THC makes us feel nicely stoned. Weed smells and tastes great thanks to the large amount of flavorings, and CBD relieves a variety of symptoms. But a cannabis plant produces all these substances not for us, but for itself. Each cannabinoid or terpene has a function for the plant itself, and you as a grower can benefit greatly from this.
If you thought that cannabis produces some 111 cannabinoids and another 200 terpenes (flavorings) especially for us, you are wrong. Although people enjoy them to the fullest, cannabis plants produce these substances for themselves, and for a reason.
In the plant world, we find primary organic substances that are the same for all plants, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and fibers. However, there are also so-called secondary metabolites, which are unique to certain plants. These substances, which therefore include cannabinoids and terpenes, have a function. They protect the plant and help it survive and are unique to specific plant species.
For example, cannabis plants do not produce THC so that people can smoke it and get high, but to protect themselves from harmful UV radiation from the sun. Plants produce so many of these unique substances because they have no other options. After all, they are anchored in the ground with their roots, and are threatened by all kinds of animals and weather conditions. Secondary metabolites including cannabinoids and terpenes must protect the plants from all these threats.
When you know what the function of a particular substance is, you can act on it and make a plant produce more of that substance. For example, cannabis plants appear to be able to produce up to 30% more THC when exposed to UV radiation. The location in a plant gives hints about the natural function of a particular substance. For example, a substance found in flowers may have to do with protection from light or attracting insects for pollination.
CBD against pests...?
CBD is found in flower tops and leaves but not in stems of cannabis plants and to a small extent in the roots. There, the presence of CBD suggests that it must play a role in protecting the roots from pests. Substances can also have a joint, symbiotic effect; for example, terpenes and cannabinoids can combine to form a good repellent to capture and kill insects.
The better we understand the functions of cannabinoids, the better we can control them in the cultivation of cannabis. Compared to other crops, we know much less about the role of these secondary metabolites because of cannabis prohibition. Thus, much more research is needed to properly understand the role of cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis plants.
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