Terpenes: What are they? How are they related to cannabis? What are their effects?
If you’re looking to up your game as a “cannasseur”, learning about terpenes will give you more insight into your favorite strains.
Terpenes are fragrant essential oils usually found in fruits, plants, and herbs. They can also be found in the same resin glands as THC and CBD in cannabis. Like other plants and fruits, terpenes give cannabis a variety of flavors and aromas including pine, diesel, cheese, or citrus to name a few. There are over 100 different terpenes found in cannabis and each strain has its own unique terpene type and composition. Like cannabinoids, terpenes also bind to your brain receptors and can cause various effects. Here are a few common terpenes and their known benefits:
Pinene is just as it sounds. It has a piney aroma and is a terpene commonly found in pine needles, conifer trees, and herbs such as basil, rosemary, dill, sage and parsley. Some known effects of pinene include increased alertness and memory retention – great for all the forgetful stoners out there! It also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help those with asthma by improving airflow to their lungs. Pinene rich strains include Blue Dream, Trainwreck, and OG Kush; but there are many others out there, just give your buds a sniff or ask a budtender for help.
Myrcene is a terpene that has more of a musky, herbal smell with a hint of citrus fruit. It can be found in mangoes, lemongrass, thyme, bay leaves and hops. Myrcene is a personal favorite terpene because of its relaxing “couchlock” effect. It is especially helpful if you have any muscle tension or trouble sleeping and can even help combat depression. For strains rich in myrcene, try Granddaddy Purple or Northern Lights. Myrcene can have a sedating effect so make sure you don’t have any errands to run because you might be stuck on the couch!
Linalool can have a floral aroma with delicate notes of spice and citrus. It is naturally produced in lavender, coriander, birch and rosewood. If you’ve ever used the essential oil lavender then you may know that it is very good for relieving stress – the same can be said of linalool. It has a calming effect and is also great for those suffering from epilepsy, high-anxiety, insomnia and pain. After a tense day, smoke some Headband, Lavender, or some Skywalker to calm the brain and relax.
Limonene has “limon” in the name, so guess what it smells like? You guessed it, lemons. Limonene can also smell fruity, since it can be found in fruit rinds. It can also be found in peppermint, rosemary, and juniper. Limonene has great therapeutic benefits because it acts as an antidepressant, mood enhancer and alleviates stress. It also has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It may help relieve heartburn and gastrointestinal complications. Ask your budtender for a lemony strain like Super Lemon Haze or Durban Poison and it will most likely have a high level of limonene.
The more research that is done about terpenes the more we can understand their role in cannabis, especially regarding the medical side. This ensures that you can cherry-pick the terpenes you want based on their effects to get maximum relief. Be sure to note the common effects of the terpenes listed above can be varied depending on the rest of the composition of the strain. For example, the alert effect derived from pinene can be counteracted by the sedative effects of myrcene in a strain. In this booming industry, more labs are testing for terpene profile, but if it is untested you can always follow your nose!
