Terpene Profile: Myrcene

Looking to gain a new appreciation for cannabis? Look no further than terpenes. These fragrant, flavorful compounds give your fave strains their desirable qualities, but also alter the end effects. The most common terpene in cannabis? Myrcene. And, this terpene is well worth a closer look if you want a better understanding of why some strains make you feel a certain way. Check out more about myrcene below.

What is myrcene?

Myrcene is a terpene, which is an aromatic compound found in multiple plants throughout the natural environment. While myrcene is the most dominant terpene found in cannabis, this particular terpene is easily found in other plants, such as:

• Hops
• Lemongrass
• Mango
• Thyme

Myrcene is so prevalent in cannabis that it actually represents more than 20 percent of the total terpene content in most strains you can find today. In fact, myrcene is the dominant strain in nearly half of any flower you pick up at a dispensary.

Myrcene Effects

Myrcene brings a lot to the cannabis experience, and, the fact that there can be so much in a standard strain means you have likely experienced its effects. Take a look at a few of the known properties of the myrcene terpene.

Sedating

Myrcene is most widely known for its sedating effects. For many years, people have used plants and herbal concoctions that contain myrcene to help with sleep. A lot of anecdotal reports claim that weed high in myrcene is more likely to cause that telltale “couch-locked” effect as well.

Pain-Relieving

Myrcene may have anti-inflammatory properties, which means it could have therapeutic value when it comes to targeting pain. The topic has not been extensively studied, but animal studies found that topical myrcene helped arthritic pain in rats just as good alone as it did with CBD (cannabidiol) from cannabis.

Stress-Calming

Cannabis Products High in Myrcene

If you want to try myrcene for yourself, the best product to reach for is flower. Certain cannabis strains are extremely high in myrcene. You may also find high myrcene content in products made from these strains, such as live resin carts or certain concentrates that are made without degrading the terpenes. A few forerunners in weed when it comes to high myrcene concentrations include:

• Blue Dream
• Grandaddy Purple
• 9 Pound Hammer
• Royal Kush
• Grape Ape
• Tangie
• Harlequin
• Remedy

It is important to note, even though the general assumption is that Indica strains tend to have higher myrcene levels, this actually is not the case. You will actually find similar levels of myrcene across all types of cannabis, including Sativa, hybrids, and Indicas.

Find Terpene-Rich Strains at Astral Market

Myrcene is just one of many terpenes to appreciate in cannabis, but can be the easiest to find. Ready to experience terpene-rich flower and cannabis products? Be sure to take a look at the premium collection at Astral Market by checking out our menu.