Monoterpene

Pinene (Alpha-Pinene)

Pinene is the most widely distributed terpenoid in nature and a common cannabis terpene with a sharp pine-needle aroma. It is associated with mental clarity, focus, and bronchodilation. Pinene-rich strains tend to be more cerebral and less foggy than myrcene-dominant cultivars.

Aroma

Pine needles, forest floor, sharp

Boiling point

156°C / 313°F

Associated effects

alertness, focus, bronchodilation

Also found in

pine needles, rosemary, basil, dill

Pinene exists in two isomers — alpha-pinene and beta-pinene — both of which are widely present in cannabis at modest concentrations. The sharp pine aroma is foundational in classic cultivars like Northern Lights and most modern sativa-leaning hybrids. Pinene is structurally interesting because it is a bronchodilator, which counterintuitively means smoking cannabis containing significant pinene can open airways rather than constrict them — though the smoke itself remains an irritant. Pinene is also one of the more researched terpenes for its alertness-promoting and memory-protective effects.