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Terpene 101
If you are new to the idea of paying attention to terpenes in your medical marijuana, you are not alone. Having an Arkansas marijuana card opens the door to a whole new world of cannabis appreciation, and understanding terpenes is an important part of finding the right strains for your specific treatment goals.
Terpenes are not just the latest buzzword in cannabis (pun slightly intended). They give medical marijuana its variance in taste, appearance, and effect. Some strains are better for daytime pain relief, while others may be more effective at helping you sleep, because of terpenes.
Understanding what to look for can help you tailor your treatments, making medical marijuana even more effective at providing the relief you need.
Keep reading for a comprehensive overview of what to look for the next time you visit an Arkansas dispensary.
Indica Versus Sativa is Just the Beginning
Getting your Arkansas marijuana card is just the beginning of a journey to better health and wellness. There is often so much new information to take in at once, that terpenes may be the last thing you think about before your first visit to an Arkansas dispensary.
Once you get escorted past the second set of doors into the depths of the dispensary, you could get hit with an overwhelming variety of choices.
Some medical marijuana strains are better for chronic pain than others, some are better at treating PTSD, and still others are more effective at managing nausea, and the list goes on.
You may already be familiar with the difference between indica and sativa, which refers to the general type of strain. Indica is known for being more relaxing, and sativa is known for having more energetic effects.
The differences in effect, however, get more nuanced when you pay attention to terpenes.
What Are Terpenes?
You are constantly being bombarded with terpenes every day. Slice a lemon and take in the energizing scent. Relax in a lavender-scented bubble bath. Feel that homey feeling when you smell cinnamon rolls baking. All of these wonderful smells and the emotional effects they have are a result of terpenes.
The terpenes in cannabis combine to make up each strain’s entourage effect. Each cannabinoid and terpene on its own creates a very specific result. In all the varieties of combinations, you can find a medical marijuana strain that’s good for almost anything.
Which Terpenes Are Found in Medical Marijuana?
Researchers know about more than 20,000 different terpenes. There are about 100 found in cannabis, and we generally focus on a dozen or fewer of those terpenes in order to predict the effects of particular medical marijuana strains.
Below, you will find some of the most commonly dominant terpenes found in therapeutic cannabis, so you know what to look for the next time you visit an Arkansas dispensary.
Limonene
There is a reason most mood-boosting products have a citrusy or minty smell. They contain the natural mood elevator, limonene. Limonene gives citrus its bright, clean scent, and it can provide an energizing boost to your day.
Limonene in Medical Marijuana
Limonene has antidepressant, antifungal, and antispasmodic properties. It may be useful in treating depression, chronic fatigue, and pain related to muscle spasms. And as an added bonus, limonene’s immune activating properties may be helpful when you are feeling under the weather.
Strains at Arkansas Dispensaries With Limonene
OG Kush
Sour Lifter
Banana Magic
Myrcene
You need to be careful with Myrcene-dominant strains. It’s the terpene associated with what’s known as “couch lock,” where you are so relaxed it’s almost impossible to get off the couch. It’s popular for its pain relieving effects, and is a powerful muscle relaxant. Also found in hops, basil, and mangos, myrcene is an anti-inflammatory as well as a sedative.
Myrcene in Medical Marijuana
If you are having trouble relaxing, suffer from severe pain, muscle spasms, or insomnia, myrcene-dominant strains are going to be our go-to for nighttime relief. Just make sure you don’t use them right before your next marathon— unless of course, it’s a Netflix marathon.
Strains at Arkansas Dispensaries with Myrcene
Sour Tangie
Mandarin Cookies
Trainwreck
Linalool
Linalool has been studied in use as an anti-seizure medication for its anticonvulsant effects. It is especially relaxing, and is also found in plants like lavender and coriander.
Linalool in Medical Marijuana?
Linalool is a mood-enhancer that may keep you relaxed without knocking you out. Look for a strain with linalool for daytime anxiety and pain relief.
Strains at Arkansas Dispensaries with Linalool
Purple Ice
Pinene
If you relax the moment you set foot in a pine forest, you are probably feeling the effects of the terpene known as Pinene. It has been referred to as “the miracle gift of nature” by some researchers, and it has a wide range of benefits.
Pinene in Medical Marijuana?
Pinene is good for pain that is related to inflammation. It can have clarifying effects, making it a good choice for those days you have things to do but need pain relief to make it through.
Strains at Arkansas Dispensaries With Pinene
Peyote Cookies
Jack Flash
Durban
Caryophyllene
Beta-caryophyllene binds with CB2 receptors in the brain, which is why it is sometimes referred to as a cannabinoid. It is also found in black pepper and spicy, woody-scented plants.
Caryophyllene in Medical Marijuana
Stress and anxiety will get blown away with beta-caryophyllene. It is also a powerful pain reliever, and it may help your body absorb any pain medications you are already taking. This means that you may be able to work with your doctor to reduce your doses.
Strains at Arkansas Dispensaries that have Caryophyllene
Starkiller
Apple Sherbet
Cookies and Cream
Humulene
Humulene's antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties make it a powerful pain reliever. And you don’t have to worry about medical marijuana giving you the munchies with this strain because it is an appetite suppressant as well.
Humulene in Medical Marijuana
If you suffer from arthritis or other conditions that cause pain related to inflammation, looking for a humulene-dominant strain may be beneficial.
Strains at Arkansas Dispensaries With Humulene
Ghost OG
Why Can’t I Find these Cannabis Strains at My Local Arkansas Dispensary?
The Arkansas medical marijuana program is probably the most robust in the South. Variety is expansive and still growing, but supply is still dependent on harvest. Additionally dispensaries may have variance in their inventory based on geographical demand.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, consider asking your friendly budtender if they can help you choose a strain that has the terpenes that will give you the relief you deserve.
Dispensaries are all over the state, including the ReLeaf Center in Bentonville, Arkansas Natural Products in Clinton, Harvest House of Cannabis in Little Rock, Greenlight Dispensary in Helena, and Bloom Medicinals in Texarkana, are constantly adding to their list of products. Some will even make it a point to bring in strains if you request them.
How Can I Get an Arkansas Marijuana Card?
If you do not yet have an Arkansas marijuana card, now is the perfect time! Enjoy sampling new strains as they come available in your local dispensary, and start finding the relief you deserve!
Give our expert staff and doctors a call at (844) 249-8714, or schedule an online evaluation appointment today!
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