Terpenes 101: What Are They, and How Are They Reflavoring Cannabis?

Cannabis has an iconic and unmistakable smell: pungent and earthy

But depending on the terpene profile of a given strain, that earthiness could have notes of orange peel or pine, making it pair better with other ingredients in edibles. A favorite scent or flavor can steer consumers toward your brand of cannabis-infused tincture or balm, let alone flower strain, if only for the novelty.

So what are terpenes, what can they do to enhance cannabis naturally, and what do they mean for the future of cannabis production?

What are terpenes?

Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in the trichomes of female plants—on cannabis, they’re found in the sticky, frosted crystalline hairs found around the bud. 

Regardless of species, terpenes affect a plant’s characteristics, how the plant functions in its ecosystem, and even how it interacts with other plants or animals around them.

When plants use their pigmentation or aroma to attract pollinators, or create repellent toxins to defend against herbivores, they are putting their terpenes into action. Terpenes also act as a communication channel between plants.

Long story short, terpenes can do much more than flavor your favorite flower strain, edible, or balm. In fact, studies have shown that terpenes could be the missing link for customizing the health benefits that cannabis products have on their users.

How can cannabis terpenes affect health?

Distinguishing between cannabis products has always revolved around potency and strain. But by targeting specific terpenes and increasing their presence in cannabis, many biologists believe they can amplify the therapeutic benefits of marijuana consumption. This field of research is still new, but it opens up new possibilities not just for the sale of recreational cannabis but for the role it plays in the lives of patients.

Scientists have identified hundreds of terpenes present in cannabis, some that help reduce anxiety and fight depression, and others that are anti-inflammatory and antiviral. Moreover, increasing the presence of certain terpenes could counteract certain side effects of cannabis consumption. For example, in addition to fortifying memory, terpenes α-pinene and β-pinene have shown to lower the intoxicating psychoactive effects of THC, and β-myrcene can help prevent high-induced listlessness by boosting a user’s energy.

However cannabis growers, processors, or dispensaries reimagine their businesses in light of new terpene research, it’s clear that these chemical compounds are the future of customization in the industry.

High-density vertical grow systems for cannabis

High-density racking for vertical farming offers cannabis businesses the freedom to carve out space for terpene research and development without sacrificing the space they need for plants, processing, and more, not to mention capitalizing on space to grow.

For more information, contact your local Authorized Montel Distributor and ask about our free, no-obligation consultations, which include 2D and 3D renderings of what a vertical indoor farming system would look like at your dispensary or grow op.