Laughing Buddha
Produced by Quincy Green (Quincy, WA), #quincygreen
Sativa; Jamaican x Thai landraces;
Laughing Buddha (LB) is a “mostly sativa” cannabis strain
that has gained popularity among consumers who prefer the more uplifting and
energizing sativa strains. LB is
commonly recommended for focus, alertness, clarity, giggly elevated mood, and
creativity. LB was developed by
Barney’s Farm from Jamaican and Thai landrace (wild)
genetics. Centuries of Jamaica’s long
days, tropical climate and competition for sunlight among other fast-growing
plant species surely contributed to LB’s tendency to grow tall.
Laughing Buddha takes more vertical space and 30% more time to
harvest than most commercially available strains[1]. It is apparently this hunger for head space,
and the fact that it takes about three weeks longer to grow, that urges most
growers to choose another strain.
Reduced annual crop production for that space, about a 30% reduction, is
the type of sacrifice growers make to stay in demand.
[Jeff Cole,
on a recent tour of the Quincy Green farm, reacts with glee upon noticing the
Laughing Buddha being prepared for shipment was headed for one of his favorite
neighborhood stores – Hashtag, Fremont. Dutch Treat pictured.]
Aroma and Taste
Quincy Green's Laughing Buddha owes its signature aroma to terpinolene[2], ocimene, myrcene, β-caryophyllene, limonene and pinene.
The graph in the video is the result of repeated crop sampling from the same LB
clone.[3]
The grower in this case is seizing the
opportunity to examine their LB clone’s average cannabinoid/terpenoid profile
by ordering a terpene assay along with their state-mandated tests. Once a statistically accurate profile exists,
usually at fifteen duplicate assays over time (1) , the crop can be
certified for chemotype.
Terpinolene is
the most prevalent monoterpenoid in LB. Terpinolene
research is currently centered on conifer sap and livestock feeding. However, as it is the dominant terpene in
many uplifting cannabis strains popularly classified as a sativas, further
study is eagerly anticipated. The scent of terpinolene is often expressed as “fresh”
or “clean”, like a deodorant. It has no
anti-feeding effect on grazing animals (2) ,
which means the animals aren’t disgusted (eating discouraged) by terpinolene.
Myrcene is a very
common monoterpenoid in cannabis. Its metabolic activities include analgesic, anti-inflammatory,
sedation, muscle relaxing, and inhibiting cancer cell formation. It blocks
inflammation via PGE-2 (3)
and inhibits cancer formation by aflatoxin in liver cells (4) . Pain intervention from myrcene can be blocked
by naloxone, but most individuals will not encounter this situation[4].
Myrcene’s sedating properties have long been evidenced by German hops
preparations for sleep (5) . It is believed that
this prominent sedative terpenoid may be responsible for the “couch-lock”
phenomenon many recreational consumers either rave or complain about (6) .
β-Caryophyllene is
one of the most common sesquiterpenoids found in cannabis (7; 8) .
As it is a large (heavy) molecule and is prevalent in many cannabis drug
strains, caryophyllene is often more
prevalent in aged cannabis. This is
purely due to caryophyllene’s massive size (among terpenoids), which causes it
to remain in the glandular trichome heads long after the more volatile, more
pleasant-smelling monoterpenoids have evaporated away (7; 8) . Commonly found in black pepper (Piper nigrum), many consumers can detect
and recognize the presence of caryophyllene in cannabis by its familiar odor.
Caryophyllene is cytoprotective to gastric cells (9) , has demonstrated as
a full agonist to CB2 receptors (10) , and produces
anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity at a low dose of 5 mg/kg in mice (10) .
Exceptional Value
Laughing Buddha by Quincy Green is an exceptional value at
$42 for a 3.5g jar ($12/g) [November 2017].
Lab tests indicate that this crop tested at 15.6% THC, which is exactly
where it should be. The grower doesn’t
order a terpene assay for every batch, but does so from time to time as a
quality control measure. [See the video: top of this page.] Buds are
beautifully trimmed, cured to perfection, and only the live flower could be
more fragrant.
Works Cited
1. Identification of terpenoid chemotypes among
high (-)-trans-Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol-producing Cannabis sativa L.
cultivars. Fischedick, Justin T. 1, Union City, CA : Mary Ann
Liebert, Inc., March 29, 2017, Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, Vol. 2, pp.
34-47.
2. Effects of
gamma-terpinene, terpinolene, alpha-copaene, and alpha-terpinene on
consumption of alfalfa pellets by sheep. Estell, R. E., Fredrickson, E.
L., Anderson, D. M., & Remmenga, M. D. 8, 2005, Journal of Animal
Science, Vol. 83, pp. 1967-1971. Full article pdf published at USDA (URL
below).
3. Myrcene mimics
the peripheral analgesic activity of lemongrass tea. Lorenzetti BB,
Souza GE, Sarti SJ, Santos Filho D, Ferreira SH. 1991, Journal of
Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 34, pp. 43-48.
4. In vitro
inhibition of CYP2B1 monooxygenase by β-myrcene and other monoterpenoid
compounds. De-Oliveira, A. C., Ribeiro-Pinto, L. F., & Paumgartten,
F. J. 1, 1997, Toxicology Letters, Vol. 92, pp. 39-46. View at the UW
library..
5. Wichtl, Max,
[ed.]. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. 3rd. Stuttgart, Boca
Raton : Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 2004. Accessed at University of
Washington Medical Library (too expensive to buy).
6. Taming THC:
potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. Russo,
Ethan B. 7, 2011, British Journal of Pharmacology, Vol. 163, pp.
1344-1364.
7. Essential oil of
Cannabis sativa L. strains. Mediavilla, V and Steinemann, S. 1997,
Journal of the International Hemp Association, Vol. 4, pp. 80-82. Compared
mostly fiber type, found most pleasant smelling strains high in
monoterpenoids, bad smelling strains high in sesquiterpenes, but this reviewer could not find support for Russo's ref/citation (from "Taming THC") that beta-caryophyllene is the most common
sesquiterpenoid. For this reason Ross and ElSohly, 1996, is cited below.
8. The volatile oil
composition of fresh and air-dried buds of Cannabis sativa. Ross, S.
A., & ElSohly, M. A., 1996, Journal of Natural Products, Vol. 59,
pp. 49-51. Article established that terpene profiles in cannabis essential oils
remain qualitatively unchanged over time, though cannabinoids degrade.
9. Gastric
cytoprotection of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene,
β-caryophyllene. Tambe, Y., Tsujiuchi, H., Honda, G., Ikeshiro, Y.,
& Tanaka, S. 05, 1996, Planta Medica, Vol. 62, pp. 469-470. Full
article accessed online at UW HSC library..
10. Antiinflammatory
cannabinoids in diet–towards a better understanding of CB2 receptor action?
Towards a better understanding of CB2 receptor action? Gertsch, J.
1, 2008, Communicative & integrative biology, Vol. 1, pp. 26-28.
Caryophyllene is a full agonist at CB2 in vitro; perhaps also in vivo, but
likely a partial agonist..
[2]
Terpinolene is also known as δ-terpinene (delta-terpinene) and identified as
such by some labs.
[3]
Laughing Buddha clone grown by Washington licensed I-502 Producer Quincy
Green. All “LB” references in this
report refer to clones from this genetically unique individual.
[4]
Naloxone is administered by injection as a life-saving measure in the event of
an opioid overdose.
