California’s impact on world cannabis is widely known. The Emerald Cup, medical marijuana, hippies from California, first cannabis hashery or anything else, there is a good reason that The Golden State’s green and purple are so well-known.
Some lesser-known signs are heady reviews in other continents claiming they only smoke Cali weed; Colorado’s legal cannabis market spawning a strain called FU Cali or other cultural homages to Cali. California, at least to me, is clearly the standard for cannabis. It’s a place that gets both praise and criticism.
The late 20th century and the early 21st Century’s hotspot for cannabis breeding, cultivation, and education is a result of a unique mix of culture, geography, and timing.
California: What’s so special about it?
Cali has always been my favorite place to get cannabis. It’s obvious that I am biased. In Virginia I began smoking and moved to California to study cannabis in 2014. Most of the featured reviews on The Highest Critic are about California-grown or California-bred cannabis. Alec Dixon, co-founder of SC Labs, gave me a more comprehensive, empirical view on why California has become the standard for cannabis. SC Labs, arguably the best-known cannabis testing laboratory in the world, is also the official partner of the California State Fair Cannabis Awards as well as The Emerald Cup.
Dixon (re-)started to smoke in Virginia after his Navy service. He also made his way from Virginia to California on his quest for the real stuff. He shared with me this anecdote.
When I first arrived in Virginia I assumed I already had a lot of experience with herbs.
He didn’t learn the truth until he came into contact with California cannabis culture.
“Tim Blake, my born-again weed father. In my life, he became an important teacher and mentor. He gave me some herbs one day. “I knew that I had never seen real herbs before that.”
In 2010, I tried my first batch of verified Cali weed. I was in Canada, and my socks were rocked.
He agreed with my opinion that California is a leader in the world because of its culture and terroir.
California has many things going for it. It’s the age of the marketplace, the rich culture that has existed for a long time… not just the terroir. California is 10 years ahead of other states when I visit them. Craft cannabis is defined by its attributes, which go beyond the appearance, scent, and other characteristics.
California leads the way because it is the first to set trends, and the wave that eventually reaches the rest of world. One of the trends we discussed is one that still needs replacing.
Every recreational or medical market has this phase where THC concentrations are the focus. “Those who are the closest to the plants have always understood that the terpenes, flavor, aromatics and entourage effects are more important.”
Dixon believes that this will change for the better eventually.
I see that every market will eventually mature and learn to appreciate quality cannabis in other ways than THC%. Most consumers probably haven’t seen farm-fresh chronic which is sticky and icky, or could adhere to windows. This is the goal. The goal is to be able translate the farm fresh chronic factors to the point where the customer makes the purchase, and they are blown away. There are many reasons why the herb in 215 days has been so successful, but the supply chain is one of them.
The only solution to the problem of farm-fresh chronic illness is described by the author.
Today, a batch can take 35-45 working days from the time it is sealed to when it reaches the shelf. Before the product reaches consumers, 60-90% can be lost. Some brands are very serious about their premium quality and will not compromise. These people are rare in every state. The goal is to create a cold chain that’s always on. They’re controlling temperature at each step in the supply chain, because they know how essential aromatics are for defining premium quality and craft.
California Celebrates the Best Cannabis
On a micro and macro scale. Many cannabis-related events celebrate the terpene variety found in the plant, but I’m aware of only one that has taken the cutting edge of the industry mainstream.
California State Fair, the world’s largest cannabis event, is the biggest attempt to inform the public about terpenes and their role in the products. The people who care are trying to ensure that California’s next cannabis boom respects the entourage effects and diversity of terpene profiles. Dixon was in agreement:
The California State Fair does not represent the cultural community, but the general public. The state fair in California, which represents the highest level of celebration for agriculture in the State, has honored cannabis in its agricultural category since last year. “It’s crucial for the normalization of cannabis that the rest the world understand what cannabis is, and isn’t.”
The CA State Fair Cannabis Awards, now in their second year of operation, recognizes the top cannabis grown by licensed growers across the state and awards them with the Golden Bear Award. The cannabis competition this year only has a category for flower, with plans to expand it to edibles and hash in the future.
Dixon said to me:
The State Fair is a great place to showcase terpenes, and small farms.
California is first at many things
You just know. Cali is a destination for people from around the world. Listen to Alice from Wooksauce winery as she explains what brought her and her family to California. California’s reputation as the gold standard for cannabis is not just within this country, state, or continent. It’s worldwide. Dixon told me that:
California, whether it was deserved or undeserved, is the place where the medical marijuana movement began. The Emerald Triangle, a Cali-grown herb has long been the best available herb for people. Since 1996, when Prop 215 was passed, this reputation is still strong. Historiquely, this is due to events such as The Emerald Cup. Cali is regarded as a tastemaker in both the domestic and international markets, setting the trends for future strains. For a while, og-kush was all that was wanted. At some point, the focus shifted from og kush to desserts. “But what we see is that, once the California trend has run its course, the flavor preferences make their way over to the East Coast.
California’s terpene profiles are unmistakable everywhere. Dixon also mentioned some cons along with the positives.
This whole thing of California being the tastemaker has both a blessing, and a bad side. The fact that our community is so advanced and has so much knowledge, but 60-80% are now desserts makes it a problem. There’s an enormous homogenization in the strains available, from Sundae Driver to Zkittlez, to Gelato, to Cakes, to Gelato.
Variety on dispensary shelves reflects bulk market preference. Dixon also noted Cali’s dominance outside of the shelves.
There are terpene preferences and biases by region. If they’re in certain areas, they will only buy OG Kush. The same goes for Jack or trainwreck. BDS Analytics has shown that terpinolene-dominant cultivars, in particular areas of OC and SD – when these types of strains become available, they are taken off the shelves 5-8 times quicker.”
You’ll have a hard time finding Terpinolene cultivars dominant on the market right now.
The bulk market has lost touch with the demand for this product. There is a shortage of the item on the market.
The terpene profile helps to highlight both the diversity and range of the cannabis plant and the fact that you can’t compare apples with oranges. Dixon said:
How can one compare an OG to a Trainwreck?” “It’s different!”
Dixon has categorize different profiles of terpenes at SC Labs because:
The best way to honor this plant would be to classify it according to the variety of things it represents.
This presents its own problems. Terpinolene may cause the eyes of budtenders and customers to glaze, but not in a positive way. SC Labs has decided to group cannabis strains according to six “terpenes classes” in order for consumers and growers alike to be informed.
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Gas + OGs
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Dessert
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The Haze + Jacks Class
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The Tropical Floral Class
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Sweet + Dreams
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Exotics
Dixon continued:
It was the first time we tried to name smells. If you start with an aroma that people can remember, it will help them to connect with the smell. By appealing to the senses of people, you can make this epiphany happen.”
The end-user can benefit from comparing the smells of different cannabis flowers and their effects.
It’s crucial to follow this procedure because not everyone wants desserts. Desserts are among the strongest THC strains, but they are not for everyone. This is a specific effect that may not be for you. It is our nose that should lead us. You can tell if something is good smelling if it smells good. Some people find the flavor of cilantro to be similar to soap. Some people find the taste of chocolate too bitter to eat. It is important to respect the differences between humans, including our sense of smell and taste. Cannabis is available to everyone. “It’s all about choosing the best type of cannabis for you, that will hit your endocannabinoid receptor system in the most effective way.”
Dixon pleaded:
There’s no system more tuned in than our olfactory systems. You can do it very easily.”
Celebrate Primary Terpenes At The CA State Fair Cannabis Awards
SC Labs has decided to use Primary Terpene Classes instead of the OG, Dream or Dessert classes for the CA State Fair Cannabis Awards.
It’s a little different from the Emerald Cup. The primary terpene is the criterion. “All terpinolene dominant entries are competing with each other.”
On the grounds of the capitol, the education component will be the main focus:
In our display we help tell the story about the secondary and primary terpenes of cannabis. In addition, we’re paying tribute to other volatile trace compounds that contribute to the smell of cannabis. It’s not only terpenes. The smell of Chem, diesel or gas is not due to terpenes, but phiols, which are sulfur-type compounds. Human noses can detect these compounds in parts per trillion. It’s because they put the smell of rotten eggs in odorless gas to make it easier for you to detect a leak.”
Dixon explained:
The most common chemicals found in marijuana are cannabinoids and terpenes.
SC Labs is partnering with CA State Fair to further the understanding of terpenes around the globe.
What we are doing at the fair is only the beginning. As more smell classes are developed, we will continue to add more classes that help define cannabis’ variety and uniqueness. You can classify almost everything using primary terpenes. Sorting cannabis by primary terpenes will allow you to create terpene classes that are similar to those in the wine industry. The chardonnay and merlot are both chardonnays. “We honor the different characteristics that make up this magical spectrum that cannabis has to offer.”
Dixon told me that the average percentage of terpenes across the SC Labs tests was 1.4%. Dixon told me the average percentage of terpenes across all tests was 1.4%. When done correctly, 3-5.5% of terpenes can be achieved. These are the varieties that win the State Fair. Dixon also provided an idea of the difference in terpenes between state fair winners and cannabis that is typically found on shelves at dispensaries.
The average cannabis terpene content on dispensary shelves will be 1% or lower. The top 1% cannabis from the state is what’s going to win the fair. “It’s much more aromatic than anything on dispensary shelves.”
One farm, Sol Spirit Farm won the CA Golden Bear Award 2022, and the Emerald Cup Award 2023 with Sol Shine, and Element. Both cultivars are terpene-rich and will make boring desserts taste like a snooze. However, I bet the same cultivars would not win awards if grown by another farmer. It is important to consider the skills and experiences of cultivators.
Despite growing evidence that Terpenes are responsible for the direction of the high, California does not require Terpene Testing. However, other states do. Dixon cited a positive example of terpene testing in another state.
Maryland requires testing of terpenes. When consumers shop in stores, they look for terpenes. They’re better educated than Californian consumers.”
Dixon explained to me that the dispensary experience could soon change.
We’re pushing a new purchasing experience, where you can go into an aroma zone and sniff the different classes of terpenes to see what you like.
Dixon cited himself as an instance:
When I visit the dispensary I am looking for gas or trainwreck. There’s a chance for brands in California, and other states where terpene testing is not mandatory, to differentiate themselves by using terpenes.
The primary terpene of the terpene profiles in cannabis samples can be used to determine the direction that a particular high is likely to take.
It used to be that sativas and indicas corresponded to higher and lower highs. Science has shown that the truth is much more complex than this. In “sativa highs” there are terpinolene, which inspires creativity and is inspiring. There is pinene that boosts memory and concentration and limonene is an anti-depressant and is energizing. Myrcene, on the other hand, is relaxing. “Caryophyllene, ocimene, and Linalool all relieve stress.”
SC Labs calls terpenes “the universal language of love” in the natural world. They have found nine primary and second terpenes in the marijuana that they’ve tested.
Terpenes are the new tools that allow us to move beyond hybrids.
Dixon’s example was a typical consumer buying wine experience.
The merlots in the store are all grouped on the shelf so that you do not need to know how to sommelier. Not everyone will be a Sommelier.
Not everyone will become a Ganjier. Everyone deserves the chance to discover the perfect cannabis strain with the correct terpene profiles.
California is the leader in cannabis
California must lead in the fight to correct years of miseducation.
California, as advanced as it is, has yet to develop as a market for consumers. It’s too early in the game to understand what defines quality. California, like all other markets, has much to learn. California’s immaturity is not primarily in its farmers but in the market. California is known as the gold-standard because the farmers grew the best herb in an illegal period. This was what put California on map. Unfortunately, many of these farmers have left the state or stopped planting.
We have to clean up our own mess, just as we had to with the D.A.R.E. We have to fix our mess, and move forward towards an industry where everyone is better educated. This includes everyone, but especially investors and company owners who don’t smoke any more. They are also further removed from the feedback loop of the cannabis culture. California’s cannabis recreational industry is advancing at an accelerated pace, with priorities that are radically different from those of the cannabis farmers who established California and its Emerald Triangle.
The Emerald Triangle, the state that the original 420 crew firmly tied to the cannabis culture is only the tip of the iceberg. There are many legacy growers in California who have been going strong for years. The Emerald Triangle is not limited to the three counties. The cannabis industry and cannabis culture are so ingrained that it is being highlighted at the California state fair.
There are certainly better agricultural areas in the United States or around the globe, but how may of these have been growing and breeding cannabis for decades now? It is a huge understatement to say the California cannabis community has an advantage in presenting and expressing their terroir in their products.
California will not lose its top spot as long as it continues to promote the farmers who brought us there.
The article SC Labs Alec Dixon talks about why California has the highest standard for cannabis first appeared on The Most Critic.
