The Limitations of Indica and Sativa Classifications

Historically, Indica and Sativa classifications were based largely on the plant’s morphology. “Indicas” were characterized by their broad leaves and relaxing effects, while “sativas” were associated with their narrow leaves and stimulating effects.

While those broad definitions can be true and seem reliable to some extent, scientific research has revealed that this simple dichotomy fails to capture the complex interplay of compounds within cannabis.

Compounding the issue of this simplistic classification, pure indica or sativa strains are becoming increasingly rare. As breeding takes off, the modern cannabis market is dominated by hybrids. This makes relying solely on these broad classifications even less reliable for predicting effects.

We can do better!

The Rise of Terpene Awareness

Terpenes, found in various plants and even some animals, are the aromatic compounds that give them their unique scents, tastes, and even appearances.

Cannabis boasts a diverse array of terpenes that exhibit various therapeutic attributes, including analgesic, anti-anxiety, and anti-inflammatory effects. This contributes to the plant’s potential use in managing pain, anxiety disorders, and inflammatory conditions.

Consumers are more empowered than ever to explore and discover specific profiles that align with their personal preferences and desired experiences, whether for therapeutic purposes or simply to enhance well-being and enjoyment.

There are plenty of resources available that dive more into the benefits of each terpene, like this article by THC Design.

As our knowledge about the effects of terpenes grows, so too does the availability of testing for them. Companies like Manitou Analytical and Smarti Plantz are emerging to provide mail-in terpene testing, so growers can be more aware of the intricate chemical profiles of their harvests. Not long ago, this level of detail was largely inaccessible to the average consumer or home grower.

Adding to the complexity, the 200+ terpenes found in cannabis interact synergistically with 100+ cannabinoids like THC and CBD, a phenomenon known as the “entourage effect,” to modulate the overall experience.

A More Nuanced Approach

This shift towards terpene awareness is empowering consumers to:

Personalize their experience: By understanding the specific effects of different terpenes, individuals can choose cannabis products that align with their desired outcomes.

Move beyond generalizations: By focusing on terpene and cannabinoid profiles, consumers can move away from the unreliable “indica” and “sativa” classifications.

Enhance therapeutic potential: The therapeutic applications of cannabis are becoming increasingly refined as researchers uncover the specific roles of individual terpenes.

The Future of Cannabis Consumption

The future of the cannabis industry lies in a deeper understanding of the plant’s chemical complexity. As research continues to unravel the intricate relationships between cannabinoids and terpenes, we can expect to see:

• More precise product labeling, with detailed terpene profiles.
• The development of targeted cannabis therapies, tailored to individual needs.
• Increased consumer education, empowering individuals to make informed choices.
• Continued and expanded research into the complex interactions between cannabinoids, terpenes, and other phytochemicals is essential to fully understand and utilize the plant’s potential.

The terpene revolution is transforming the cannabis landscape, ushering in an era of personalized and precise consumption. By embracing this new understanding, we can unlock the full potential of this remarkable plant.

The post Beyond Indica and Sativa: The Terpene Revolution in Cannabis appeared first on Droidcure.

RH refers to the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a specific temperature.

Think of it like a sponge. A dry sponge can absorb a lot of water. As it gets more saturated, it can’t hold as much additional water. Similarly, as air gets colder, it isn’t capable of holding as much additional moisture.

So, if you have a jar of plant material stabilized to a certain RH and you change the temperature, the RH reading will change even though the actual amount of moisture in the jar hasn’t changed.

The Impact on Cannabis Curing

Curing is a critical process that involves slowly drying and moisture-stabilizing the cannabis to make it safe for long-term storage, which also improves the flavor and smell by breaking down compounds like chlorophyll.

During this process, it’s essential to maintain a specific RH level to prevent mold and mildew growth while allowing the plant material to cure properly. Understanding the relationship between temperature and RH is necessary for getting your ideal cure in your specific lung room and storage environments.

One common way growers are affected is when curing in a cooled environment (like in a refrigerator/cooler) then bringing the cannabis back up to room temperature for consumption. When bringing cool cannabis back up to room temperature, you will likely notice a slight decrease in the RH reading.

This doesn’t mean that the cannabis has suddenly become drier. It simply means that the warmer air can now hold more moisture, so the relative humidity reading drops.

We highly recommend you keep the temperature in your lung room as stable as possible throughout your entire curing process to avoid any confusion.

Applying the Concept

The difference in RH is surprisingly significant at varying temperatures:

• Cannabis cured at 55°F to 62% RH will become 36.6% RH at 70°F
• Cannabis cured at 60°F to 62% RH will become 43.8% RH at 70°F
• Cannabis cured at 65°F to 62% RH will become 52.2 RH at 70°F
• Additionally, the chart below shows how cannabis cured at 65°F changes when exposed to different temperatures. You can see that cannabis cured at 65°F to 60% RH will change to 42.7% RH when brought up to 75°F.

You can play around with more RH and temperature conversions at https://www.markusweimar.de/en/humidity-calculator/

The post Relative Humidity vs. Temperature: A Cannabis Curing Conundrum appeared first on Droidcure.