What are Trichomes?

The Science Behind Cannabis Trichomes

My journey learning about cannabis began when I moved to Tucson in 2007. Before starting at U of A, I had only smoked once. I was always a bit skeptical about weed, but I inevitably became more curious over time. One of the tools I found absolutely necessary to smoking cannabis was a grinder. A grinder is where you get a preview of what you’ll be smoking; the smell, the look, all of it is captured in the grinder. After becoming a cannabis aficionado of sorts, I know every part of my grinder now. At the bottom of most grinders, there is a compartment for kief or trichomes, called the kief collector. That has been my saving grace when I’ve forgotten to run to the dispensary after a long day. Before I became a scientist, I was always curious about what kief or trichomes were. We’re going to dive into a bit of history and knowledge of what trichomes are.

For millennia, cannabis has been renowned as a richly useful and complex plant. Cannabis flower, in its own right, is a powerhouse of chemical compounds and metabolites. Cannabis has been noted in history since 2800 BCE, and since that time, it has amassed a wealth of understanding and insight to better grasp the organism that has kept our species intrigued for thousands of years.

In recent years, more information has been unearthed regarding the inner workings of this intricate plant. Modern researchers have discovered over 500 chemical compounds in cannabis, all working synergistically to produce what most of us are interested in, cannabinoids and terpenes. These two classes of chemical compounds are what give cannabis its aroma (terpenes), as well as the desired effect (cannabinoids), sought out by many for medicinal and therapeutic purposes.

The highest concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes resides in a specific area of the cannabis plant, the trichome. While other areas of the plant also contain these important chemicals, the trichomes host a much higher level of terpenes and cannabinoids when compared to the rest of the plant, such as leaves, stems, and roots. So, what exactly are trichomes?

Cannabis trichomes are tiny, hair-like structures that reside on many parts of the cannabis plant but are in abundance on cannabis flower. Trichomes are tiny, often glandular structures. As stated before, they are responsible for producing the plant’s essential compounds, including cannabinoids (THC & CBD) and terpenes (Pinene & Myrcene). These microscopic outgrowths play a pivotal role in cannabis potency, aroma, and therapeutic effects. Trichomes are found in many plants, they exhibit a variety of shapes, sizes, and functions depending on the species. The trichomes in cannabis are unique and specific to the plant, and display characteristics that are solely observed in cannabis.

Types of Trichomes

Cannabis plants have two different trichomes: glandular and non-glandular. Which means trichomes with and without heads, respectively.

When referring to the glandular trichomes, there are three primary types:

• Capitate-Stalked Trichomes: The largest and most productive trichomes, which consist of a large stalk and a large, globose or sphere-shaped head. These trichomes produce the highest concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes.
• Capitate-Sessile Trichomes: Smaller trichomes, with a short stalk and a large, globose head. These trichomes still produce notable concentrations of cannabinoids and terpenes.
• Bulbous Trichomes: The smallest type of trichome. These are underdeveloped trichomes that typically have no stalk. They are mainly comprised of a globose head that is not uniform and typically misshapen. These trichomes contribute minimally to cannabinoid and terpene production.

Uses of Trichomes

Trichomes can be used in many ways. You probably use trichomes at home quite often and do not even notice. For instance, kief is primarily composed of trichomes. Although, kief may also contain small amounts of plant material. So that stuff you collect at the bottom of your grinder is trichomes!

Through Earth Extracts (our extraction laboratory), trichomes themselves are used to create solventless extraction products such as bubble hash or hash rosin. The process of creating rosin is similar to bubble hash, for all of my old-heads out there. The process begins with collecting cannabis flower in a bag, submerging it in ice water, and then agitating or mixing it up. Trichomes do not like water (hydrophobic), so they bounce off the flower and float around in the ice water. Following the mixing process, bags with different-sized holes or pores are used to collect the trichomes that fall off the plant into the water. After being collected and dried, the trichomes are pressed with heat to release all of the cannabinoids and terpenes locked inside. That gooey gold is then collected, and from there, it is ready to be enjoyed.

Trichomes play a huge role in extraction with the use of solvents such as butane. To produce great-tasting live resin, the process is extensive. We crush our high-quality flower in a bag, then we place that bag in a vessel and flush it with butane. The butane extracts the cannabinoids and terpenes out of the plant matter. The trichomes are dissolved in the butane. After the mixture has been run through the column, it is purged from the column. Following the purge, it is then tinkered with until the desired final product, and then it is ready to be enjoyed. Live resin is packed with flavor from the high terpene concentration.

Trichomes hold all the good stuff that makes us love weed. Here are some pictures of trichomes on the flower we grow here at our Earthgrow greenhouse. You can see what they look like on some of your favorite strains!