Entourage Effect

The entourage effect is the hypothesis that whole-plant cannabis — cannabinoids plus terpenes plus minor compounds — produces a different and often stronger effect than any single isolated cannabinoid. Most consumer-facing cannabis content invokes the entourage effect to justify full-spectrum extracts over distillates. The scientific evidence is suggestive but not conclusive.

Example: Live resin captures the entourage effect that distillate strips out.

Etymology: Coined by Israeli researchers Mechoulam and Ben-Shabat in 1998.