Mossy Hits

Myrcene at a Glance

• Aroma: Earthy, cloves, herbal
• Found in: Cannabis, hops, mangoes, lemongrass and more…
• Potential Effects: Sedative, anti-inflammatory, pain relief, anti- anxiety

Digging Deeper

Myrcene is one of the most abundant terpenes in cannabis, sometimes making up more than half of a strain’s terpene profile. If you’ve ever noticed that earthy, herbal and slightly spicy taste in your bud, there’s a good chance myrcene is the culprit.

But myrcene isn’t just in cannabis – it’s also found in hops, mangoes and lemongrass which explains why its aroma can remind people of beer, fresh fruit or herbs.

What the research says

Scientists have long suspected that myrcene does more than just shape aroma and taste. Some studies suggest that it can regulate how well THC binds to the CB1 receptor, which may enhance pain-relieving effects. Others suggest that myrcene lowers resistance across the blood-brain barrier, potentially allowing cannabinoids to pass through more easily and altering the over all effects.

However, research on terpene pharmacology is still developing and not all findings agree. A growing number of studies indicate that cannabis-derived myrcene might not directly activate CB1 or CB2 receptors at all. Importantly, these studies only examined one articular signalling pathway, leaving the possibility open that myrcene acts through other, less obvious mechanisms and pathways. This is the ongoing debate around the so-called “entourage effect” – the idea that terpenes and cannabinoids work together synergistically in ways science hasn’t fully unraveled yet. While definitive answers are still lacking, it’s clear myrcene is more than just a background note in cannabis chemistry.

Reference: β-Myrcene: a review of its pharmacological activity

Fun Fact:

There’s a popular bit off cannabis culture lore known as the “mango trick”. The idea is that eating a ripe mango before using cannabis intensifies the high, thanks to the fruits natural myrcene content. The science behind it hasn’t been confirmed but it’s a great example of how cannabis culture blends anecdotal wisdom with emerging research.