Presentation
Terpenoids and flavonoids are fragrant (not necessarily aromatic) oils that give cannabis its flavour profile and are often the subtle yet defining characteristic of the strains of the plant. The relative ratios of these compounds along with the most canonical cannabis natural products, such as CBD and THC, contribute to a defining phenomenon called the “Entourage Effect” (first proposed by S. Ben-Shabat, and by Raphael Mechoulam), which suggests that the effects of these non-psychoactive compounds are more significant to the psychoactive experience than the sum of their parts. The novel concept has led to new areas of research in medicine (such as pain management) of how changing these ratios can customize the user’s experience. Here, the effects of terpenes, flavonoids and phytocannabinoids on the human body are explored, and that an inevitable business model that the cannabis industry will move towards will reflect an online consumer experience of creating your own cultivar.