Cannabis Terpenes

Cannabis terpenes and how they are responsible for the effects and taste of CBD hemp flower.

Terpenes are organic compounds found in plants that give each plant it’s scent – they’re basically essential oils. For example, limonene is the terpene responsible for making lemons smell lemony, and pinene is what gives pine trees their characteristic scent. Cannabis produces more terpenes than any other single plant on earth. They are partly responsible for the different smells and (more importantly) the effects that differ from one cannabis strain to another.

Most people are familiar with the indica and sativa designations for cannabis, indica’s tend to be relaxing and sativa’s tend to be more energetic (and easy way to remember is to think “indica = ‘in da couch'”). As marijuana legalization spreads throughout the US (and the world), one of the benefits is that it’s becoming easier to conduct scientific studies on the plants and their effects. Some of these studies have focused on the benefits and therapeutic effects of cannabis terpenes. There’s a whole lot more going on in cannabis than the indica/sativa distinctions of your parent’s weed. Paying attention to cannabis terpene profiles of the CBD or marijuana strains that you’re consuming can help you choose the strains that will work for you best. You can usually find this information on the company’s lab reports (COA’s).

We’ve listed some of the more common terpenes found in marijuana and CBD flower and their respective medicinal or therapeutic qualities.

Myrcene

Myrcene is one of the most common terpenes found in CBD bud. It’s typically associated with calming effects. Other plants that produce myrcene include thyme, lemongrass, mango, bay and hops. Myrcene is often associated with the feeling of “couch lock.” Eating a mango along with smoking a strain high in myrcene can enhance the relaxation that comes with this terpene.

Aroma – cloves, cardamom, hoppy, musky, earthy, herbal, peppery

Therapeutic effects – anti-inflammatory (Lorenzetti et al., 1991), treats insomnia (Bisset and Wichtl, 2004), pain relief (Rao et al., 1990)

Caryophyllene

Caryophyllene is one of the only terpenes that also acts as a cannabinoid, working on CB2 receptors (the same receptors that CBD works on) in helping to contribute to CBD flower’s and medical marijuana’s anti inflammatory properties. You can find caryophyllene in black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, basil and hops.

Our popular fruity sativa, Juicy Fruit, boasts caryophyllene as the second most abundant terpene.

Aroma – spicy, peppery

Therapeutic effects – anxiety & depression (Bahi et al., 2014), antioxidant (Calleja etal., 2012), anti-inflammatory (Horvath et al., 2012), longevity (Pant et al., 2014)

Pinene

Being found in all pine trees and sage, pinene is one of the most prevalent terpenes found in nature. It’s also found in rosemary, dill, parsley, and basil. Cannabis strains with a lot of pinene tend to leave users feeling very cerebral, creative and focused.

Pinene is the dominant terpene in all 3 of our indoor grown CBD strains.

Aroma – pine, woody, earthy

Therapeutic effects – bronchodilator (Namet al., 2014), antiviral (Astani and Schnitzler 2014), anti-inflammatory (Khoshnazar et al., 2019), memory retention (Russo 2011), anti anxiety (Satou et al., 2014)

Limonene

Limonene is sometimes referred to as nature’s antidepressant. Like the name suggests, its commonly found in lemons. CBD strains high in limonene are likely to be uplifting, enhancing your mood and relieving stress.

Limonene is the second most prevalent terpene in our T1 and Cherry Wine strains, and third most prevalent in Juicy Fruit.

Aroma – lemon, orange rind, juniper

Therapeutic effects – antibacterial (Espina et al., 2013), antidepressant (Zhang et al., 2019), stimulates immune system (Komori et al., 1995), anti anxiety (d’Alessio et al., 2014), chronic pain (Araújo-Filho et al., 2017), cancer treatment (Xiao et al., 2018)

Humulene

Humulene is closely related to b-caryophyllene. It’s often found in lesser amounts than other terpenes, but can be found in strains that are also high in caryophyllene. This herbaceous terpene can be found in hops, ginger, sage, and ginseng.

Aroma – herbaceous, woody, earthy, musky, spicy

Therapeutic effects – cancer treatment (Legault and Pichette 2007), anti-inflammatory (Rogerio et al., 2009)

Linalool

Linalool is a slightly spicy, fragrant, floral terpene that contributes to a strain’s calming and relaxing effects. It can be found in lavender, mint, laurel, rosewood and birch tree bark. It has been used as a calming aid for centuries.

Aroma – floral, spicy

Therapeutic effects – antimicrobial (Burdon et al., 2018 ), anti anxiety (Carvalho-Freitas and Costa 2002), antidepressant ( Guzmán-Gutiérrez et al., 2012), stress relief (Nakamura et al., 2009)

Ocimene

Ocimene can be found in a number of plants other than cannabis including hops, basil, mango, lavender and pepper. Ocimene is a part of a plant’s natural defenses and aids in defending against aphids in the same way that citronella repels mosquitoes.

Aroma – sweet, herbal, citrus, woody

Therapeutic effects – anti-inflammatory (Kim et al., 2014), type 2 diabetes (Oboh et al., 2013), hypertension (Oboh et al., 2013), anti-fungal (Cavaleiro et al., 2015)

Camphene

Camphene is a minor terpene that has been shown to have positive effects on blood cholesterol levels in rats. Its used in many fragrances and as an additive in food flavorings. It may be responsible for an acrid smoke that illicits a slight irritation in the throat and lungs.

Aroma – camphor, pungent

Therapeutic effects – antioxidant (Tiwari and Kakar 2009), lowers blood cholesterol (Vallianou et al., 2011)

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