Lemony smoke-it: Citrus-scented weed may make you less paranoid, scientists report

Ah, the duality of pot. It can be relaxing, but can it also make you anxious? What gives? If you’re looking for a cannabis strain that’s less likely to induce anxious paranoia from a trip to a cannabis dispensary, a team of scientists at Johns Hopkins University may have something to help. According to their recent research, the key to choosing pleasant, unobtrusive buds may lie in choosing the ones with the most lemon scent.

Most people know that cannabis plants can produce large amounts of different aromas, from skunk to cheese to gasoline. permanent markerHowever, berry, fruity, and citrus scents may be more pleasant. Marijuana extracts are best known for the intoxicating THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and the more medicinal CBD (cannabidiol), but these two drugs are not responsible for the plant’s aroma. there is no. Instead, the little ones are derived from natural oils called terpenes and flavonoids.

And while they won’t get you high on their own, they’re more than capable of getting stoned beyond their role as perfumes, just as CBD doesn’t turn people stoned when ingested by itself. It adjusts the experience, but when these two appear in the same joint they become the best supporting cast of THC.

As published in last month’s magazine drug and alcohol addictionThe research team found that when people were given standard doses of cannabis, their anxiety and paranoia increased as scientists increased the amount of the naturally occurring lemon-scented aromatic (which has no proven effect). They found that the typical rate declined steadily. It affects how an individual has ever experienced a cannabis high.

“Historically, THC was thought to be entirely responsible for the acute behavioral and psychoactive effects of cannabis, and other cannabis components were thought to be of little importance,” the researchers wrote. ing. “However, an alternative view, commonly referred to as the cannabis entourage effect theory, argues that many components of the plant, such as trace cannabinoids and terpenes, meaningfully influence the acute effects of cannabis.”

A terpene found in cannabis called d-limonene doesn’t make you feel high at all, but the researchers’ findings show that it may add a pleasant color to the high you experience. D-limonene is one of the many aromatic terpenes that give weed its distinctive citrus aroma, and (you guessed it) is the main terpene in actual lemons.

Traditional home growers have long prized citrus-heavy cannabis strains because they provide users with an easier psychological experience, resulting in the production of many citric acid-infused strains through water and soil titration. A well-known method was born. Some of the most famous and pleasant cannabis strains have names that celebrate the distinctive bright aroma of d-limonene, such as Super Lemon Haze and Lemon OG Kush. All of these have become famous for producing highly creative and focused cerebral effects, but also notes of uplifting anxiety or panic.

But as legalization increases, the cannabis industry these days has inherited this kitchen wisdom from traditional herbalists, with some companies advertising d-limonene-containing products as a less nerve-wracking option. is advertising. As the research team noted, scientists have begun to hypothesize about d-limonene’s role in reducing paranoia.

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When researchers at John Hopkins recently took up this hypothesis, they administered 30 mg of THC to 20 subjects and had typical results over eight test sessions. However, when subjects were given 30 mg of THC and 15 mg of d-limonene, the results were direct and promising.

“This experiment showed that co-administration of vaporized d-limonene and THC resulted in a dose-order decrease in subjective indicators of THC-induced anxiety,” the research team wrote, adding that d-limonene was more commonly administered than other It added that it has no effect on the results of cannabis consumption.

With this, the team not only discovered a path to fine-tuning the experience for cannabis users, but may also uncover new evidence toward a more comprehensive understanding of entourage effect theory.

“Although largely untested in empirical clinical research, the cannabis entourage effect theory has had a significant impact on cannabis industry practices, including how cannabis products are grown, sold, and consumed,” the researchers wrote. There is. “For example, cannabis is often selectively bred to contain specific trace cannabinoid and terpene profiles, creating a growing market for products that primarily contain trace cannabinoids and terpenes,” the researchers said. They added that further testing is needed.

So the next time you’re shopping for a more relaxing experience without buying a sleep-inducing smoke, try lightly sniffing the bud, like you’d drink a glass of wine, and you’ll find that lemon scent you can’t get out of your head. You may be able to smell the scent. sour.