Why does skunk smell like weed

The entourage effect — the synergy between cannabinoids and terpenes — suggests tremendous medical potential. So if your weed is particularly skunky, take heart. That fragrance signals powerful medicine ready to work alongside the cannabinoids you consume when you smoke, vape, or ingest weed. But why does cannabis medicine have such a uniquely… distinct smell? For example, roses smell like roses because of the terpene geraniol.

Apples smell like apples because of the terpene alpha-farnesene. Cannabis smells like cannabis because of its most abundant terpenes, including myrcene, limonene, and caryophyllene. Myrcene is associated with the following health benefits:. Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, and limes contain high concentrations of limonene. Scientists believe that limonene can provide the following therapeutic effects:. Well, I'm an urban wildlife kind of gal. I know we share our city with coyotes, opossums, even foxes.

Note to self, I thought: Find out and write story on why Chicago is being invaded by skunks. One day on the North Avenue bus, I found myself sitting amid particular pungency. They glanced at each other, then back at me. They seemed to be trying not to laugh. Not skunk? With that distinct smell?

They hesitated. Finally, one of them volunteered an answer, of sorts. Byers Vice President of Business Development Jim Rembusch said experts see large-scale cannabis producers attempt to use carbon systems to mitigate odor which would really only work on small-scale production.

There's this perception that if you just put some quote-unquote carbon scrubbers and that odor will go away. The recent discovery is the first step to solving the odor issue plaguing legalized states, Long said.

The compound researchers positively identified, 3-methylbutenethiol, or MBT, is believed to cause the skunky smell associated with marijuana. A thiol contains sulfur, which gives it its unique smell. The identified compound is one of roughly found in marijuana, over 60 of which are cannabinoids and cause drug-like effects when consumed.

The thiol component is also used to give natural gas its detectable "rotten egg" smell and is what causes a bottle of beer left in the sun to have a skunky smell, Koziel said. Beer's "skunky" odor comes from hops that are in the same plant family as cannabis and hemp, according to a Byers news release. MBT is also found in actual skunk oil taken from the anal glands of skunks. Positively identifying this compound opens up many possibilities for mitigation, Koziel said, including using genetics to breed cannabis with less MBT or finding a chemical, biological or physical way to remove the compound.

Only use turpentine with good ventilation. Could the same effect be happening with cannabis? The DNA Genetics customer service rep, consulting with company researchers, agrees that terpenes alone are responsible, not thiols like those found in actual skunks.

We believe the animal stench is based around sulfur and the strain is based around these terpenes. In California, when some growers installed an odor neutralization system specially designed to counteract the terpenes in cannabis, some neighbors sued , the local Coastal View newspaper reports. Register or Log In. The Magazine Shop. Login Register Stay Curious Subscribe. Planet Earth.

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