Both are cannabinoids, a chemical compound found in the cannabis plant that act as the main rhythm section to what makes you feel high. Let us introduce y’all:

First up, THC: the primary psychoactive cannabinoid component in cannabis! Followed by, CBD: the primary non psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis!

The two famous  annabinoids everyone’s talking about! Both can be found within the cannabis flower but each have their own unique effects and properties. Together they can work in tandem to generate therapeutic effects that neither one would have separately. THC is what is known for causing the euphoric high. CBD works with your brain’s neurotransmitters to stimulate anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-anxiety medicinal benefits. If ever you’re worried about becoming too “elevated”, CBD can aid in neutralizing that potent high.

What are terpenes anyway? Why, a terpene is what gives the essence of a smell to all plants, from citrus to lavender, to clove, to cannabis. Terpenes are in all kinds of things like cosmetics, perfumes, and pharmaceuticals. With holistic benefits from calming to energizing, they can be good for you mentally and physically. When you take those beautiful terpenes and combine them with those good ol’ cannabinoids, those holistic benefits we love them so much for can be heightened. That’s what we call the entourage effect.

Now, when you learn your terpenes and how they can make you feel, you can start to curate your own high and that can be an empowering thing. That’s because you can experience those beneficial holistic effects without having to get too high. If you just want to feel a little something instead of a lot of something, try a low percentage of THC with a higher amount of CBD, or a close ratio of terpenes to cannabinoids ie: 10:1, 5:1, 3:1. Start low and work your way up as you learn what works best for you. And trust your senses, just like you know what a song is really swinging, you know what scents appeal to you. Use your nose to guide you when selecting your cannabis. If it smells good to you, it just may feel good to you.

Meet your terpenes!

• PINENE (PIE-neen) is one of the stimulating terpenes that can be found in pine trees, basil, and rosemary plants, making it one of the most common terpenes found in nature. It can bring about a sense of “Focus” and has neuroprotective properties to aid in cognitive function and memory loss! Pinene can also benefit ailments like depression, and asthma. A few pinene strains you may know are Royal Pineapple, Taffy, and Amaretto Sour.
• LIMONENE (Lim-o-neen) is a terpene made to lift you up when you’re feeling all beat up. With it’s delightful lemon and citrus scent this terpene can aid in reducing situational stress and give your mood a nice boost! Some holistic uses of Limonene can be used to calm anxiety and can have anti cancer benefits. Limonene is the second most prevalent terpene within strains, and can be found in popular strains like Wedding Cake and Dos-Si-Dos.
• TERPINOLENE (ter-PIN-uh-leen) known for it’s energizing effects can generate cerebral, artistic, and inspiring motivations too! This terpene really gets the joint jumping! With a distinct woody, herbaceous, yet slightly floral scent terpinolene can be found naturally within apples, nutmeg, and tea trees. Holistic benefits of this terpene can range from anti-bacterial to anti-fungal, and antiseptic properties. The starring strains featuring this terpene are Trainwreck, Jack, and Super Lemon Haze.
• OCIMENE (OH-sih-meen ) is a smooth, subtle terpene with a herbal, earthy, (and touch of citrus) fragrance. Ociemene can bring on feelings of relaxation and comfort. Ocimene dominant strains are pretty rare but can be found in varying concentrations in other chemovars. The beauty of Ocimene is that even in its subtly, this terpene can offer potential anti-inflammatory benefits. There are certain strains that have this terpene as the second or third most abundant like Dream Queen, Green Crack, and Clementine.
• CARYOPHYLLENE (carry-OFF-uh-leen) is part of the spectrum of terpenes that can have you feeling real nice and mellow; it can inspire feelings of comfort within it’s consumers and has an aroma of cloves, cinnamon, and black pepper to go along with it. This terpene is distinct in its ability to directly interact with the body’s CB2 receptors, an important protein that is heavily involved in the body’s immune system, and plays an important role in fighting inflammation to manage localized pain, something no other terpene can do! This means Caryophyllene can potentially benefit those struggling with insomnia, pain relief, and muscle spasms. Even the CB2 receptors found within parts of the digestive tract can be positively impacted by strains high in this terpene. Famous strains like Girl Scout Cookies and Sherbert traditionally are associated with Caryophyllene.
• MYRCENE (MUR-seen) is another mellowed out terpene that carries a unique earthy and herbal smell and can be found within hops, mango, and lemongrass. Like Caryophyllene, this terpene also has calming effects to help ease situational discomfort and improve relaxation. This terpene goes hand-in-hand with CBD nicely and can also be used for insomnia and pain spasms. Myrcene is the most popular terpene in strains on the recreational market and is found in the bulk of them including Blue Dream, OG Kush, and Green Crack.

With the legal cannabis industry growing as quickly as it is, there is a new understanding for growing and processing the desired effects of a particular chemovar or “strain”. This is where the Entourage Effect comes in. Sometimes also known as the Ensemble Effect, this phenomenon is the relationship between terpenes and cannabinoids (like THC and CBD). It is when Terpenes interact with cannabinoids that a consumer can feel the unique effects of a strain. Benefits you may not feel when interacting with solely terpenes or cannabinoids can be unlocked by utilizing both together. Think of it like when the horns, percussions and the strings are really jamming and the joint starts jumping and the music starts. That’s like the Entourage Effect!

Listen here Vipers, the labels Sativa, Indica, and Hybrid are NOT going to tell you how you’ll experience the effects of cannabis, or as we like to call it in the Teapads, gage. Sativa and Indica are actually descriptors for the flower itself and don’t really get the job done to describe the true effects when you smoke it, drink it, eat it, etc. Sativa, Indica and Hybrid have been used as blanket terms to give consumers an idea of the effects they feel, but in all honesty, they just aren’t sufficient. For example, a strain described as “sativa” can give you more than a stimulating head high, and an indica can offer way more than a “In da couch” couch lock body high. Just like your favorite jazz song, gage chemovars (strains) can be complex with layers and a multitude of vibes.

There is a Chemovar or strain for everyone’s specific needs, it just requires understanding which one is your preference. Type 1 ratios are the most common you see on the market, they contain mainly THC and allow for a good old fashioned euphoric high. There is very little CBD in Type 1’s.

However, Type 2’s have a trick or two up their sleeve in their ability to have a higher CBD to THC content. Depending on the varying amounts of CBD present in relation to THC: 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 the consumer can control how high they want to become. Meaning, that you can select a 3:1 and go about your day playing hooky! Type 2’s also have the potential to alleviate discomforts like anxiety and aches. But if you want to feel fine and have a good time, a balanced ratio can provide holistic benefits and still lift you up.

The final Type 3 variation is very high CBD and very low THC also dubbed as Hemp, but not to be confused with the rough material used for clothes. Very few vendors carry Type 3’s due to it creating little to no high when consumed.

Here’s the thing to remember about your gage: The more CBD to THC in your strain, the less high you’ll potentially become, although this varies from person to person. Just like we don’t all experience the same feelings when listening to an iconic Billie Holiday song, not everyone is going to have the same experience with a particular strain.

That’s why it’s helpful for a smart viper like you to consider ratios when consuming. It’ll help give you an idea of how potentially intense your experience will be. Ratios are also useful for those of us who are looking to treat discomfort, pain, or anxiety without experiencing a potent high. With our Champagne Glass system  The percentage of cannabinoids and terpenes are broken down into rankings to show the potential strength/potency of the product. The higher the percentage the more likely you’ll be to benefit from the plant’s holistic properties. To curate your ideal cannabis experience it is  recommended to start small then work up to find your rhythm.