Terpenes vs. High THC: What Effects Your High the Most?

It's one of the most debated topics about cannabis: Do terpenes or high-THC percentages affect our highs the most? 

That answer depends on who you ask. Some people believe there's no point in buying cannabis unless the THC percentage exceeds 30 percent. Others swear terpenes — the compounds responsible for the plant's aromas and flavors — dictate the direction of our highs. Regardless of what side of the debate you fall on, most consumers currently shop for cannabis products using THC percentages as a barometer for quality. But are people getting the best value for their money by shopping for high-THC weed, or should consumers shift their attention to a flower's terpene profile instead?

It's understandable why people place value on THC percentages. For one, THC's government-spun infamy made it a coveted cannabinoid. Our societal obsession with it is a consequence of prohibition. Another more contemporary reason is the lab testing data available on legal products in dispensaries. The most common information on these labels is cannabinoid content, most of which solely state THC percentages. It's the only plant data consumers engage with regularly, causing it to become a value measurement due to familiarity.

"I'm almost exclusively scanning [cannabis] products, including herb, for THC percentages," says a daily cannabis smoker from the Bay. They wish to remain anonymous for employment purposes. "Sometimes I pay attention to the other cannabinoids present in weed, but I'm really just trying to high. So whatever gets me there."

Providing cannabinoid data on product packaging is an effect of legalization. And it catalyzed a trend of assigning value to cannabis with high THC percentages. This perceived value is why an eighth of cannabis with 35% THC costs $70 (or more) in legal dispensaries, while the same amount of flower testing below 25% THC costs around $40. People willingly dish out extra cash for higher THC smokables because the perceived value is thought to equate to premium quality and potency than lower THC flower. Plus, given the state of our tanking economy, people are looking for cannabis that will give them the greatest return on their investments.

"Although you're spending more money, higher THC gives you a more concentrated high," says Sammy Evans, a cannabis consumer from Southern California. "High THC, for me, typically means I'm investing more money, but also lengthening out the duration of my weed and getting a more convenient high because lower THC products don't have the same effects if you want a quick smoke or one bowl."

A study investigating the features of cannabis that contribute to "quality" was recently published in the journal Psychoactives. It points out that "quality cannabis" has yet to be officially defined. But due to the consumer preference for high-THC flower, cultivators are now explicitly breeding cannabis for high-THC potency. In other words, the perceived value of high-THC flower is now dictating what cultivators grow. Why? Because if they grow high-THC cultivars, people will likely buy their product, and cultivators have a chance at making more money.

"The result of these pressures [to intensively cultivate for THC potency] narrows consumers' purchasing choices to ever more potent products," the study's authors write. They also reference other studies looking at the potential for THC addiction resulting from the perpetual consumption of high-potency cannabis products. "Thus, the high market value of high-THC cannabis not only potentially puts public health at risk via overexposure to THC, but it also negatively impacts medical patients, who tend to prefer lower-THC products."

Another layer to this debate is whether high-THC products effectively get people more stoned than lower-THC goods. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry in 2020 looked at high-THC cannabis concentrates (such as shatter, crumble, wax, or rosin) and determined that potency doesn't necessarily equate to increased intoxication. The study observed 121 regular cannabis consumers; half consumed cannabis concentrates, while the other half used flower. Those who were to consume concentrates purchased a legal extract containing either 70% or 90% THC. Those who used flower bought an eighth with either 16% or 24% THC. The study's results found that the type of product and its THC potency didn't matter. The self-reports of how stoned the study's participants got were remarkably similar; so were the measures of balance and cognitive impairment.

"People in the high concentration group were much less compromised than we thought they were going to be," said study author Kent Hutchison to CU Boulder Today. (Hutchinson is also a professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU Boulder.)

Cannabis connoisseurs have long argued that terpenes are responsible for the plant's distinct highs. Those on team terps often contend that consuming pure THC (a distillate or isolate, for example) feels vastly different than smoking a joint, due to the presence of naturally-occurring terpenes. While there's a dearth of research showing exactly how terps impact our weed highs, some data suggests these compounds influence THC's effects. This phenomenon is called the "Entourage Effect," which says that the spectrum of compounds in the plant — terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids, phenols, and everything else — work in unison to produce the sensations we feel after puffing a joint. The Entourage Effect is technically a hypothesis, but this research suggests that terpenes, in conjunction with THC, impact mood and reduce anxiety, ultimately pointing to how terps give flower nuanced experiences after we smoke.

While smoking terpenes won't get you stoned, they are still considered psychoactive compounds because of how our brains respond to them. One study shows inhaling different terpenes can activate smell receptors in our noses and trigger psychoactive effects. For example, limonene — the dominant terpene in citrus — may give people a jolt of energy or focus. Linalool — the dominant terp in lavender — can increase relaxation and sleepiness. Like cannabis, however, the effects of terpenes also likely vary from consumer to consumer.

So, should people start shopping for weed based on terpene profiles? Yes, sure, but it's more complicated than that. For one, it's nearly impossible to shop for cannabis terpene profiles in legal dispensaries. Not only are terpenes mostly omitted from labels on product packaging, but you can't smell cannabis before buying it legally, thanks to packaging and retail regulations (which, sidebar, is among the most significant failures of legalization that directly impacts consumers). People are essentially forced to rely on packaging and lab testing data for information beyond cannabinoid percentages. It's a faulty system, considering smelling the aroma of cannabis (or, engaging with its terpene profile) is shown to be an indicator of how people can assess product quality, according to the conclusion of the "Nose Knows" study in the journal Psychoactives.

Patrick Maravelias, drug journalist and cannabis connoisseur, says he believes there's a lot more behind what drives the "high" than the terpenes or THC.

"I have yet to see a THC percentage or a terpene profile that feels the same to me from one strain to another, so I think we have more learning to do before we can effectively say 'this' or 'that' is the main driver of the 'high.' Individual biochemistry also plays a huge role," Maravelias says. "...Genetics are funny because you can't find a high-THC strain without sacrificing taste and vice versa. That's why breeders who can find cuts that get you smacked and taste good are so hard to come by right now."

He regularly expresses his love for hash rosin on social media, so we know he has an affinity for higher-THC cannabis products. But when asked about his opinion on the THC versus terpenes debate, he said he'd take a lower THC flower with a killer terpene profile over high-THC any day. "In my opinion, 13% flower grown organically in living soil will get me to a more pleasant place than 30% flower grown in coco and given salt nutrients, every single time."

As you've likely inferred, the terpenes versus THC debate is complex. And the debate will remain in a stalemate until data mediates. Also, there are onion layers to this issue outside of the scope of this story, including rebuttals for why relying solely on terpenes to buy cannabis isn't foolproof and the role lab testing facilities play in high-THC percentages. So, yes, shopping for "quality" cannabis is complicated. The solution is to become an educated consumer — knowing your farmer can make this easier. Talking to your budtenders can, too. Engaging your sense of smell will also likely make you a smarter consumer and give you a framework for what strains you like. As they say, "the nose knows."