The term cannabis connoisseur applies to someone who has accumulated a considerable body of knowledge about this consumer product. Becoming a connoisseur requires sensitivity, training, education and experience. Being able to identify the qualities of a cannabis sample means paying attention to aspects that usually go unnoticed by the general public.
In the following text we will shed light on six aspects concerning the quality of cannabis that have been underplayed because of the plant’s legal status but which are becoming increasingly acknowledged among the cannabis community: the cannabinoid profile, the terpene profile and the issue of humidity (part 1 of the text); and the microbiological quality, the identification of heavy metals, and the residual pesticide content (part 2 of the text).
When we go to a supermarket or a pharmacy, the consumer products on sale there have gone through a series of quality controls and include written information about their use on labels and in leaflets. However, even though we have interacted with labels for decades, many people still have trouble making sense of them. In Catalonia, the cannabis market is not regulated. This means that, in the vast majority of cases, we are offered cannabis products that have not passed quality controls and their labelling does not provide any information to consumers. Generally speaking, the information provided is limited to the variety’s trade name, whether it has been grown outdoors or indoors, and its physiology (indica-sativa-hybrid). These parameters are a long way from what we see is required in markets where cannabis is regulated. Here, we will examine six key parameters for the quality of cannabis. In Catalonia and Spain, there are a number of entities, foundations and companies that offer cannabis analysis services, such as Energy Control. We invite you to continue investigating!
Cannabinoid profile
We talk about “cannabinoid profile” to refer to the concentration of these active ingredients in a given cannabis sample. Even though tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the two best-known cannabinoids, in actual fact there are more than 150 cannabinoids. It is important to distinguish between “phytocannabinoids”, which are those produced by the plant, and “cannabinoids”, which are produced by synthesis (in laboratories).
The phytocannabinoids, produced by a plant, are acidic. And their acronyms are written with an “a” added at the end – THCA, for example. When heated, the acidic cannabinoids are transformed into neutral cannabinoids. This process is called “decarboxylation”. In their acidic form, cannabinoids are not psychoactive.
Depending on the machinery and the laboratory techniques used by the analysis service, it will be possible to identify a greater or lesser number of cannabis compounds, for example, THCA, THCV, CBDA, CBDV, CBN, CBG, CBGA, CBC, and THC, to name just a few.
A cannabinoid profile identifies and quantifies the cannabis products’ psychoactive compounds, enabling the consumer to make informed decisions about how much he or she consumes.
Even though the overall trend in recent decades has been to increase the THC content in cannabis (the cannabinoid responsible for the psychoactive effects), CBD is now being plugged strongly, which, as is known, doesn’t give you a high when you consume it. But the two ingredients do interact with each other. In fact, both act on the same parts of the brain, but in opposite ways. We could say that CBD counteracts the high produced by THC. CBD is considered to be antipsychotic and, therefore, may mediate the psychoactive effects of THC. Studies are still needed to fully understand these interactions. For example, taking a few drops of CBD orally before or after consuming THC is not the same as, for example, smoking a joint with a marijuana that contains THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio (in other words, the same percentage of the two cannabinoids in the same sample). In the case of the drops, if they are taken before, they are able to mitigate the unwanted effects of subsequent THC consumption, and if they are taken after, you would need to take into account the speed with which the CBD drops are absorbed by the body in order to determine the strength of THC’s effects. On the other hand, if you smoke a joint with a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD, the more psychoactive effects of THC will be modulated through the so-called “entourage effect”, as it is considered that the effects of the cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes are stronger if they are taken together than separately.
In studies in which high doses of pure THC are given, participants describe sensations of paranoia and anxiety. However, when THC combined with CBD is given, participants describe a sensation of euphoria while the THC-related memory inhibition is diminished. It also seems that the combination of the two cannabinoids offers significant improvements in sleep quality. In other words, in terms of risk reduction, it is useful to be aware of CBD’s potential for modulating THC’s unwanted effects.
So the CBD:THC ratio of a given cannabis extract, product or variety is a pretty good indicator of its effects. A ratio with a higher CBD level will produce a clearer or cleaner effect, while higher THC levels will increase psychoactivity.
A 1:1 extract or variety means equal parts of THC and CBD. When consumed in this proportion, consumers will experience a clear psychoactive effect, but the CBD will decrease its intensity. They will be less likely to experience sensations of paranoia. If we increase to a 2:1 ratio, that is, twice as much CBD as THC, THC’s effect will be mild but the person will not feel intoxicated.
Apart from THC and CBD, there are two other cannabinoids that have become popular: in particular, cannabinol (CBN) and, much more recently, cannabigerol (CBG). In fact, CBD and CBN were the first cannabinoids to be discovered in the 1940s, while the chemical structure of THC was not elucidated until 1964. CBG is also called the “mother cannabinoid”, because it is the first cannabinoid produced by the plant and it is subsequently converted into THC and CBD during ripening. On its own, CBG is not psychoactive. For its part, CBN is formed from the decomposition of THC. This is why it is important to store cannabis correctly, as otherwise THC’s strength may be lost.
Terpene profile
Terpenes are lipids found in many natural substances (mainly in insects and plants) and are the main components of resin and turpentine. These components give plants their smell. Their function is to protect plants against predators and attract pollinators. Terpenes and their derivatives make up the terpenoid family. Terpenes have been used for centuries in aromatherapy to make essential oils. They are also used in nutrition.
A decade ago, most people interested in cannabis were mainly concerned about one thing: levels of THC. But there is growing interest in and awareness of their role in giving each variety its distinctive smell. Several studies suggest that when a terpene interacts with the receptors in our endocannabinoid system, it can enhance or block the effects of cannabinoids. That is why terpene-rich cannabis is becoming increasingly popular. However, by themselves, terpenes do not give any high.
Some of the terpenes more commonly found in cannabis are the following: limonene, pinene, myrcene, linalool, δ-3-carene, eucalyptol, β-caryophyllene, humulene, borneol and terpineol. The terpene most often found in cannabis is myrcene (present in high concentrations in bay, parsley, thyme and basil). The theory is that the myrcene concentration determines whether a strain will have an indica effect (sedative) or the effects of an energy-giving sativa. The more myrcene it has, the more indica-like is the effect. Many more studies must be performed in order to fully understand the role played by terpenes in the effects of cannabis.
Humidity
Once the cannabis buds have been separated from the plant, they start to dry and dehydrate. It is important that the samples intended for consumption be dry enough. A moisture of 10% or less is considered acceptable.
Many natural products are stored or keep better in a controlled environment, and this is also the case for cannabis. There are many factors to consider for adequate care and storage of a sample intended for consumption. One of the crucial considerations is proper management of the plant’s relative humidity while it is stored in an airtight container. If there is too much humidity, the risk of contamination by mould will increase. If there is too little humidity, the trichomes will dry out. This will make them brittle, hard and less effective as the essential oils carried by the cannabinoids and terpenes slowly break down.
Any cannabis sample exposed to relative humidity (RH) levels above 65% runs the risk of contamination by mould and microbes. At the other end, trichomes start to become brittle with relative humidities below 55%. Exposing cannabis to high humidities, even if only for a few hours, may take it from a dry state to being at risk of being attacked by mould. Optimal humidity recommended for storing cannabis normally ranges between 59% and 63% RH. This relative humidity range is also necessary to preserve the original colour, aroma, consistency and flavour. To ensure optimum humidity, the storage location must be cool and enclosed.
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