Quality Cannabis: What Does Science Say About It?

Psychoactives, a peer-reviewed scientific publication, recently published a study proposing that a pleasant Cannabis aroma (not THC content) predicts pleasant effects from smoking or vaporizing Cannabis.  The story struck me for several reasons; 1) There are very few Cannabis studies that report positive outcomes after smoking, 2) This study is an indication that Cannabis science is maturing beyond the novelty of THC to finer qualities of Cannabis. 
 
As a Cannabis Scientist, I spend a lot of time following the advances in Cannabis science.  From my perspective, Cannabis research is split into two camps.  The first camp focuses on single agents like THC, CBD, or synthetic cannabinoids and is more aligned with traditional research paradigms.  The second camp studies the whole plant with its broad spectrum of active ingredients.  Although more complex, this camp reflects the real-world usage of Cannabis. Most published studies are of the first camp.
 
Cannabis aromas range from sweet floral to pungent fuel. In the study, 278 healthy Cannabis users selected or were given 8-10 one-gram samples of Cannabis flowers with varying aromas to take home. They were asked to smoke each sample on separate occasions and rate their experience.  One caveat, they had to abstain from using Cannabis for 48 hours before judging each sample, which was difficult for the daily users. 
 
Here are the highlights…
 

• On an appeal scale, older people reported a more pleasant experience than younger people.  Participants aged 40 or older reported more subjective appeal after smoking than those 40 or younger.  And the 60 + demographic reported the most pleasant experience.

 

• There was negative correlation with the frequency of consumption.  In other words, those who smoked less than once per week reported a more pleasant experience than those who smoked multiple times per day.  That probably has something to do with tolerance.

 

• Participants who consumed small doses reported a more pleasant experience.  THC potency, in general, did not correlate with subjective appeal. Neither did terpene content. However, males did report more pleasant experience with higher THC potency when the results were stratified by biological gender.

 

• The strongest correlation with a pleasant experience was the Cannabis flower aroma.  The more pleasant the aroma, the more pleasant the experience.

 
Traditional academic researchers (the first camp) raise concerns about high content THC products and their propensity to be associated with Cannabis Use Disorder, Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome, and Psychosis.  In response, offering Type II (THC & CBD equivalent) and Type III (CBD dominant) Cannabis flowers institutes product differentiation and attracts the more mature consumer.
 
So, there you have it. It’s not all about THC.  In fact, Cannabis companies have already responded by adding Cannabis with less THC and more CBD, CBG, or THCv to their inventory.  Garden Society and Pure Beauty, brands that provide lower THC alternatives, offer pre-rolls with 10% THC or less.  Science indicates that Cannabis aroma is likely an important quality attribute of the plant.  In response, marketing “floral”, “pungent”, “sweet”,  and “earthy” aromas may soon replace the unsupported designations that frequent the Cannabis marketplace