Why Don't THC Gummies Have Strains?

To paraphrase William Shakespeare, “What’s in a strain? Would a THC gummy by any other strain not taste as sweet?” Of course, it would. But is it also going to give you the same high? If you’re familiar with cannabis products, you probably know that the many different strains available can create a wide range of different effects. But we don’t see similar strains and strain-specific effects when it comes to THC gummies and you’re here because you want to know why. There are a couple of reasons why THC edibles don’t really have varying effects based on the strain they are made with, and they have to do with the way your edibles are made and the way your body processes them. In this article, we will dive into what exactly the differences are between different strains and these two main reasons why we do not see those differences translate to edibles. So, let’s dig our teeth into this topic.

INDICA VS. SATIVA VS. HYBRID

Purple Haze and Northern Lights and Sour Diesel. Oh my. If you’re new to the game, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by all the information that comes along with any given cannabis product. It may seem like a lot, but it’s simpler than it first appears. In general, when talking about the different strains of cannabis products, we’re talking about three main overarching categories: indica, sativa, and hybrid. You may have heard these terms before but weren’t quite sure what it all meant. If you’d like an in-depth breakdown of these three different subspecies, read our article here, but for now we’ll just go through a quick crash course on the three main types of strains we see in recreational cannabis use.

Cannabis Indica

Cannabis Indica is the strain of cannabis that we associate with what is known as a “body high”. The sensation you get when using Indica is more physical, particularly being more sedative, relaxing, and pain relieving. They’re also known for those infamous ‘munchies’ people associate with using THC. These strains are popular for the evenings and nighttime, as they can stimulate an appetite before dinner and prepare your body to settle into a stress-free night as you get ready for bed. In terms of their physical appearance, indica plants are typically shorter, bushier plants with broader leaves. They grow best in cool, outdoor climates and thus thrive at a higher elevation, like mountainsides.

Cannabis Sativa

Cannabis Sativa is the strain of cannabis that we associate with a “head high”. A more cerebral experience, sativa is associated with euphoria, creativity, energy, and focus. This makes sativa perfect for kicking off the day with a “wake and bake” or getting those creative juices flowing before sitting down to tackle a project. The high associated with sativa is more motivational and stimulating rather than sedative and relaxing. Sativa plants also have their own distinct physical characteristics, appearing taller, thinner, and preferring warmer, tropical climates.

Hybrid Strains

When indica and sativa plants are bred together, you get what is known as a hybrid strain. While most strains are to some degree a hybridization of indica and sativa, when we see a recreational or medicinal product described as hybrid, we are usually referring to strains that have been bred to display a balanced combination of the characteristics and qualities of both indica and sativa. These strains look to find a middle ground between the relaxation of the indica plant and the stimulation of the sativa plant.

There is also a strain known as cannabis ruderalis, but because of its low THC content, it is not commonly used in recreational or medicinal cannabis production, and therefore is not particularly relevant to our conversation here.

HOW EDIBLES ARE MADE

So, no we understand the basics of strains. Indica strains give you a relaxing body high and sativa strains create an invigorating head high. It stands to reason that if you made a gummy or edible from plants of one strain or the other, the high from that edible should match suit, right? The answer is no. Part of the reason why can be understood by learning how edibles are made.

The reason is because they each have their own specific molecular composition composed of a wide range of chemical compounds known as cannabinoids and terpenes. While we hear the most about THC because it is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, there are hundreds of different cannabinoids and terpenes. Cannabinoids are the different molecules that bind with the receptors in your endocannabinoid system, either activating or suppressing them. Terpenes are the essential oils that not only give various strains of cannabis their unique tastes and smells, but also work in symphony with a strain’s unique composition of cannabinoids to determine strain-specific effects.

Along with the profile of terpenes and cannabinoids, inside of raw marijuana there is a non-psychoactive chemical called THCa. To experience the psychoactive effects, THCa must be converted into one of the psychoactive forms of THC. This is typically done through the application of heat, via burning it when you smoke, atomizing it when you vape, or cooking it into an extract and ingesting it. Heat and pressure are applied to the flowers of the cannabis plant, and then the psychoactive compounds are either absorbed into an oil or concentrated and crystalized.

These distillates and extracts are what are used when making gummies and other edibles, but this “cooking” process renders out most of the specific terpene and cannabinoid profiles that differentiate one strain from another. The resulting product does not really maintain the strain-specific effects we associate with inhaling other THC products. Also, the concentration of terpenes one would have to consume to maybe mimic a specific strain’s profile would make the resulting product taste terrible. If you’re interested in learning more about how cannabis edibles are made, you can read a study here.

HOW EDIBLES ARE DIGESTED

Another part of why edibles don’t maintain the specific profiles of their strains is because of the process edibles go through when digested by the body. When smoking or vaping, the psychoactive compounds are absorbed through the lungs and passed into the bloodstream without being broken down by the body. From there, THC molecules can bind with the cannabinoid receptors in the brain in minutes, getting that high started quickly and efficiently.

When we eat edibles, the process is more complicated. It must first travel through the digestive system, where the THC molecules must be metabolized and absorbed by your gastrointestinal tract and liver before entering the bloodstream and traveling to the brain.

Because the THC molecules are first metabolized by the liver, what is heading to the brain after eating an edible isn’t THC at all, but a different molecule called 11-hydroxy-THC which is a THC metabolite. Because the THC is first metabolized, this is another reason why strain-specific effects don’t carry over from the strain that was used to produce an edible.

Although the strain-specific effects may not carry over, edibles do offer a unique experience of their own. The psychoactive effects of 11-hydroxy-THC can be more intense than the high you’re likely to experience from smoking or vaping a THC product. A comparative study showed that when given equal doses of THC and 11-hydroxy-THC, the 11-hydroxy-THC resulted in a psychoactive effect that was described as up to five times stronger. An additional study also found that when THC is metabolized by the digestive system, far more 11-hydroxy-THC is created than when THC is inhaled.

This process is much slower than inhaling but can last for even longer due to the delayed bioavailability of the metabolic byproducts of the THC after it is digested and absorbed into the blood. Because the onset of a high from a gummy or edible can take longer, the overall high can last longer, and for some the experience can be more intense, it is important to be careful when using edibles for the first time. To ensure you have the most pleasurable experience possible, there are some basic rules you should follow. First, make sure that the dosage is clearly labeled so you can make a smart and safe dosage decision. Second, start with between 2.5 and 5 milligrams depending on your size and desired effects and wait at least an hour before ingesting more. Lastly, make sure that your THC edibles are purchased from a reputable source with high quality, laboratory tested ingredients. All the products at The Green Dragon have been independently tested and you can find their certificates of analysis on the product’s page. For a more in-depth dosage guide, you can read our blog about THC dosing here.

WHAT IT ALL MEANS

The world of cannabis has a lot of options, including a wide variety of products in a wide variety of strains. But when it comes to edibles, the truth is, the strain that was used to make it doesn’t make much of a difference. That’s because before that yummy gummy finds its way to your tummy, it first must be cooked and then must be digested. Although these two processes neutralize the strain-specific aspects of a high, because the THC must be converted into a metabolite, eating an edible still offers its own unique experience. If you’re interested in giving THC edibles a try but still aren’t sure where to start, our representatives at The Green Dragon would be happy to help point you in the right direction. You can leave a question or concern in the comment section below or drop us a more private message here.