How Labs Test for Terpenes in Edible Cannabis Products
Terpenes are becoming as well known to cannabis consumers as THC and CBD. And while these compounds are known for their bouquet or aromas and flavors, there is also research that suggests they can augment the consumer’s experience as well -- possibly even offering some therapeutic effects. Terpenes are found in all sorts of cannabis products, but one particular product type might be the perfect match for the pleasant smells and tastes of terpenes: cannabis edibles.
In this blog, you will learn:
Why terpene profiles are important
How terpenes are used in edibles
How cannabis labs test for terpene profile
What is a terpene profile and why is it important?
Terpene profile refers to the range of terpenes found in a cannabis product. Analytical laboratories are able to identify individual terpenes in a given sample and then quantify them, so consumers know which terpenes are present and in which amounts.
Understanding terpene profile can tell us a few things about cannabis flower or a marijuana infused product (MIP) like an edible, including:
Flavor and scent
Terpenes have distinct flavors and scents. For example, the terpene limonene, which is commonly found in cannabis, has a citrus aroma and taste, while beta caryophyllene gives off more of a peppery taste and smells of warm spices like cloves or cinnamon.
They may have potential therapeutic effects
Researchers have found that certain terpenes might offer therapeutic effects as well. For instance, beta caryophyllene has been found to reduce inflammation and modulate pain. Similarly, myrcene is thought to soothe pain and promote relaxation. Myrcene also happens to be the most abundant terpene found in cannabis.
Exactly how terpenes exert these therapeutic effects remains a subject of study by many cannabis researchers. They are thought to work in combination with cannabinoids, as something known as "the entourage effect”, to influence the broader consumption experience and effect. Little is known about exactly how terpenes fit into the entourage effect or how it works, but it is the subject of ongoing research in the cannabis industry.
The role terpenes play in edibles
Although research into cannabis terpenes and the larger role they play is limited, many manufacturers are experimenting with adding terpenes into manufactured products like edibles. Since terpenes are volatile organic hydrocarbons, they are sensitive to heat; as a result, the terpene profile of cannabis can be diminished through the product manufacturing process.
Fortunately, terpenes can be extracted from a cannabis plant and preserved, only to be added back into a product after the fact. Companies generally do this to improve flavors and aromas, but it is becoming increasingly popular to develop terpene blends designed to offer a specific experience or therapeutic effect. While this is far from an exact science, many consumers are beginning to look out for terpene profiles with the right proportions of terpenes for their needs.
For cannabis edibles, terpenes are appearing in everything from candies to snacks to beverages, many of which were never able to contain such high levels of cannabis derived terpenes before due to their lack of water solubility. New techniques that enable the production of water-soluble cannabinoids and terpenes, however, have enabled manufacturers to do more with beverages and edibles. Adding terpenes back into edibles allows manufacturers to tailor flavor and scent more precisely, creating a “branded” blend that consumers can recognize immediately.
Terpenes could also enhance certain therapeutic effects or modulate the consumption experience, and if manufacturers can find the right terpene profile in the right ratios to support these intended effects, they can better create products to serve their customers. For example, including terpenes associated with relaxation, calm, and pain relief in a nighttime edible product may support better sleep.
How cannabis analysis labs test for terpenes
Cannabis testing labs use a process known as Gas Chromatography / Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) to analyze terpene profiles. The purpose of GC/MS is to separate a complex substance, such as a cannabis sample, into its individual compounds.
Compounds like terpenes are easily volatilized, or turned into a gas when heated. This makes them difficult to analyze in a liquid mixture, such as would be done in High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the process used for phytocannaboid profiling. So, instead, the terpenes are heated until they are converted to gas. Each terpene has its own boiling point, so certain terpenes convert sooner than others.
Once converted, these gaseous terpenes are carried in an inert gas and passed through a column, which is typically a very thin layer of solid or viscous liquid particles. When the gaseous terpenes are passed through the column, they separate. A mass spectrometer is then used to identify each terpene based on its mass.
Terpene profiling in New Jersey
Terpene profiling is becoming an increasingly important competitive advantage for manufacturers and brands to include detailed third-party lab test results on their packaging or online. While terpene profiling is not required by law in all states with a legal cannabis program, New Jersey is requiring this on an interim basis, and hopefully it will be a requirement in the full go-forward New Jersey cannabis compliance testing standards.
In New Jersey, where the adult-use cannabis market is just coming online, providing consumers with the most information possible is key to driving customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. For accurate terpene profiling and other testing services, True Labs for Cannabis is here to serve business in the Garden State.