Cannabis strains have a distinct taste and effect

I’m going to do my best to illustrate this without getting too wonky, but first I want to mention I’m not a medicinal user – I’m a pothead. So get any ideas out of your head of medicinal users being somehow smarter or more responsible with their weed.

Let’s start with a basic chart of unique chemicals found in the cannabis plant. THC (tetrahydrocannibinol) and CBD (Cannabidiols) the general public are generally aware of, while hobbyists, medicinal users, etc. understand there are multiple versions of THC and CBD, but that’s everything dumbed down.

This chart lists the medical benefits of each, and each has a different effect. Delta9-THC is the chemical responsible for that head high associated with smoking weed. CBD is associated with the body high that causes couch lock.

In actuality, there are close to 500 natural components in cannabis, and ~70 of them are classified as cannabinoids, some of which are listed in the chart above. 

Cannabinoids are a type of terpenoids: Terpenoid
Many of the other chemicals found in cannabis are called terpenes (not terpines): Terpene

The difference between terpenes and terpenoids is that terpenes are hydrocarbons, whereas terpenoids contain additional functional groups.

Both terpenes and terpenoids compose a plant’s essential oils, which are the natural extracts found in anything naturally flavored. Coconut oil, lavender bath products, etc., all use essential plant oils. If you’re eating/using something with an essential oil, it was derived from a plant (though that doesn’t necessarily make it safer). This is the natural flavoring you see advertised on the package.

When you’re eating/using something with artificial flavor, it’s the exact same chemical compound, but created in a lab using chemistry (and those base chemicals likely came from an insect).

To narrow cannabis down to just THC and CBD is like saying orange Kool-Aid tastes exactly like orange juice. If you can tell the difference between a glass of orange soda and a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice, you understand how complicated a plant’s chemical makeup is vs the synthesized version we accept.

The difference between each strain of cannabis lies in the balance of each of the 500 compounds that comprises it, with the 70 cannabinoids having the greatest effect on the way you feel. 

Although levels can be somewhat altered by the way the plant is grown, one strain will never make you feel the same way as another strain any more than a merlot tastes like pinot grigio. If you’re not into wine, go to the grocery store and buy both a red delicious apple and a granny smith apple. They’re both apples, but the tastes, smells, looks, etc., are very distinct and different.

The differences in each strain boil down to the mixtures of cannabinoids found in them and how they react with other terpenes. Cannabis scientists are looking deeply into which combinations are good for relieving which ailments, finding that certain pairs relieve certain symptoms. Strains that predominantly contain certain pairings will be best suited to treat certain conditions and/or bring about certain states of mind and body to the user.

How much of the active ingredients you ingest will greatly affect the effects felt by these different strains, but the basics will always boil down to the chemical reaction.