The cannabis plant consists of a wide variety of chemicals and compounds. About 140 of these belong to a large class of aromatic organic hydrocarbons known as terpenes (pronounced tur-peens).

Terpenes have been found to be essential building blocks of complex plant hormones and molecules, pigments, sterols, and cannabinoids. Terpenes are responsible for the pleasant, or not so pleasant, aromas of cannabis and the physiological effects associated with them. Although not permitted in Pennsylvania, patients will often ask to smell the cannabis when selecting their medicine. The idea is that certain aromas help identify different strains and their effects. Strains with relatively high concentrations of specific terpenes are easier to identify by their smell.

For example, the smell of musk or of clove is detected when there is a high level of the terpene myrcene. A piney smell is usually indicative of a high level of the terpene pinene and a lemony smell indicates a high level of the terpene limonene. Our online menu provides the terpene content, if available, of each product which may vary by batch and grower even for the same strain.