What Does Pinene Mean?
Pinene is a common terpene found in cannabis. It is estimated that cannabis contains approximately 200 terpenes. The terpenes are usually categorized as major or minor.
Pinene is considered a major terpene. It produces a distinctive pine-like aroma. The cannabis plant’s trichomes naturally excrete the pinene terpene as an oil-like substance. It is believed that the pinene terpenes' strong odor and taste help protect the plant from being consumed by herbivores and insect pests.
Pinene is not just found in marijuana; conifers, oranges, rosemary, dill, parsley, and basil also secrete pinene.
Maximum Yield Explains Pinene
Not all strains of cannabis contain the same amounts of pinene terpenes. In cannabis, there are two types of pinene commonly found: alpha and beta.
The alpha pinene gives the cannabis a pine or rosemary fragrance and the beta makes it smell more like hops, dill, or basil. Many factors affect the levels found in the marijuana, such as what growing medium the plant was grown within, its flowering time, and the overall curing process.
Also, many strains have the genetic capability of producing high levels or pinene or low levels. Generally, if the cannabis smells like pine, the chances are very good it contains moderate to high levels of pinene. The more intense the pine fragrance, the greater amount of pinene terpenes the plant contains.
Researchers believe that pinene might be effective at treating asthma, paranoia, and inflammation that is found in disorders such as Crohn’s. It is also believed to help heighten alertness and concentration. Cannabis that contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) often affects short-term memory, but pinene appears to counteract the THC.
