Cannabis nerds are likely familiar with the “Entourage Effect” already. But for the noobs in the room, an understanding of this essential cannabis concept helps clarify how different types of cannabis products create different experiences and effects.

Over the years, researchers have identified hundreds of compounds in cannabis. It’s packed with them. While the most common ones such as THC and CBD are well understood, we have no idea how these components work together to produce different reactions.

One common theory, the Entourage Effect, explains that some cannabis compounds have minimal or no effect on their own, but may generate significant effects when combined with additional cannabinoids and terpenes. Put simply, the beneficial impact of the whole plant is greater than the sum of its individual parts.

A party isn’t a party with just one person. The theory is the same in cannabis — everyone needs to be invited for it to bring the house down.

This may explain why whole plant cannabis is reported to be so effective in treating certain medical conditions, while synthetically derived THC or CBD often falls flat. Researchers, after all, have explored the concept of “synergy” in herbal medicine for millennia — or the idea that combining two or more compounds create a magnified effect. On their own, cheese powder is gross and milk is boring; add them together and you have a great late night snack. It’s like that.

Synergy also explains why nutritional supplements tend to be less beneficial than eating whole, fresh fruits and vegetables that contain a broad variety of vitamins and minerals. That idea perfectly explains the Entourage Effect, it’s a great thing, but how exactly does one take advantage of it?

Any properly grown cannabis features a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. However, when that cannabis is refined into concentrate or products, most, if not all of the beneficial terpenes and other compounds will be lost to the extraction process. Whether using solvents like ethanol, butane or hexane, traditional methods like cold water extraction, or even common CO2 technologies, preserving quality terpenes through the extraction process has generally been considered impossible.

Except, Evolab sees impossible as a challenge. When it realized that traditional extraction processes were neglecting the full spectrum of the plant that benefits customers, it sought out a new way of processing that would maintain those beneficial compounds. Why waste what you could be using?

Through collaborative partnerships and significant investment in research and development, Evolab created the cannabis industry’s first clean CO2 extraction solution that not only preserves terpenes, but also allows them to extract the entire profile of any plant, enabling the powerful delivery of the Entourage Effect in convenient vape pens and extracts. Furthermore, the approach provides a unique ability to extract only the terpenes, which has led to the first and only product line featuring pure cannabis terpene profiles —FreshTerps™.

Creating the best extracts starts long before bringing raw material into the laboratory. Just like anything, what you put in dictates what you get out. This is especially true with cannabis processing. That's why Evolab only sources the best material from the most respected cultivators that have been carefully and consistently optimizing operations for years.

The team spends time visiting farms to understand the people and practices behind the materials used. They also meticulously inspect every facility sourced from — analyzing consistency, genetics, pesticide use, cultivation methodologies, testing standards and much more. Then they sample, test and test some more — looking for good things like cannabinoid and terpene levels, and things to avoid like microbial contamination and pesticides. It’s quality control on a beefed-up scale.

Since each batch is subject to rigorous inspection and availability, all strains are essentially limited stock. Despite making every effort to maintain the availability of popular strains, just like any crop, availability sometimes varies based on many uncontrollable factors.

Once the company sources the dankest material, the real fun begins. Back at Evolab headquarters, a team of expert chemists uses a proprietary pharmaceutical-grade CO2 technology to begin the process of breaking down the plant into its essential elements: cannabinoids, terpenes, waxes and other byproducts like chlorophyll.

The cannabinoids and terpenes are further distilled and purified before being formulated into products including Chroma™,  Alchemy™ and FreshTerps™. The advanced extraction process used to create the award-winning FreshTerps™ line pulls just 2-3 percent of the plant weight in pure terpenes, so users experience nothing but the purest flavors and effects of their favorite strains. With the new FreshPen™, FreshTerps™ are now available in a convenient and discreet disposable vape pen for on-the-go use.

Another Evolab innovation is Alchemy™, which blends FreshTerps™ with ultra-purified Chroma™ oil to deliver a true full spectrum Entourage Effect including the entire terpene and cannabinoid profile of many of our favorite strains. For the ultimate personalized dab experience, users can build their own Alchemy by combining purified Chroma™ cannabinoids with strain specific FreshTerps™.

Of course, to deliver the finest products, Evolab had to find the highest quality hardware to complete the perfect user experience. They tirelessly sought out the best vape from around the world to match its uncompromising, uncut cannabis extracts. With pure oil paired with durable, premium materials like stainless steel and pyrex glass, and a customizable variable draw technology that replicates a dab, a slow vape draw, or anything in between, Evolab cartridges are designed to provide a seriously smooth, consistently potent experience. A variety of convenient disposable vape pens and environmentally friendly oil refills are also available at dispensaries across Colorado. 

TL;DR: Evolab hooks up its customers by taking the freshest, finest flower it can find, does some exceptionally scientific work behind the scenes that we can’t possibly understand and then delivers it to you, the consumer, in hand-selected hardware that even your mom would be proud of. This is the future of cannabis.

Ask about Evolab products at your favorite dispensary or visit evolab.com/store-locator/ to find a convenient location near you.

Want to learn more about Evolab, our products or the Entourage Effect? Follow @evolabCO2 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or visit evolab.com.