Higher Potency Not Always Best
Given the THC content reaching an upwards of 90% in concentrates, versus around 20% in cannabis flower, you would think concentrates would be better, right? Not necessarily. Compare it to alcohol – if you went into the liquor store looking for the highest alcohol content you would come out with several bottles of 190 proof, 95% alcohol. Sure, this is the highest potency but will surely destroy your liver and is definitely not as tasty as wine or beer.
The recent consumerism of cannabis has led individuals to believe that the higher the THC content, the better. However, this view completely negates multiple other factors. Since THC was first isolated back in 1964, science has found over 480 natural compounds present in the cannabis plant including a variety of cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN, CBG, etc) and terpenes. To ignore these other compounds is a great failure to both individuals who consume recreationally and patients who are using cannabis as a form of treatment.
Additionally, many cannabis users have had experiences where a lower potency of flower (ie: 18%) can have more powerful effects than a higher potency flower (ie: 25%). It simply depends on the quality of the flower – as a whole – and not just the THC levels. Different levels of terpenes, flavonoids and mixture of cannabinoids will have an impact on the users experience, including the effects and benefits of that particular strain.
The Entourage Effect
Factors such cannabinoid levels and the terpenes present in a cannabis plant all influence the effects of that particular strain – not just THC. This is known as the “Entourage Effect”, which is simply the realization that every compound within a cannabis plant or strain works synergistically together to produce those effects.
The idea of focusing solely on one factor (such as THC or even CBD), can severely limit a users experience and even result in failed therapy for patients as not all ailments can be solved by pure THC or pure CBD. In fact, THC and CBD work better when used in combination.
While CBD can somewhat limit the psychoactive effects of THC, this is great news for individuals who are prone to anxiety or paranoia when consuming THC in high doses. Beyond this, CBD actually inhibits the breakdown of THC thereby enabling longer-lasting effects. Research has also proven that the painkilling properties of THC and CBD are indeed more powerful when taken together.
The “Full-Spectrum” Difference
According to Emma Chasen, a cannabis science educator with a plant medicine biology degree from Brown University, “cannabis flower is the most natural form of the full-spectrum, whole plant medicine you find in cannabis”. Meaning, that while oils and concentrates have their place in the cannabis industry, they often do not provide the same full-spectrum benefits as the flower itself.
Cannabis flower is still one of the only products that contains pure, full-spectrum cannabis. While some companies are getting into full-spectrum CBD options and 1:1 options featuring a balanced ratio of THC and CBD, many of these oils can still lack terpene or flavonoid profiles. In addition, during the processing of many concentrates, cannabis is filtered through compounds such as butane or alcohol and often the secondary compounds (terpenes, flavonoids) are not preserved, which diminishes the health benefits and potential for relief.
While production of concentrates is improving, processors are still not able to capture the full-spectrum of compounds available in the cannabis plant. Therefore, it is hard to find an intact full-spectrum product once you deviate from the flower itself.
