Ep. 1: The Entourage Effect with Dr. Shawna Vreeke

Cannabis Unraveled

Welcome to the first episode of Cannabis Unraveled, where we delve into the fascinating intersection of cannabis and science, featuring host, Jessie Kater, a 20-year veteran of R&D in defense, pharmaceutical, and cannabis industries, and the SVP of Innovation and R&D at Curaleaf.

In this episode, Jessie engages in an insightful conversation with Dr. Shawna Vreeke, the Head of Research at True Terpenes. As a strong advocate for the responsible use of cannabis, Shawna has some great insights on the intricacies and potential benefits of the entourage effect, shedding light on how specific flavors, compounds, and therapeutic effects are revolutionizing the evolving cannabis market.

While the industry continues to evolve, Jessie and Shawna highlight the need for further research to fully comprehend the complex relationships between cannabinoids, terpenes, and the endocannabinoid system, aiming to optimize therapeutic applications.

**The information, opinions, and views expressed in this podcast are those of Mr. Kater and his guests only and may not reflect the views of Curaleaf or its employees. The material and information presented here is for general information purposes only. Curaleaf does not endorse or recommend any particular product or service discussed, including products containing cannabinoids. Products discussed in this podcast may not be available to all listeners depending upon the residence state of the listener, the listener’s age, etc. Any products discussed in this podcast are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Topics of Discussion:

[1:50] Dr. Shawna’s background in the cannabis industry and focus on toxicology research.

[7:22] What is the entourage effect?

[13:46] Terpenes and their ability to be bioactive.

[16:28] How do you find the right cannabis products or blends for you?

[22:24] Dr. Shawna’s frustration when people refer to True Terpenes as “fake terpenes”.

[23:18] The evolution of botanical terpenes in the cannabis industry.

[24:21] Europe and other countries in the world are really focusing on cannabis for medical benefits.

[29:21] A pharmaceutical application that's now approved as a single cannabinoid based treatment for the treatment of childhood epilepsy.

[32:00] Why are we seeing consumer adverse effects, and what can we learn from this?

[34:37] A higher potency doesn’t always mean a better experience.

[36:10] Does Curaleaf notice an evolution in consumers as a state’s cannabis laws change over time?

[38:21] Marketing is so far ahead of the science in this realm, that a lot of what people find is through trial and error.

[40:01] Combination of botanical and hemp terpenes in vape pens.

[43:01] The evolution of hemp-derived terpenes.

[46:02] The need to collaborate as an industry.

47:02] Why rosin is a premium product right now.

Want to Learn More?

Cannabis Unraveled: Instagram

True Terpenes: Website

Dr. Shawna Vreeke: LinkedIn

Quotes:

• "I think as consumers get more educated, as they get used to the cannabis space and play around with more products, they find that certain smells or certain terpene profiles give them the effect that they desire." [12:04] Shawna
• "The best thing that a consumer can do is really use their nose. What smells good to you is probably what your body is going to desire." [13:05] Shawna
• "As an employee of True Terpenes, we put a lot of passion and love into our terpene products." [22:05] Shawna
• "I think the complexity becomes how are people using these products, what real science is happening to give people more reason or evidence or better formulations for true therapeutic applications." - Jessie [27:30]
• "I've been consuming for approaching 30 years now, and what I've learned is to start to balance my intake." - Jessie [33:58]
• “I think consumers are finding that it's way more than just about total THC. It's about the experience, which we know is really dictated by these other constituents that are present in that product.” - Jessie [36:39]
• “We need to collaborate as an industry, right? All these different facets of scientists in the cannabis industry, we also make up the entourage effect of the industry.” - Shawna [45:44]
• "Give me my live rosin. Add some flavor terps on top of it. Unstoppable." - Shawna [49:55]
• "If regulators have learned anything, it's that all-in or all-no doesn't just work." - Jesse [51:33]
• "Trust yourself, trust your body." - Shawna [55:55]