Why is the entourage effect so mysterious?
Although you’ve stumbled into this term along your personal journey with cannabis, you probably still have lots of questions. Researchers do too, even after decades of study attempting to verify (or debunk) the entourage effect.
Consider yourself a participant in it already. Every time you enjoy certain cannabis products – like full-spectrum extracts, live rosin, and whole bud – you engage directly with the entourage effect.
Understanding it can help you realize why you love the products you love, while introducing you to new ones. Thanks to this article, soon you’ll be telling all your friends all about the elusive entourage effect.
At Garden Remedies, we believe in getting you great weed at great prices, guaranteed. We’re proud to be your go-to Massachusetts cannabis dispensary. Come visit our dispensaries in Newton, Melrose, and Marlborough, MA to speak to our expert team of Cannabis Advisors.
What Exactly Is the Entourage Effect?
Many believe that the chemical components of cannabis, more than other plants, carry high potential for synergy – and directly influence the many ways we experience it.
Defining the Entourage Effect: “The Sum of All the Parts”
In short, the entourage effect is the theory that various compounds in the cannabis plant work together to produce unique benefits and effects.
It’s “the sum of all the parts that leads to the magic or power of cannabis,” as classically described by chemist Chris Emerson.[1]
You get to experience these benefits and effects when you use cannabis products containing synergistic compounds. Of course, every hit or bite of cannabis comes with hundreds of botanical compounds. But scientists have identified some that appear to prompt specific reactions when enjoyed in tandem: cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.[2]
Unfortunately, research on the entourage effect has been limited, with only a few prominent studies emerging in recent decades. Most of the enthusiasm about the entourage effect has come from cannabis consumers like you.
Unpacking the Entourage Effect’s Controversy
Explorations of the entourage effect, by scientists, researchers, and consumers alike, have unearthed controversy.
The question is not whether different cannabis products provide different experiences and effects; we can all agree on that. But does this result from various parts of the plant working together in harmony? To what extent? That’s where the controversy arises.
A 2024 study found that d-limonene, a cannabis-derived terpene, effectively mitigates anxiety when taken with substantial doses of THC. Participants inhaled multiple doses of d-limonene and THC – either alone or in combination – in a controlled setting. While it did not alter the other effects of THC, d-limonene did significantly decrease THC-induced anxiety and paranoia, particularly when 30 mg THC and 15 mg d-limonene were taken together.
This study broadens the potential therapeutic applications of d-limonene, raising larger questions about cannabis-derived terpenes and their synergistic role in cannabis’s diverse effects.
Those who don’t believe in the entourage effect say that it is not conclusive. A 2023 literature review argues that the mechanisms behind it remain scientifically unsupported and unjustified; even more, existing scientific literature ignores potential negative interactions between cannabis’s many compounds.
While research is still developing, emerging studies and widespread anecdotal experience suggest the entourage effect is a real and compelling framework that we can use to understand cannabis’s fascinating complexity.
How the Entourage Effect May Enhance Cannabis Consumption
Research affirming the existence and significance of the entourage effect points to several promising applications – including potential support for chronic pain, mental health conditions, and cognitive decline.
Could you or someone you love benefit from the entourage effect?
Pain Relief & Treatment: CBD + Some Terpenes and Flavonoids
Of its many medicinal applications, cannabis for pain is one of our favorite uses at Garden Remedies since it helps so many members of our community. The entourage effect may contribute to cannabis’s ability to alleviate chronic and acute pain – according to some recent evidence.
In 2021, researchers discovered that terpenes and flavonoids have measurably better effects on pain when used together with CBD instead of just CBD alone. This example of the entourage effect promises benefits for many health conditions, including physical pain – and it backs up the notion that cannabis can be a “potential pharmaceutical.”[3]
Mental Health Benefits: THC + CBD
Some forms of cannabis have been shown to effectively treat anxiety and mood disorders – and the entourage effect may help explain why.[4]
Researchers found that CBD shows promise for alleviating several mental health conditions, from depression to bipolar disorder, when used in conjunction with THC in some instances. Creating new cannabis products that feature this powerful combination may greatly aid many patients, especially those who have not yet found relief from antidepressants and mood stabilizers.
Cognitive Benefits: THC + Alpha-Pinene
As Russo published in his groundbreaking 2011 paper, which popularized the entourage effect: “So one main side effect of THC is short-term memory impairment. People go, ‘Uh…what were you saying?’ That can be prevented if there’s pinene in the cannabis.”[5]
He found that cannabis-derived terpene alpha-pinene (responsible for the pine scent you might detect in some strains) preserves acetylcholine, offsetting the temporary memory loss that can come from enjoying high doses of THC.
Like d-limonene’s capacity to mitigate anxiety, alpha-pinene displays this benefit when used with THC. These are specific examples of the entourage effect at work, both in scientific literature and in practice by your fellow cannabis consumers, especially those looking to cannabis as a possible treatment for health issues.
Experience the Entourage Effect with Garden Remedies
Curious to reap the benefits of the entourage effect in your own life? You’ll want to look for cannabis products that contain potent mixtures of terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids.
This selection from Garden Remedies should help get you started.
Drop Into the Entourage Effect with Jungle Drops
- Jungle Drops - Blueberry Entourage
This tincture will soon become your go-to… and not just when you want to experience the power of the entourage effect.
Jungle Drops provide balanced effects by featuring the five most well-paired cannabinoids: CBD, THC, CBG, CBN, and CBCC. They’re highly amenable to whatever you’re doing; whether you’re enjoying a picnic with friends, spending a day at the beach, hiking, or just chilling at home, the Jungle Drops will make you feel soothed and uplifted at the same time.
Organic, versatile, and tasting just like blueberry pie, the Jungle Drops won the 2022 High Times Cannabis Cup. Soon they’ll win a special place in your heart too.
Full Spectrum Edibles to Transform Your Days and Nights
- Full Spectrum Blueberry Dream Gummies (Indica)
These are the gummies of your wildest dreams. Though they don’t contain melatonin, these gummies from High Flavor still pack a delicious punch. THC, CBG, and CBN synergize for potent effects, sending you to dreamland with a wide smile on your face.
- Full Spectrum Mango Punch Gummies (Sativa)
If you’re looking for a daytime pick-me-up, these Mango Punch Gummies from High Flavor are perfect. The sativa strain – in combination with a harmonious blend of THC, THCV, and CBD – will brighten any day, giving you renewed focus, inspiration, and motivation whenever you need it. Wait, do these contain caffeine? You may catch yourself thinking. No, that’s just the entourage effect at work.
Whole Bud for Complete, Synergistic Bliss
- Small Buds
Savor the full-bodied, well-rounded effects of whole-bud cannabis with these favorites from Seconds. Many love their diesel flavor and bold aroma, discovering that just a few hits can make them equal parts happy and relaxed.
Its 0.53% Beta Caryophyllene provides anti-inflammatory benefits to soothe your body and mind. The Parlimintz Small Buds will show you the magic that can happen when you interact with all parts of the cannabis plant at once.
So, Why Is It Important to Understand the Entourage Effect?
Knowing about the entourage effect allows you to explore its benefits with intention. But that’s just where the fun begins.
When you learn about the entourage effect – and integrate your new knowledge into a more informed, dynamic experience of cannabis – you take part in a greater curiosity about the many parts of the cannabis plant. This curiosity is growing, sparking research and inquiry.
Researchers and consumers alike are waking up to the aspects of cannabis that have been previously disregarded. Thanks to explorations of the entourage effect, we’re getting closer to unlocking and recognizing all of the medicinal benefits and precious potentials of cannabis.[6]
Certainly, the entourage effect remains mysterious. Unlocking it may give us even more than we could hope for.
Garden Remedies is here for you during your personal journey with cannabis. Come speak to our expert team of Cannabis Advisors at our dispensaries in Newton, Melrose, and Marlborough, MA – or order delicious, potent products online.
[1] The entourage effect: How cannabis compounds may be working together
[2] The entourage effect: How cannabis compounds may be working together
[3] Cannabis-derived terpenes and flavonoids as potential pharmaceuticals
[5] Some of the Parts: Is Marijuana’s “Entourage Effect” Scientifically Valid?
[6] The entourage effect: How cannabis compounds may be working together
