By Sakai Dannin
Several decades ago, scientists first discovered that cannabis contains something called myrcene. Terpenes are, quite obviously, produced by nature’s very common plants. They aren’t endemic to cannabis, either, although many other plants, fruits, mushrooms, and herbs contain similar terpenes. Terpenes perform a range of roles: they help pollinate plants, they create the aroma that makes pot smell and taste delicious, they repel unwanted animal intrusion, and they even make pot taste and look delicious. Let me take a moment to explain how myrcene works in cannabis.
When myrcene and THC are blended with an acidic food source, such as vinegar, it is converted into terpenoids. Terpenoids provide health benefits for your body and mind, because they act as antioxidants. They scavenge free radicals and other toxins that can threaten your health. In other words, they go after the “bad guys” and help you out. Since I know many of you are still confused about all this, let me simplify. Some of the most common ingredients in cannabis include: THC, CBD, CBG, G CBD, O THC, and others.
Terpinen-4-ol: This is one of the myrcene components found in cannabis. It plays a vital role in the psychoactive properties of cannabis. It acts as a strong inhibitor of the psychoactive ingredient, THC, by preventing the re-absorption into the blood stream. Other myrcene’s in cannabis include: geraniol, linalol, limonene, thujone, and their metabolite, methylcannic acid (which has a very unpleasant odor and taste). If you grow your own cannabis, then you know how tough it is to get your plant extract to become concentrated enough to use for cooking. Most myrcene are filtered out during the heating process.
G Cannabidiol: This is another myrcene in cannabis. It also inhibits the psychoactive substance in THC. However, G Cannabidiol doesn’t cause the same type of “high” or “high like effects” that THC does. It is often listed separately from Cannabidiol and is often used in conjunction with G CBD for treating certain symptoms of depression. Some people report great results using this combination.
Terpinen-4-ol and THC are the two most commonly found myrcene’s in cannabis. However, there are some newer varieties that have been created through genetic engineering. The Cannabidiol which is located in the “progeon” part of the plant, is considered much safer than its counterpart, terpinen-4-ol. The newer strains are also believed to produce fewer side effects compared to the older varieties.
