The terpenes in marijuana give the plant it’s exquisite and unique smells that vary by strain. They are also responsible for some medicinal effects and many old world herbal remedies take advantage of the therapeutic effects of these chemicals. One of the most abundant terpenes in marijuana, and indeed the world, is Pinene. This chemical is pumped into the atmosphere by millions of coniferous plants per day, and of course the marijuana plant.

If you have ever cupped a bud in your hand and inhaled deeply (I know you have) and felt like you’ve been transported into a young pine grove dripping with sap, that was pinene. It comes in two forms, both of which are found in cannabis, but alpha-pinene is found in larger concentrations than beta-pinene.

Some Medicinal Benefits

Smell is not everything though, especially not when it comes to marijuana. Most smokers would prefer an effective strain to an aromatic one. Although little medical research on this chemical has been done, it has been shown to be a bronchiodilator, and have anti-inflammatory action. This chemical is used in the body as a precursor for some CB2 ligands, which means ingesting it plays a role in immune function.

For those who like to poke at marijuana’s effect on the memory, pinene has been shown to increase memory function. It does so by being a direct inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Plant strains bred with higher concentrations of pinene are likely more viable for day time use since it reverses some of the negative effects of marijuana on learning.

Other Implications

Aside from playing a role in marijuana’s effect on the body, Pinene also has a role in the atmosphere. Every second millions of copies of this chemical are being created by plants and promptly evaporating into the atmosphere. Once there, this atmospheric organic aerosol plays a role cloud condensation, general atmospheric chemistry, and a process called radiative forcing, which is a measure of the amount of sunlight absorbed by the atmosphere compared to the amount reflected back to space.

Like most terpenes, Pinene has big implications and will be further studied in the future. There is a revolution in our understanding of the contents and consequences of the essential oils of plants, which is largely being fueled by the success of marijuana research. Who knows what benefits might be waiting in our herb and vegetable gardens to be condensed into oils and used for natural therapies.