If you consume alcoholic beverages, do you purchase your drink based on the highest alcohol content available? Probably not. Most people pick a drink based on the flavor, quality, brand, or simply whatever they're in the mood for. Alcohol content is not the only factor considered, just like THC content shouldn't be the only factor considered when purchasing cannabis! A high THC percentage does not equal a high-quality product.
THC is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, but it is the ENTIRE plant that determines how it will make you feel. All the other cannabinoids and compounds in the plant such as CBD, CBN, and terpenes (the aromatic qualities that give cannabis its many delightful scents) interact together and within your body to produce a specific effect.
The synergy between cannabis compounds, terpenes, and your body is referred to as the entourage effect. This concept is why herbalists have used whole plant medicine for centuries. Your body maximizes the desired effect when it is given a well-rounded package of what the plant has to offer. Cannabis that has been bred to have a high concentration of THC tends to lack the less chemical diversity that creates a uniquely desirable (or “strong") effect.
We believe that you should be shopping for the WHOLE PLANT, not just the THC content. So next time you visit Enlighten Alaska, or another cannabis dispensary, consider shopping for products based on their flavors, aromas, or request a suggestion from your budtender. You may find that a strain that has 15% THC delivers a more desirable effect than a strain that has 25% THC.
