What’s the Deal with Terpenes?
The world of cannabis is vast. We’re still learning all sorts of new things about this amazing plant. Which is great, because no matter if you’re brand new to cannabis or have been smoking it for a while, there’s always something new to explore. Cannabis terpenes have become a bit of a hot topic lately, and we wanted to give you a brief intro to the wonderful world of terps.
What are Terpenes?
Terpenes are not unique to cannabis. If you explore terpenes on Wikipedia, you’ll find that they’re described as “...a large and diverse class of organic compounds, produced by a variety of plants, particularly conifers, and by some insects such as termites or swallowtail butterflies, which emit terpenes from their osmeteria.” Terpenes are useful in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, food, essential oils, and makeup. In other words, they’re everywhere.
Are Cannabis Terpenes Different?
According to Herb.co, “...terpenes are the oils that give cannabis plants and flowers their unique smell. Terpenes originate in the same glands of the cannabis plant as THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids.” These terpenes are exactly the same sort of chemicals found in non-cannabis and hemp plants. They’re what give certain strains their unique aromas and can change from harvest to harvest. What’s even more interesting about terpenes is that while they don’t have psychoactive properties themselves, they work with cannabinoids to create something called “the entourage effect,” which may enhance the benefits of using cannabis in all sorts of ways. For more information, check out Project CBD’s article on this phenomenon.
Talk to a Budtender
There are all sorts of different terpenes. Limonene smells like lemons and may have anti-inflammatory properties, while Delta 3 Carene has a piney or earthy aroma, and is also anti-inflammatory, and Terpineol has a pine/clove feel and may have antioxidant properties. The point is, there are so many to explore.
Stop in and ask one of our budtenders what strains might be good to try if you want to check out how different terpenes affect you. We're located at 9107 N. Country Homes Blvd. Unit #13 Spokane, WA. Our store is open Sunday-Thursday 9am-10pm and Friday & Saturday 9am-11pm. You can even check out our menu before you head on over. Weed love to see you soon!
The 411 on 420
On April 20th, at 4:20 in the afternoon, cannabis enthusiasts across the country take up their favorite vapes, edibles, joints, pipes, and more to celebrate that high holy day of weed: 420. But do you know why 420 became such a massive part of cannabis culture? We didn’t, and so we decided to put on our sleuthing caps to investigate just how this fun cannabis celebration got its start.
420 Myths Busted
There are a whole slew of myths surrounding the origins of 420. Some people say it has to do with Bob Marley, while others think 420 is the number of chemical compounds in cannabis. (Quick hint: it’s not, we’re still learning about all the chemicals in cannabis and what they do). Some have even traced the term to the number of a legalization bill in Congress (we wish) or agricultural tips on when the best time of the year to plant weed may be (in truth, it varies). The plot thickens when we get to the band the Grateful Dead and their many merry fans known as Deadheads. Many people think that the term originated here, but while that community did help spread the use of the term, they just helped it spread. So where did 420 come from?
420 For Real
All signs point to the idea of 420 coming from the 1970s and a group known as “the Waldos.” The Waldos were made up of five to twelve friends from San Rafael, California. The story goes that the Waldos liked to get high together, but had to get creative in how they met up and communicated about their little get-togethers. 4:20 pm was the time that they were all done with school and school-related activities, and so that’s when they usually met.
Their shorthand stuck and made its way into mainstream use. These days, cannabis lovers everywhere use the term 420 to indicate casual cannabis use, and we also celebrate this marvelous plant on April 20th at 4:20 pm. This year, 420 falls on a Friday, what better excuse than to grab a few friends, pack a bowl, and blaze on into the night? Somehow we think the Waldos, wherever they are today, would be proud.
Stock Up & Save on 420 Weekend!
Get ready to celebrate 420 this year by stocking up with us throughout the month. Or stop in 4/20-4/22 and we’ll have $50 Ounces, $20 Top Shelf Eighths, $10 Select Eighths, $10 Grams of Oil, $3 Joints, and 20% OFF Paraphernalia. We were Spokane’s first cannabis shop, and we’re the friendliest. Leafly agrees with us too. We’re number two on Leafly’s Spring 2018 best cannabis stores in Washington list! Our friendly budtenders are here to answer any of your burning 420 questions, and our inventory and glass collection is out of this world. Stop in and see us soon!