What Are Terpenes and What Do Terpenes Do?

At Green, one of the most trusted cannabis dispensaries in Las Vegas, we don’t just want to provide you with great cannabis products. We also want to help you understand what makes those products effective, healthy, and packed with benefits for your body and mind.

With that in mind, we want to take a few moments to educate our customers and all supporters of cannabis in Las Vegas about one of the most important natural ingredients in cannabis— terpenes. These powerful, aromatic compounds are responsible for a lot of what makes cannabis great, and the more you understand about them, the better able you’ll be to choose natural cannabis products you’ll love.

What are Terpenes?

At their essence, terpenes are naturally occurring oils that show up in cannabis— but not just cannabis. Terpenes are found all over nature, from plants and herbs to fruits, nuts, and flowers.

Terpenes evolved in plants like cannabis as both a defense mechanism (some terpene aromas put off animals that might eat them) and a way of attracting pollinators (the way the sweetness in flowers attracts bees).

What Are the Effects of Terpenes?

For a long time, researchers and cannabis users thought that terpenes only had one main purpose— to help cannabis products smell and taste nice. They certainly do that, creating the unique aromas that give individual strains their flavors. 

But more and more research is showing that terpenes interact with the other compounds in cannabis in powerful ways, going beyond just aromatherapy to actually produce medical benefits. When certain terpenes interact with each other, and with cannabinoids like THC or CBD, they can have amazing effects— ranging from increased pain relief to reduced inflammation, improved mood, and more.

How Terpenes Appear in Cannabis

When you read about a specific cannabis product, you might see the phrase ‘dominant terpene’ written somewhere in its product description. All this means is that this is the terpene that appears most abundantly in that product, and is most likely to have the greatest influence. That doesn’t mean it’s the only terpene present— many products contain several terpenes at once.

Most Popular Terpenes

Scientists have identified more than a hundred unique terpenes in cannabis plants, and more are being discovered on a regular basis. That said, there are many terpenes that show up a lot more often than others in a variety of different strains— and the products that end up on our shelves as a cannabis dispensary in Las Vegas. Here are some of the most common and popular terpenes, their aromatic profiles, and what they can do.

Myrcene

Myrcene is the most commonly found terpene in modern cannabis, and it’s not only found in the cannabis plant. It also appears in mango and thyme, as well as lemongrass. Some early research suggests that the aroma of myrcene can increase feelings of calm in the brain.

Caryophyllene

Caryophyllene is another common terpene with a very different aromatic profile— more peppery and earthy. Caryophyllene seems to help assist with reducing inflammation in some people.

Limonene

Light, citrusy, and refreshing, the limonene terpene is also found in lemon and orange rinds and can have stress-relief properties.

Pinene

While pinene isn’t the most common terpene in cannabis, it is the most common terpene in the world thanks to its presence in pine needles and herbs like basil and rosemary. As you might guess, it features a pine-like aroma that’s refreshing and earthy.

Terpinolene

Also found in some seeds and wildflowers, terpinolene appears to increase feelings of alertness and positivity.

At Green, we pride ourselves on being a Las Vegas cannabis dispensary that combines value and quality with a commitment to eco-friendly practices at every step of our supply chain. We’re also committed to educating our customers about what makes cannabis, well, cannabis! Keep following our blog to learn more in future posts.

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