What are cannabis terpenes, how do they influence aroma and consumer experiences, and what do we know about their safety? On this episode of the Bioactive Podcast, Dr. Riley Kirk sits down with Dr. Shawna Vreeke, PhD, DABT, Head of Toxicology at True Terpenes, to explore the science of cannabis terpenes, terpene chemistry, cannabinoid interactions, and consumer safety. With a PhD in Chemistry focused on toxin formation in vape device aerosols and expertise in toxicology risk assessment, Shawna shares insights into what current research tells us about terpenes and where important questions remain unanswered.
They discuss the differences between cannabis-derived and botanically derived terpenes, how terpene profiles may influence cannabis effects, and why THC percentage alone doesn't tell the whole story. The conversation also examines terpene concentrations in vape cartridges, the effects of overheating and chemical degradation, vaping hardware standards, potentially harmful diluents, and the importance of science-based safety regulations. Shawna also explains how terpenes are studied in edibles, why consumer experiences matter, and how aroma, sensory testing, and quality control can help us better understand these complex compounds.
From the relationship between terpenes and the entourage effect to stereoisomers, cannabis aroma chemistry, and the limits of current research, this episode offers a deeper look at what we know about terpenes and what scientists are still working to understand.
Chapters:
00:00 Vape Irritation and Safety
01:24 Meet the Terpene Toxicologist
03:36 EVALI and Vitamin E Acetate
05:04 Terpenes 101 Basics
06:15 Cannabis Aroma Diversity
09:25 Do Terpenes Change Effects
13:42 Research Limits and Critiques
15:40 Botanical vs Cannabis Terpenes
21:24 Terpene Percent in Vape Carts
24:30 Hardware Standards and Regulation
27:56 Overheating and Degradation
31:26 Edibles and Oral Metabolism
35:13 Safe Cart Viscosity
36:45 Diluents Safety Breakdown
38:02 Adverse Reactions and Recalls
40:58 Terpene Myths and Shopping
43:12 Vape Use Habits
45:08 Indica, Sativa, and Terpenes
46:44 Skunk, Thiols, and Esters
48:01 Terpene Percentage Limits
51:37 Isomers and Sensory Quality Control
56:13 Loud Flavors Project
57:47 Favorite Terpenes Wrap-Up
Connect with Dr. Shawna Vreeke
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/svreeke
Learn More About True Terpenes
Website: https://trueterpenes.com/
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