TAXONOMY
a spherical graph of cannabis effects using taxonomic data from researchers and cultivators from around the world
From the cannabis terpene research done at the University of California by Doctor Abrams and Kevin Jodrey, among others, I have developed a spherical graph detailing the connection between perceived "high" states and chemovar by intersecting genotypical photoperiod and terpene profile on a 3-D grid.
The first graph shows the basic structure of the equation, wherein the center represents the most concentrated psychic effects in conjunction with the most subtle and sharp terpene profiles like Haze, while the outside represents the opposite as diffuse and sober to the mind yet potent to the body, with extreme diffuse profiles like Afghan Hash Plant which mimics opium, alongside hybrids like OG Kush.
The completed 2-D graph maps some of the most popular modern cultivars using two variables- X and Y. Whereas the completed 3-D model will map points with three variables. DMT is listed in the center as our most potent endogenous brain chemical, activated by cannabis alongside meditation.
First Ring- the very center of the highest cannabis experiences are the stone, metal and other sharp or grabbing mineral base terpene profiles rooted upon the morphology of mostly southeast Asian 15-20 + week photoperiod landrace varietals. The experienced taste and feeling starting in the lungs then going directly to head, in reference to hazes especially, is a “tingling tinge by a fine dust inhaled from the scrapings of magical stone.” This transfers to an effect that empowers the spirit and defines “hardness” within the spirit and psycho-soma. They're clearing and clarifying to mind and body, analogous to other potent plant psychedelics like mushrooms or LSA. They are the most concentrated in all sensory effects, from gustatory to olfactory & psychological to somatic, mostly effecting the head and central channel. This means they taste and smell the loudest and hit the hardest, regardless of the particularities of the profile beyond this base classification. In Hazes particularly, which are the most common “real sativa” hybrids on the market, it implies an immense firmness or strength of one’s mind, body and soul as one and often is accompanied by great mental clarity and psychic empowerment, bringing bright imaginative potential and very loud spiritual suggestion… the epidemy of getting your bell rung. Can be called the core of all cannabis effects which is a highly concentrated analogue of all outside expressions/other respective rings.
This paradigm of concentrated to diffuse properties and the flux in between them is the manifold necessary to understand the basal aspects of cannabis-induced sensory experiences. Zone one consists almost solely of landrace sativas and hybrids thereof like Haze A and C, Black Congo, Thai, Vietnamese and many more mostly southeast Asian and Indian sativas, as well as African and some American genotypes which are more recent acclimatized chemovars. The most ancient and naturally selected (the least human selection/interference) by equatorial jungles and lowlands.
Second Ring- Woody base terpene profiles are the second strongest overall sensory experience as mentioned above and reside right outside ring one in their ability to firm one’s energy- only worth 50 points in chi and trades the extreme high for a more diffuse experience which can bring along greater unique subtleties like the particularized effects of terpinolene or pinene. This includes many unique compounds stemming from the variety of wood terpenes often found within the cannabis world like sandal, pine, cedar, terpinolene and more. The sandalwood, caryophyllene and terpinolene terpenes alongside the pinene skunk found in train wreck which both levels out and highly uplifts can’t be compared to the piney (pine with other complementing herbal or tree oil based) terpenes in a kush that focus the mind but don’t bring that same bodily solidity or spiritual (psychosomatic) stability etc., mostly because of the earthy, gassy Myrcene accompaniments. Similarly, the effects of a stone haze (Haze A & C) can be more closely compared to the effects of a metal haze (Metal Haze) simply because they are relatively closer to the center of the mandala.
The concept of woody terpenes causing a firming effect to the spirit and psycho-soma is the main idea, it is a less concentrated effect than ring one yet more than three. These are most often sativa hybrids that maintain a longer photoperiod of around 10-14 weeks but aren’t to the degree of the soaring/intensely psychedelic/focusing and energizing 15 plus week landraces mostly occupying the first ring. They include Haze hybrids, old Skunks, Trainwreck, or even Chem #4 which are relatively devoid of hash-plant influence, usually featuring a largely fruity or herbal accompaniment to the wooden earth base in the phyto-chemical pyramid.
Third ring- Earthy base terpene profiles like those found in the Hindu Kush and other mountain ranges across Pakistan and India. Many old-school skunks (stemming largely from Southern Indian Sativa hybrids) and landrace Indicas like Hindu Kush have an energetic high while simultaneously soothing and relaxing the body. Clear headed spiritual fire, selected by generations of mountain living northern Indians and Pakistanis for everyday pain relief and bodily upliftment, best in the afternoon and evening. This ring often also represents the bourgeoning presence of cbd (the first two rings represent cannabis selected mostly for thc-only “euphoric” experiences, wherein cbd would stifle the subtle effects that create a truly powerful “sativa” type high.) As opposed to this third ring which has weaker a.k.a. more diffuse, less intense effects on the mind while being so much stronger (heavy) on the body that cbd can then begin to add value to this experience by improving cycling between the cb1 and 2 receptors. CBD will often impart a feeling of relaxation and grounded-ness which is basically sobering and brings an even clarity to ring three types. This is obviously because these cultivars were originally high in CBD which was then slowly pushed out through the selection process. The body high found in earthy Indicas can start to overpower one’s own awareness (the “head” or clarifying high characterized best by ring one), driving one toward sleep and hunger. Activating the cb2 in the gut (body) is what balances this effect between the body and mind. Bubba Kush is the quintessential merger of the third and fourth rings with an even mix of Hindu and Afghan genes.
Fourth Ring- Myrcene heavy base terpene profiles like those found in Afghan Hashplant and most modern varieties available today. This ring represents the entire spectrum of cannabis types/effects as a diffuse summation, carrying the exact opposite effects as those found in ring one (as in mostly thin, hard and concentrated) being diffused throughout the body evenly, seemingly effecting the body and mind in the exact same way on full blast and is unquestionably strong. True Afghani is grown in huge fields in a method called "dry farm" wherein the farmers down't water at all an rely on the seasonal rains, making the plants no more than a few feet tall. They then wait until the plant has died in November to harvest, making for the most potent form of sun cured resin which is as much calming and soaring as it is heavy and medicinal. This ring could really be dubbed “the spectrum of diffuse cb effects” as Afghani has been purposefully bred this way- to bring together all the aspects of high-THC old world Kushes and select for the most potent hash makers on earth, mimicking the effects of opium. The experience when smoked is the opposite of ring one- where upon inhale the effects immediately sweep over the entire body and mind as a wave of comfort and builds the more it’s smoked until one’s body becomes the “instrument” of awakening to the spirit. It is taking the loud spiritual suggestion of ring one and transferring it to the entire body equally, instead of concentrating this effect in the central channel like zone 1, which really suggests the dispersion of “perceived” effects between the cb1 and 2 receptors is greatly moderated by the resin/terpene profile, in line with other recent data suggesting the same thing in reference to thc-cbd chemovar-synergisms (aka the entourage effect extended to cbd interactions).
