For years, cannabis consumers have been conditioned to focus primarily on THC content when selecting products. But as the cannabis industry matures, it's becoming increasingly clear that THC percentage alone tells very little about how a product will actually affect an individual.

During a recent Qredible Live Broadcast, Joe Casey, Co-Founder of Tryad Data Labs, and Scott Lynch, Founder of HashDash, shared valuable insights on the science of cannabis personalization and why understanding terpene and cannabinoid profiles is essential for tailoring cannabis experiences. This discussion highlighted why the industry needs to move beyond simplistic metrics and toward a more sophisticated understanding of cannabis compounds.

Why Cannabis Affects Everyone Differently

The conversation began with a fundamental truth about cannabis: its effects vary significantly from person to person.

"Everybody has their own individual endocannabinoid system," explained Joe Casey. "I may smoke a joint and enjoy it, and Scott may smoke the same thing and it could give him crippling anxiety or some sort of side effect that is not desired."

This individual variation in response is at the heart of cannabis personalization. Unlike the pharmaceutical model of "one pill, a cure-all," cannabis consumers need to understand their own unique responses to different cannabinoid and terpene combinations.

Scott Lynch added, "First and foremost for a consumer, it's understanding not everything Joe said but also your own body. I think something that's been very evident in this industry and has become more rampant over the years is there's significant trial and error."

The Problem with Current Cannabis Metrics

Both experts criticized the industry's overwhelming focus on THC content, comparing it to choosing wine or beer based solely on alcohol percentage.

"You can look at shopping by THC like going into a wine shop or a beer shop and just trying to purchase something on ABV, and it just doesn't get into what separates a red wine from a white wine or a pilsner from an IPA," Casey pointed out.

Lynch shared his experience at dispensaries, noting that the most common question from consumers is still "What's your highest THC product with your lowest price point?" He explained why this approach is problematic: "That is exactly like going into the liquor store and asking for highest proof. You're gonna have a horrible experience."

Moving Beyond Strain Names and Types

Another misconception the experts addressed was the industry's reliance on strain names and indica/sativa classifications.

"Strip out process of elimination the things that don't matter - strain name, get it out of your head," advised Lynch. "We have on our platform over 5,267 cultivars and 98% of them are hybrids. Get rid of focusing on type. There is no scientific correlation whatsoever that supports that if a consumer consumes an indica product that they are going to have a certain experience."

This insight challenges widespread industry marketing practices that assign effects based on plant morphology rather than chemical composition.

Understanding the Complex Chemistry of Cannabis

Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds that contribute to its effects, yet most consumers have limited knowledge about these components.

"Ask a majority of consumers do you know what terpenes are? No. Do you know what flavonoids are? No. Do you know what cannabinoids are? No," Lynch explained, highlighting the knowledge gap.

Casey emphasized that scientific understanding is key to product differentiation: "We need to get into the science and to understand what actually makes these products different."

How Consumers Can Find What Works for Them

Both experts offered practical advice for consumers looking to understand their own cannabis preferences better.

"Every consumer should be journaling whether it be physical, digital, what have you. Take a picture of the label, request COAs, grab as much information as you can," recommended Lynch. "Eventually after enough iterations, you will start to make the correlation between products that work."

Casey suggested paying attention to sensory experiences: "Trust yourself. Start to learn what aromas you like, what flavor profiles that you're into for whatever desired effect you're looking to achieve."

The Role of Technology in Cannabis Personalization

Technology platforms are emerging to help bridge the knowledge gap for consumers. Lynch described how HashDash approaches the problem:

"We've created the world's first personalized cannabis matching platform. We leverage a proprietary algorithm that's powered by real user experiences and social listening to provide trusted and personalized recommendations."

Similarly, Casey described how Tryad Data Labs is developing solutions: "We are going to put a platform together that's going to offer batch-specific labeling for products that also present a revolutionary data visualization for cannabis."

The Future of Personalized Cannabis

Both experts envisioned a future where dispensary experiences become more consultative and data-driven, with technology helping to match consumers with appropriate products.

"Dispensaries over the next five years are in for a rude awakening if they are not leaning into personalization," predicted Lynch. "I think really personalization is going to increase AOV [Average Order Value] and LTV [Lifetime Value] for the dispensaries because the consumer is having a better experience."

Casey advocated for greater genetic diversity in cannabis cultivation: "From an industry standpoint, I would love to see that we kind of go back in time a little bit and start to look for and hunt for these kind of unique cultivars and gene sets that we can then breed into and kind of increase the gene pool."

Education and Science

The path forward for cannabis personalization clearly depends on increased consumer education and scientific understanding.

"The more educated a consumer can become, the more empowered they are and the more they're going to know what they want," concluded Casey.

Lynch agreed, emphasizing that progress will be incremental: "Sure data may not be perfect, but the way that I look at it is progress is incremental, it is not monumental, and so there needs to be certain steps that we take to get there."

As the cannabis industry continues to develop, understanding the full spectrum of cannabis compounds and their effects will be essential for consumers seeking consistent, personalized experiences that go well beyond a simple THC percentage.