Let’s Go, Girls! All About the Entourage Effect

For decades, cannabis has been regarded primarily for the psychoactive effects brought on by THC. Even in legal markets with a wide variety of options, many people still reach for the strain with the highest THC content. But wait—don’t do that! you’re missing out on the good stuff!!

Cannabis consists of hundreds of botanical compounds, including cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes. Each one brings their own unique effects and benefits, and their behavior can change in the presence of other compounds. This is the entourage effect. And we're going to explain it to you the only way we know how...

The ultimate entourage: the cast of Sex and the City. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures/Getty Images

THC: Carrie Bradshaw

Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Oh, Carrie. She’s the main character, the life of the party—a bit irresponsible, but you gotta forgive her, right? She’s funny, sexy, smart, and all-around a good time. And even if you’ve never seen the show, you probably have a pretty good idea what she’s about (or, at the very least, you know her name!). That pretty much sums up how we feel about THC, too. It’s easily the most popular cannabinoid, and it brings the psychoactive effects that so many cannabis fans know and love.

CBD: Charlotte York Goldenblatt

Kristin Davis as Charlotte York in Sex and the City. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Charlote is traditional, optimistic, and maybe just a liiiittle bit naive. She’s the mom friend of the group, and always strives to bring out the best in everyone. That’s CBD to a T: chill, bright, and playing the ultimate supporting role. CBD on its own can be great for pain and anxiety relief, but when paired with other cannabinoids, it unlocks their full spectrum of potential too.

Terpenes: Samantha Jones

Kim Cattrall as Samantha Jones in Sex and the City. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Samantha is self-assured, outspoken, and sexually empowered. Not one to catch feelings, Samantha flits between hookups and affairs to satisfy her endless curiosity. To us, that’s the beauty of terpenes: they’re tasty, they get us in the mood, and there are so many to try! They bring the flavor and intrigue to each unique strain.

Flavonoids: Miranda Hobbes

Cynthia Nixon as Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Someone has to keep all the other ladies in check, and that’s definitely Miranda. She’s no-nonsense and you can trust her to keep your secrets as much as you can trust her to tell it like it is. She’s a voice of reason always working hard to keep everything in her world balanced. For us, Miranda fits the bill of the Flavonoids. She is non-intoxicating, in fact, like Charlotte, she’s thought to calm Carrie down a bit.

How can I get the benefits of the entourage effect?

The whole entourage teaming up for a good time. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

When you see “full spectrum” products, you can be sure those products will put the entourage effect to work. Products made from extract or distillate are likely THC only (if not very, very THC-forward), and don't give you the full vibe of a night out on the town with the girls.

In response to this decades-long demand for high THC percentages, many strains of cannabis have been bred to contain virtually nothing but THC. But interest in the effects of CBD, CBG, and terpenes are beginning to trickle in. As we continue to legalize cannabis and spread information about it, we’re getting closer and closer to unlocking all that cannabis has to offer.

PS — our Elevate products are full spectrum, and this week we introducing two new strains to our disposable pen.