How have terpenes influenced Hemp based CBD product development and why are they important ?

Hemp and terpenes have a truly beautiful relationship. Keep reading to find out why terpenes and Hemp are one of the most powerful healing combinations in nature.

News flash–the cannabis industry is a thriving, evolving energy that uses modern technology to enhance the benefits and effects of a millennia-old plant. While the cannabis and hemp industry was once considered controversial, today this essential industry is making waves for both medicinal and recreational purposes. 

A significant part of that success, however, comes from terpenes. These hydrocarbons are naturally produced by most plants, while cannabis is particularly dense in terpenes. But what exactly ARE terpenes? Why does cannabis produce terpenes? How do terpenes affect cannabis? 

It’s ok. Take a nice deep breath, and let it all out. This is big.

Today we’ll cover the complex relationship between terpenes and cannabis. While they’re both pretty powerful on their own, when used together they have some truly spectacular effects.

There’s a LOT of information we’ll be covering. Here are some of the different topics you can expect to find. Feel free to skip around or to slowly savor each new piece of information at your own pace. 

What Are Terpenes and Why Do They Matter?

Like we said just a second ago, terpenes are organic hydrocarbons produced by most plants. Plants use these compounds to attract pollinators and to deter predators. But terpenes are pretty sensitive and can be influenced by weather, soil quality, and even farming techniques. That’s why two identical seeds grown in different conditions might have different terpene profiles. 

But that doesn’t really explain what’s so special about terpenes. Why do terpenes matter ?

Terpenes matter because they are the building blocks of scent and flavor. Essential oils were once considered the purest form of a scent, but we now know that they are actually made up of unique blends of terpenes.

As an example, eucalyptus oil might smell like fresh, minty pine. However, it actually contains the terpenes Alpha-Phellandrene, Myrcene, Beta-Pinene, and more. Along with several other compounds, the blend of these terpenes is actually what creates the distinct scent we understand as eucalyptus.

Newer technology has allowed us to purify essential oils even further so we can isolate specific terpenes. The reason this is important is that terpenes can have some pretty spectacular effects on us! Especially when combined in certain ways! And there’s no better example than cannabis terpenes. 

Seeking to understand ourselves and how our body works we can learn impressively from how nature maintains balance and order. Terpenes are hydrocarbon-based compounds that work together to promote health and vitality. Our plant life depend on these terpenes from attracting a mate to warding off harmful invaders and crop killers as well as hundreds of other benefits documented by our limited research into terpenes up until now. 

What Are Hemp Terpenes?

First, we want to remind everyone that our terpenes are 100% cannabis free. They’re distilled and isolated for the highest purity possible. Certified non-GMO and certified organic all our ingredients are produced in Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) certified facilities.  So if you don’t want to mess with cannabis at all, you don’t have to! While our terpenes are botanically-derived, it is entirely possible to isolate hemp-derived terpenes too. More on that later!

Now, we know that plants naturally produce terpenes, however, cannabis tends to produce them in bulk. CBD is now legal in all 50 states and as more states legalize cannabis (either medically or recreationally), more people are paying attention to the role terpenes have to play. The truth is, however, that each separate strain of cannabis has its own blend of terpenes that gives it a unique scent, flavor, and variety of effects. 

That’s right. The reason why some of your favorite strains give you “couch-lock” while others turn you into a “Chatty Cathy” is because of specific terpenes and the way they interact with cannabinoids. Hemp terpenes are basically what dictates the type of experience CBD products will give you. If your product is CBD isolate with no terpenes then you are leaving money on the table and should source other full-spectrum CBD products. 

Like we said earlier, hemp produces a LOT of terpenes. So many, in fact, that you can almost see them when looking at a particularly “frosty” bud. The trichomes on cannabis flowers are where you’ll find both terpenes and cannabinoids. If you look at them under a microscope they kind of look like mushrooms with bead-like heads and narrow stems. That’s the good stuff!

Terpenes Influence the Overall Cannabis Experience

When we say terpenes influence the overall CBD experience, we really mean it! 

Imagine that you’re driving your car at a glacial 3 mph. When you turn the steering wheel 2° in either direction, you won’t see too much change in direction. However, if you’re going 100mph, that same 2° turn will now completely change the direction you’re driving.

In this example, think of terpenes as the steering wheel and cannabinoids as the gas pedal. Terpenes alone won’t get you high, but they help dictate the type of experience you’ll have. Plus, if you understand enough about terpenes, you can even predict what type of experience you’ll have by looking at the terpene chart of a specific strain.

Terpenes Are Important for Medicinal Cannabis

Certain terpenes have significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic properties, and more. That’s one of the many reasons why activists, like Jack Herer , were so outspoken about the plant’s medicinal properties. 

While he may not have had the in-depth knowledge we have today about terpenes, we now know that, through the entourage effect , cannabinoids and terpenes work together very effectively. Basically, when they work synergistically, they have more powerful effects than they would on their own. 

Take the terpene B-Caryophyllene, for example. On its own, it’s still pretty powerful. It can reduce pain, slow bacteria growth, relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety, and it can even reduce inflammation. However, like our driving example earlier, by pressing down on the CBD gas-pedal, this terpene can have an amazing effect. Imagine a food and beverage industry that can utilize the flavors and effects of cannabis. Have you ever wanted a sport drink that had the flavor and effects of your favorite strain? With terpenes, that’s possible!  You may even be seeing terpene infused beer pretty soon.

Edibles can have even more powerful flavors and effects by utilizing terpenes. Suddenly, those lemon haze flavored hard candies will have brighter flavors and more intense effects. 

Considering the organic nature of terpenes, it also makes them ideal for skincare products. Certain terpenes can help promote product absorption, improve skin moisture, and even calm irritated skin. So, not only will terpenes create unique scents, terpenes can create cleaner skincare products.

Why the Hemp and Cannabis Industry NEEDS Terpenes

Like we talked about earlier, terpenes are sensitive. Even if you have two genetically identical seeds, if you grow them in different conditions they’ll probably express different terpenes more prominently than others. 

So, if someone wanted to create a consistent flavor for their products, they would have to tightly control their cannabis crop at every step. That’s hard…but not impossible. 

The second reason is that even if you have a consistent crop, the manufacturing process can destroy the terpenes. Even a small amount of heat can alter the expression of certain terpenes, resulting in muted or dull flavors. Simply adding more plant matter wouldn’t necessarily make up the difference.

However, by adding terpenes back in towards the end of the manufacturing process, Is this proprietary in some way or at least divulging something to the competition? you skip all the guesswork and create a consistent product EVERY time. For a product to be successful and draw in repeat customers, consistency is key.

 Are Terpenes Legal?

Considering the changing laws and regulations surrounding cannabis, asking if terpenes are legal is a fair question. Rest assured, however, that our botanically-derived terpenes are 100% legal. However, That’s because they’re not derived from cannabis. Let us explain…

Terpenes derived from your everyday herbs, flowers, and spices are considered “botanically-derived” and therefore are totally legal. If your terpenes are derived directly from the cannabis plant though, they’ll only be legal in states where cannabis is legal. And then you have to figure out if that state has legalized cannabis recreationally, medicinally or both. 

Honestly, it’s kind of a hot mess, which is why we stick to botanically-derived terpenes. As the cannabis industry expands, this green rush will inevitably carry terpenes along with it. But since the botanically-derived terpenes can accomplish the same goals as cannabis-derived ones, it’s just easier to deal with the former. 

Jampha uses the highest quality certified organic terpenes and hemp. We control the entourage effects of each product to give you a consistent product each and every time. 

Shamans and eastern medicine masters have long known the power of terpenes. Great wisdom can be found to help us understand how these plant extracts can shape and direct healing and balancing of the body systems. To go forward we have to go back. We didn’t need a pharma industry for 10,000 years but all of a sudden nature can’t do what it has for a millennia? The truth can be found in the efficacy of Jampha products. We encourage you to do your own research and become a part of the future in health care and preventative medicine. 

Jampha 07/19/2020 www.jampha.com