Enough. We have to stop using the word ‘strains’
Art Courtesy of Rebekah Jenks
Some of you are gonna be up in arms about this one. I can already hear it. The legacy growers and sellers, the backbones of the cannabis industry for so long, who feel you need to stand as defenders for any attack on “the way things were.”
So I’ll say straight off the bat - it’s not you. It’s prohibition.
Of course we developed rubbish nomenclature for different types of cannabis while it was illegal (or more illegal than it is today), and underground. What choice did we have? How can you label something accurately when you only have an idea of what it contains?!
I won’t harp on about how indica and sativa are morphological terms rather than reliable predictors of effects, or how these terms originated over 250 years ago, long before we knew anything about cannabis chemistry. We all know this already. That’s why as an industry, we’re already starting to move away from these terms, and towards more sensation-based, useful labels. So we can pat ourselves on the back for that, at least.
But guys, what are we gonna do about the word “strains”? This shit has to go.
It’s not just because it’s an inaccurate use of the term when it comes to plants. (Mushrooms are another story, but that’s a tale for another time). The closest correct word in botany is probably cultivar - cultivated variety. More on that in a minute.
What bothers me is that this outdated terminology isn’t helping push cannabis forward. By talking like stoner stereotypes, we’re encouraging the very stigmas and misinformation about cannabis that we have to smash in order to move regulation forward. We need to be ambassadors, armed with accurate information and looking at every interaction as an opportunity to educate and clarify.
Keep the crazy names for all I care. They’re fun. Weed is fun. It’s all good. The first preroll I sparked up when I was last in the US was called “Resting Bitch Face,” and that gave me a good giggle. Didn’t tell me anything about what to expect from the experience, but fine, I can live with that.
Here’s what I’m suggesting. Keep the “strain names” - but drop the “strain,” and add something that actually bears meaning. So without further adieu, these are the words you need to know in order to wean yourself off ‘strain.’ I didn’t make them up, and they’re not perfect. But they’re a truckload closer than the current terminology, and that’s a start.
Cannabinoids
Terpenes
Cultivar
Chemotype
Chemovar
If you’re already familiar with these terms, great. All you have to do is start implementing them. We’ll talk about how in a moment. If not, here’s the glossary. Memorize it.
Cannabinoid - Cannabinoids (or more accurately, phytocannabinoids) are a type of naturally-occurring chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Of the 140 known cannabinoids, THC and CBD are the most prevalent and well known.
Terpene - Terpenes make up the majority of aromatic oils found in cannabis (and in all plants). These molecules are responsible for the distinct smell and taste of cannabis varieties, and have an important role to play in the plant’s effects.
Cultivar - A cultivated variety of cannabis (or any plant) that has been produced by selective breeding (so basically all cannabis varieties these days).
Chemotype - Types of cannabis that are grouped by their most abundant cannabinoid/s:
Type I is THC dominant
Type II is balanced THC:CBD
Type III is CBD dominant
Type IV is CBG dominant
Type V has zero cannabinoid content
Chemovar - Varieties of cannabis which are loosely defined and grouped, based on at least one or two of the most abundant cannabinoids and two-to-four main terpenes. For example, Type III (low THC, high CBD), with linalool, limonene and BCP. The results on this online tool are a good example of chemovars.
So, now that we have words we can use, it’s up to us to get them into circulation. To individually and collectively take it upon ourselves to wean off the word “strains” and start using more precise terminology to talk about weed.
For example, it’s up to budtenders to use them in conversations with customers - yes, even if you’re short on time and the customer uses the word “indica.”
This could sound something like:
Customer: I’m looking for something to help me sleep.
Budtender: Ok, I can help you with that. Have you used cannabis before?
C: Yes, I like smoking weed to have fun with my friends, I enjoy getting high, but I usually smoke sativa strains and they keep me up.
B: Ok so I suggest you try this sedating cultivar from a local grower I really like. It’s a Type II, so balanced levels of THC and CBD, and it’s linalool dominant, which should help you relax.
For cannabis brands, producing labels and product material that highlight chemical profiles and likely effects can do a lot to help spread this message and end the reliance on the lack-luster indica-sativa model that the industry has grown comfortable with. While I’ve yet to see an example of a product label that uses both chemotype and chemovar (please share if you have!), more and more are including a full chemical profile, or at least access to it via QR code.
As long as consumers are savvy enough to interpret the information - as we do with the nutritional facts label on foodstuffs, for example - this is a good start. By categorizing products more accurately, consumers can be empowered to make note of what works for them, rather than relying on strain names aimed at making us giggle.
This brings us to educators. And I don’t just mean classic educators, I mean anyone in the position to be passing on information about cannabis. This includes writers, speakers, health care providers, business leaders, and researchers, to name just a few. The language we use as we impart information about cannabis is critical. Ban yourself from using the word “strains” - even if it means spending a few minutes at the beginning of your talk laying out the terminology you’re going to use. Practice and get yourself used to it.
As an industry, we have the attention of the wider cannabis community. It’s up to us to set an example for the next generation of cannabis consumers! Doing so will push forward the maturation of the industry, help lift the stoner stigmas, and ultimately make cannabis better for everyone.
