What Does The Entourage Effect Feel Like? It’s Hard To Say

Many weed smokers say the so-called entourage effect provides a more satisfying high. Others say the experience is more intense, or calmer, or more “complete.”

If you asked people who use CBD products what the entourage effect feels like, though, they probably wouldn’t understand the question — and they’d be closer to the truth.

Here’s a brief explanation.

The “entourage effect” isn’t a feeling. It’s a scientific concept that’s been largely accepted in the cannabis and CBD communities but is still debated by researchers, many of whom say there’s no definitive proof of its existence or importance.

According to some preliminary studies and anecdotal reports, plant compounds in the cannabis plant (the source of marijuana) and the hemp plant (the source of the CBD in CBD products) work best when they all work together. That’s particularly significant when discussing the plants’ two most important cannabinoids, psychoactive THC and non-intoxicating CBD (cannabidiol).

That’s the definition of the entourage effect. What does it mean in the real world?

The entourage effect is said to enhance THC’s trademark cerebral and physical effects for cannabis users — and to maximize both THC’s and CBD’s apparent health and wellness benefits.

Most pot smokers don’t even consider the entourage effect, since they usually don’t even know which plant compounds are in the pot they buy. Only research-oriented stoners who compare and contrast various strains from different producers may notice a difference, letting them “feel” an entourage effect.

For those using CBD oil, capsules, edibles, vapes, or topicals, however, the entourage effect matters. The products can be purchased with different levels of hemp’s plant compounds.

Full-spectrum CBD contains them all, so it delivers all of the cannabinoid’s apparent medical benefits. Hemp’s small amount of THC has been removed from broad-spectrum CBD, so there’s less of an entourage effect and the CBD isn’t quite as effective. CBD isolate has had all other plant compounds removed, so products containing isolate would be the least effective.

CBD users probably won’t notice the level of entourage effect that they’re experiencing, though. Most of cannabidiol’s apparent benefits are long-term ones, so the enhancement of its effects can’t be “felt” (except, perhaps, for some using CBD to help ease pain, insomnia, or seizures).

Still a little confused? Here’s our longer explanation.

What are CBD and THC?

We’ve already mentioned that CBD and THC are both “cannabinoids,” a category that includes more than 100 plant compounds found in both cannabis and hemp plants. CBD and THC are the two most important cannabinoids, and they’re very similar in chemical structure, but they deliver different effects once inside the body.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), as most people know, is the compound that makes weed users high. Cannabis plants contain bountiful amounts of THC and very little cannabidiol, explaining why users smoke marijuana harvested from cannabis.

Non-intoxicating CBD is found in large amounts in hemp plants, so the cannabidiol used to make CBD products is extracted from hemp and not cannabis. There’s one other reason; hemp contains very little THC, so there’s no chance that using CBD oil, gummies, or other products will get users wasted.

Both cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which governs the majority of humans’ crucial functions. (Animals have similar systems.) The ECS is a network of receptors that send and receive control messages, and neurotransmitters called endocannabinoids that carry the messages between receptors.

Cannabinoids are almost chemically identical to endocannabinoids, allowing them to use the ECS to send their messages or alter existing ones.

THC primarily binds to the “CB1” collection of receptors mostly located in the brain and nervous system, which control functions like thought, memory, pain, and sleep. That’s how THC delivers its psychoactive effects. CBD interacts mainly with “CB2” receptors elsewhere in the body that control functions like immunity and inflammation; that’s why cannabidiol is non-intoxicating.

What’s most important to understand as we move on, though, is that both cannabis and hemp contain a wide variety of plant compounds. They’re all found in marijuana, and unless they’ve been specifically removed, they’re also in the cannabidiol extracted from hemp that’s used to create CBD products.

Those plant compounds, including the full range of cannabinoids and the terpenes and flavonoids that determine the plants’ flavours and aromas, all contribute to the entourage effect enhancing THC’s or CBD’s effectiveness.

Is the Entourage Effect Real?

Many users, producers, and cannabis researchers insist that the entourage effect is a very real thing. As far as a large number of scientists are concerned, though, the jury is still out. The term was first used in 1999, but there’s still been very little research into the existence of the entourage effect and why it may work.

Arguments for the Entourage Effect’s Existence

Cannabis breeders are among the group that insists the entourage effect is not only real but important. They say they regularly crossbreed plants to create weed strains with very different effects and properties, and their calculations are largely based on the cannabinoid and terpene makeup and characteristics of the plants they breed.

Additionally, research has shown that terpenes and cannabinoids, including lesser-known ones like CBC, CBN, and CBG, interact with the ECS receptors and also provide apparent medical benefits; some may even deliver slight psychoactive effects. Studies have shown that high CBD content in a few cannabis strains appears to lessen THC’s ability to intoxicate users.

As for published research specifically looking into the entourage effect, though, there’s little definitive evidence that the entourage effect is real and important.

A 2011 study showed that cannabis with the significant presence of one terpene, alpha-pinene, appeared to affect THC’s effects on users’ memories. Small animal studies seem to confirm the possibility of an entourage effect, and some reviews of research conclude that there may be benefits to using cannabinoids and terpenes together.

And the latest human research, not yet published, found that full-spectrum cannabis took effect faster and was more effective than pure THC.

That’s not enough to convince skeptics.

Arguments Against the Entourage Effect’s Existence

Some studies conclude that there’s absolutely no evidence that the entourage effect is real, and quite a few scientists hang their hats on those results. The argument most often heard is that different prescription formulations of THC/CBD combinations like Marinol and Syndros essentially perform no differently, even though the plant compounds in them aren’t the same.

A few published studies report no ability of terpenes to affect the performance of THC and CBD have been found, while others sound more like essays than rigorous research, claiming that the entourage effect was a marketing strategy developed by the cannabis industry.

The majority of arguments against the existence of the entourage effect, though, are more measured. Here’s one good example:

“The literature provides little evidence to support [the entourage effect] as a stable and predictable phenomenon. Hence, there is also limited evidence to support clinical efficacy, safety, and appropriate regulation…”

In other words, the existence of the entourage effect hasn’t been disproven; there’s just not enough evidence in most nay-sayers’ minds to declare that it’s real. It may very well exist, but more research is needed.

If you speak to those who work in the cannabis or CBD industries, or users who are weed aficionados, however, you’ll find that they’re convinced that the entourage effect is not only real — it’s important.

How The Entourage Effect May Affect Users

We’ve briefly mentioned that the entourage effect — assuming that it’s real — isn’t something that’s “felt” by most people. A small number might be able to identify its impact, though.

Cannabis and the Entourage Effect

For marijuana users, the presence of other plant chemicals in the weed they smoke may indeed change the nature of the effects they feel. However, most would have little basis for comparison, since they’re not doing an A/B test with two joints or bowls simultaneously. And the number of users who keep detailed notes during a smoke sesh for later reference is small, at best.

Even so, there are several ways the effect might affect users, either consciously or unconsciously.

• Those who are deeply involved in the weed world may pay close attention to the COAs (Certificates of Analysis) available for the cannabis they use, checking the amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes present and keeping track of their experiences with different supplies of the same weed strain. They would be uniquely able to document the different feelings that the entourage effect in each supply trigger, and to offer opinions on what the effect “feels like.”
• Those who buy their marijuana at dispensaries for specific medical purposes may try different strains recommended for their health conditions, and choose one over another without understanding that their preferred strain may produce more beneficial results because of the lineup of other plant compounds it contains.
• Those who enjoy the high they feel from one type of weed more than another may be making their choice because the entourage effects in each produce different types of experiences.

The vast majority of smokers probably never even think about the entourage effect, though. It’s a different story for CBD users; the effect factors into their buying decisions whether they realize it or not.

CBD Products and the Entourage Effect

When you browse a website or visit a shop to buy CBD oil, edibles, capsules, or other products, you’ll have a choice to make:

• Full-Spectrum CBD: The product contains cannabidiol extracted from hemp, along with the smaller amounts of other plant compounds the hemp contains.
• Broad-Spectrum CBD: The product contains extracted cannabidiol that’s had its small amount of THC content removed. (Traces of the THC may still remain, however.)
• CBD Isolate: The product contains pure CBD, with all other plant compounds removed.

Each version of the product has its pros and cons.

• Full-spectrum CBD products provide the maximum entourage effect. They theoretically deliver the greatest benefit, but they’re not suitable for users who are allergic to THC or are afraid of testing positive for THC in a cannabis drug test.
• Broad-spectrum CBD products contain virtually no THC, so they’re “safer” for most people who can’t or don’t want to consume that cannabinoid. The absence of THC lessens the entourage effect, though.
• CBD isolate products contain 0% THC so they’re completely safe for those who want to avoid the cannabinoid. However, the absence of all plant compounds means there’s no entourage effect at all.

That makes full-spectrum products the best choice for most users, specifically because of the increased effectiveness the entourage effect would produce. However, most users won’t be able to distinguish between the three types of cannabidiol used to make CBD products after making their purchase, since there are no psychoactive effects by which they could judge.

They’re unlikely to “feel” any difference unless they’re taking cannabidiol for its apparent ability to help ease issues like pain, anxiety, insomnia, or epilepsy. In those cases, they might notice different levels of effectiveness — but only if they’ve already used a different type of CBD and have a basis for comparison.

And those who’ve chosen a CBD product for its many apparent longer-term benefits like lowering heart health risks or battling neurogenerative diseases, acne, or some forms of cancer won’t immediately see any changes in their health conditions, so the entourage effect’s possible benefit would be largely invisible.

Suggestions for Users

That brings us to the biggest question: should users worry about the entourage effect?

For cannabis users, probably not — unless you’re looking for the best strain to help with a medical condition, and a knowledgeable friend or dispensary worker can suggest a strain with the lineup of cannabinoids and terpenes that’s best for your issue.

For CBD users, absolutely. Even if there’s no definitive scientific proof of the entourage effect, it makes sense to use a full-spectrum product that could provide the greatest effectiveness, unless you have a reason to avoid consuming THC.

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