The Entourage Effect | Elevated Montana Cannabis Guide

The entourage effect is the natural teamwork between cannabinoids and terpenes. Together, they create deeper relief, smoother balance, and a more complete cannabis experience than THC or CBD alone.

Quick Facts About the Entourage Effect

• Definition: The entourage effect is when cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids work together, amplifying relief, balance, and overall effectiveness beyond THC alone.
• Origin: First identified in the 1990s by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, proving cannabis compounds perform better in combination than in isolation.
• Montana Advantage: Cold climates and slow curing preserve delicate terpenes, creating richer aroma, smoother flavor, and stronger entourage synergy.
• Full-Spectrum Edibles: Elevated’s in-house bakery keeps cannabinoids and terpenes intact, offering harmony you can taste and feel.
• Why Elevated: Locally grown, Montana-made, and budtender-guided, every product is designed to deliver the full entourage effect, not just THC hype.

What Is the Entourage Effect, Really?

Imagine walking into a band practice where everyone’s jamming together, the drummer’s on beat, the guitarist’s vibing, the vocals are smooth, and suddenly someone cuts the mic. It’s still music, but the magic’s gone.

That’s kind of what happens when you isolate one part of the cannabis plant. THC on its own can make you feel something, sure, but when it’s joined by CBD, CBG, and terpenes like myrcene or limonene, that’s when things click. The entourage effect is cannabis harmony, all these compounds working together inside your body to create balance, calm, and relief.

Scientists call it “synergy.” We call it the difference between getting high and feeling right.

Your body has an endocannabinoid system (or ECS for short), a built-in network that helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and pain. Think of it as your body’s command center for chill. Cannabinoids, the natural compounds in cannabis, fit into ECS receptors like puzzle pieces. When THC, CBD, and terpenes enter the mix together, they fine-tune how those receptors respond, softening edges or enhancing benefits depending on the combo.

That’s why two strains with the same THC percentage can hit completely different. One might ease anxiety and help you sleep; the other might lift your mood and get you talking around the campfire. The secret isn’t the number, it’s the blend.

Science vs. Story: Where the Theory Began

The idea of the entourage effect didn’t start on social media or in a dispensary backroom; it started in a lab.
Back in the 1990s, Israeli chemist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, often called the father of cannabis research, noticed something fascinating: when you isolate THC, it behaves one way. But when you keep it in its natural mix with other cannabinoids and terpenes, the results change, sometimes dramatically.

He called this phenomenon the entourage effect, the whole plant being greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, THC might be the star, but it needs its backup singers to hit every note just right.

Since then, universities and research centers have taken the baton.

• Johns Hopkins University recently found that THC combined with the terpene limonene eased anxiety more effectively than THC alone.
• Sydney University uncovered what they call a “pharmacokinetic entourage effect,” showing that full-spectrum cannabis extracts can deliver up to 14× higher absorption of key cannabinoids like CBDA compared to isolates.
• Cannabis researcher Dr. Ethan Russo has spent years documenting how terpenes help pain, anxiety, depression, and many other conditions.

Put simply, the science is catching up to what many Montanans already feel.



The Magic Mix: Cannabinoids, Terpenes & Flavonoids Explained

If THC is the rock star of cannabis, then cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids are the rest of the band, and trust us, this isn’t a one-man show.

Let’s start with the headliners: cannabinoids.

These are the chemical compounds that interact with your body’s endocannabinoid system, your internal control center for mood, appetite, sleep, and pain. Think of it like your body’s thermostat for “how’s it going today?”

• THC is your lead singer. It gets the crowd hyped, brings the euphoria, and occasionally forgets the lyrics.
• CBD is the bassist, steady, grounding, and the one who makes sure THC doesn’t go too wild.
• CBG, CBC, and THCV are the session musicians: you might not always notice them, but without them, the set just doesn’t hit the same.

Now, let’s talk about the real flavor section: terpenes.

These little aromatic compounds are what make one strain smell like citrus and another smell like a pine forest after rain.

They don’t just smell nice, they shape the experience.

• Myrcene is the “couch-lock” terpene. It’s like the drummer who slows down the tempo till you melt into the sofa.
• Limonene brings the sunshine, citrusy, upbeat, and the reason some strains feel like summer in a jar.
• Pinene keeps your head clear. It’s like opening a window in your mind and letting the mountain air in.
• Linalool, the lavender-scented calm in a chaotic day. A hug in terpene form.

Finally, flavonoids.

They don’t get much attention, but these compounds add color and antioxidant punch, basically, the special effects lighting crew of the cannabis world.

When all these compounds play together, you don’t just get high, you get a performance. The notes hit different, the rhythm flows smoother, and the effects linger like your favorite encore.

That’s the entourage effect in action: chemistry with harmony, nature with nuance, and a little Montana magic thrown in.

Full-Spectrum Edibles: The Bakery-Backed Entourage



Here’s a truth every seasoned cannabis fan learns the hard way: not all edibles are created equal.

Some taste like raw sugar and mystery oil. Others hit like a freight train two hours late. But when an edible is made right, with care, consistency, and full-spectrum extracts, it’s not just a snack. It’s science that tastes good.

At Elevated, our bakery treats cannabis like cuisine. Every cookie, brownie, or gummy starts with full-plant extracts, meaning we don’t strip away the compounds that make cannabis feel full-bodied. Those cannabinoids and terpenes shape the entire experience once the edible kicks in.



Staying Elevated: Where Science Meets Soul in the Montana High

There’s a quiet rhythm to Montana. From the still air before sunrise to the light settling over the mountains at dusk. That same sense of balance is what we aim to capture in every product we craft.

We cultivate with care. Because in Montana, everything works better when it works together.

Experience the full entourage effect for yourself. Stop by an Elevated dispensary near you and see how harmony feels when it’s grown close to home.

Stay balanced. Stay curious. Stay Elevated.

Disclaimer

The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners. Please consult your healthcare professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product.

References



• Anderson, L., & Arnold, J. (2021). An entourage effect: new clues on how low-dose CBD products work. University of Sydney News.
• Holmes, M. (2023). Some of the Parts: Is Marijuana’s “Entourage Effect” Scientifically Valid? Scientific American.
• Mechoulam, R., & Ben-Shabat, S. (1998). An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity. European Journal of Pharmacology, 353(1), 23–31.
• Russo, E. (2011). Taming THC: potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British Journal of Pharmacology.
• Sydney University. (2021). Pharmacokinetic entourage effect in cannabinoid absorption. Scientific Reports.
• Wilson-Poe, A. (2022). Cannabis synergy and cannabinoid pharmacology in the human endocannabinoid system. Wired Science Feature.