, the rise of modern terpene profiling methods has improved cannabis producers’ abilities to develop and replicate terpene profiles consistently.
Still, some cannabis extraction processes strip the plant of terpenes or severely diminish the availability of terpenes, making saving them an even more difficult prospect. To combat the loss of terpenes, some companies will add terpenes derived from other plants into the final manufactured product. These terpenes can be extracted from cannabis or other plants and fruits (such as limonene from citrus, for example) and then added to cannabis products to enhance the flavors and consumption experience.
Why it is important to test for terpene potency
Helping consumers choose: Consumers are now aware that flavorful and aromatic terpenes can influence the effects they feel when consuming cannabis products, working together with phytocannabinoids in what’s called the entourage effect. Brands can use terpene testing to help consumers make the right choice and offer a wide variety to cater to every preference. As consumers become more educated about terpenes, demand for certain terpene profiles rises. Terpene profiling test results can be a powerful selling point.
Influencing consumer experience: Cultivating a consistent terpene profile across different batches of the same cannabis strain offers more predictable effects. Getting the balance just right and ensuring your products offer consistency in taste and experience improves patients’ abilities to choose the right strain and product for their intended effects. For consumers hoping to alleviate specific symptoms, a consistent terpene profile can make product selection much easier.
How do labs test for cannabis derived terpenes?
The most common method of terpene profiling involves gas chromatography (GC), a process that separates the terpenes found in cannabis flower or extract. Then, using flame ionization detection (FID) and/or mass spectrometry (MS), chemists determine the amounts of each terpene present in the product.
The result is the terpene profile that can be easily analyzed in a lab report – though the process is hardly so simple. Not only is testing a highly involved process that requires the care and attention of an engaged chemist, terpenes in particular are sensitive compounds that require extra care while isolating them.
Terpene volatility and care in testing
The high volatility of terpenes means that they degrade even more easily than phytocannabinoids like THC and CBD. That means precise results require careful handling of products to preserve terpene content and obtain accurate data. True Labs for Cannabis always works closely with partners to advise, plan, and enact robust protocols for the preservation of samples.
Is terpene testing required in New Jersey?
As you may have heard, New Jersey has adopted interim cannabis testing standards to follow the regulations set forth from the Maryland Medical Marijuana Commission. In regards to terpene testing, Maryland does require terpene profiling for “terpenes described in the most current version of the cannabis inflorescence monograph published by the American Herbal Pharmacopeia (AHP).” The AHP document mentions 18 of the more common terpenes found in cannabis plants.
Terpenes denote cannabis quality
Terpene testing is a way to set apart top-shelf cannabis flower from lower quality product. Consumers are increasingly privy to the importance of terpenes and understanding a product's terpene profile. Providing a detailed breakdown of the terpenes in your cannabis lab reports could be the difference between making a sale or losing out to a competitor.
Accurate third-party lab testing and terpene profiling, like that performed by True Labs for Cannabis, is essential to connecting your customers to the right product. True Labs for Cannabis offers detailed terpene profiling that can help you understand what is in each batch of cannabis. With repeated results, you can use our reliable terpene profiling to fine tune a brand trademark terpene profile that sets you apart from the competition. Our state of the art equipment and meticulous process identifies and quantifies terpenes with precision, every time.