The majority of the people have terpenes every time they add herbs to a pasta or a salad, have some chamomile tea, or apply essential oils. In short, terpenes are around us on a daily basis. So, now you might be wondering, are terpenes legal?
Terpenes are legal, to put it briefly. The victories won in the struggle for cannabis legalization have also increased their popularity. Terpenes occur naturally in plants and animals as a chemical compound. This organic aromatic hydrocarbon molecule is the primary component of plant resins as well as essential oils.
We’ll define what is terpenes and explain their significance in cannabis’ chemical makeup in the following paragraphs.
Are Terpenes Legal?
Since terpenes do not contain any THC, they are completely legal in the USA. Cannabinoids and their molecular structure have no connection other than that they come from the same plant (Cannabis sativa).
Terpenes are abundant in plant life and can be found in a wide variety of herbs, including lavender, tea tree, nutmeg, and many more.
It is perfectly lawful in the United States to use terpene extracts as long as they do not include any THC. Terpenes are treated more like a dietary additive than a cannabis extract and are subject to food supplement regulations rather than those governing cannabis extracts.
What is A Terpene, Exactly?
Terpenes are responsible for the distinct aroma and flavor of cannabis. You can think of them as a subset of the larger group of aromatic organic hydrocarbons (compounds consisting of simply hydrogen and carbon).
Terpenes are created when the cannabis plant is allowed to develop in sunlight. They originate from the secretory cells found inside the glandular trichomes. “Trichomes” are the “hairs” on cannabis buds, as those in the cannabis business commonly know them.
Terpenes Linalool, Myrcene, and Pinene account for most of the aroma of lavender. Limonene is the primary component of the orange peel aroma, along with trace amounts of Pinene, Cymene, Terpinene, and Myrcene.
Terpene research suggests aromatherapy may have therapeutic value, despite long-standing skepticism from the modern public.
History of Terpenes
Terpenes have been utilized by humans for thousands of years. These chemicals, often called essential oils, are produced by a wide range of organisms, including plants.
Terpenes have many functions, including protecting the organism, attracting mates, communicating with others, reducing competition for resources, and possibly even causing rain. That is why the answer to “are terpenes legal?” is a big yes.
These chemicals have multiple functions for human beings. Terpenes’ aroma is the first thing that catches the human nose. They’re to blame for the pleasant aromas of flowers and trees as well as the unpleasant ones given off by some insects and plants. Essential oils like these have been utilized by aromatherapists for diverse purposes since before 3500 BCE.
Terpene is a term coined by scientists in 1866; it comes from the Greek word for the terebinth tree. The terpene content of the resins produced by this tree is through the roof. All around the Middle East, people were using these resins. Initially, terpenes’ aromatic properties drew scientists’ attention, but recent research suggests they may also have useful outcomes for people.
Where Do Terpene Extracts Come From
You probably already know that they are a staple in your diet?
Consider beta-carotene, the carrot-colored terpene which our bodies convert into essential vitamin A. Terpenes are responsible for the aroma of most plants. Examine your tea bag even if you don’t have any blooms. Most of the flavor in a cup of tea comes from terpenes.
That said, it’s a different story when it comes to using terpenes undiluted while wondering are cannabis terpenes legal. In their concentrated form, terpenes may help a wide variety of body processes. Lavender oil, which contains a lot of the compound linalool, may be able to speed up the healing process, according to a new study.
Cannabis-Derived Terpenes
Certain terpenes, which are found in cannabis, are abundant. The most common terpenes in cannabis are Myrcene, Linalool, Caryophyllene, Limonene, and Pinene. The “terpene profile,” which is the sum of the plant’s terpenes, is used by growers to identify and label each strain.
Non-Cannabis Derived Terpenes (Botanical Terpenes)
Terpenes are found in every plant, as we mentioned before. That makes them simple to locate, and businesses can employ a wide range of methods to extract them. Most people agree that the safest way to get what you need without using chemicals is to employ steam or hydro-distillation.
What Do People Use Terpenes For?
Everyone uses terpenes, even if they don’t realize it. Some examples of where you might encounter natural and artificial terpenes are listed below:
1. Daily Cleaning ProductsMost commercially available cleansers contain terpenes and are citrus-based cleaners. There are many different kinds of cleaning products on the market today; some examples are Lemon Pledge, Angry Orange, and many more.
To help consumers prevent the corrosion that can come with these powerful cleaners, the United States Department of Agriculture has issued a Tech Tips page on them.
Cleaners like Pine-Sol (pinene), various personal care products (linalool), and the products for cleaning carpets all include terpenes (limonene). Cleaning with terpenes requires caution, as these compounds are flammable, but here, you do not need to worry about are terpenes legal or not!
2. Common Body Products
Terpenes are found in many different kinds of personal care products. One of the most well-liked, linalool is often included in after-shaving products because of its purported ability to speed up the healing process of cuts.
Lavender soaps are popular, and if they are perfumed with essential oils, that means they include copious amounts of linalool and the other terpenes listed above (not fragrance oils). A bar of soap containing an essential oil will include terpenes.
Essential oils are very much different from the typical fragrance oils. Terpenes are found in all plant-based oils, including essential oils. However, fragrant oils are not always terpenes.
3. CBD & Other Cannabis Extract Formulas
Terpenes are frequently used to improve the efficacy and taste of other dietary additives. This is notably prevalent in the cannabis industry, where it is used for a wide variety of products.
Terpenes can be combined to mimic the smell of your favorite cannabis strains. The Grape Ape strain is rich in the terpenes myrcene and beta-caryophyllene, whereas the Green Crack strain is rich in the terpenes limonene and beta-pinene.
We can reproduce the aroma of well-liked cannabis strains by combining the terpenes that are unique to each kind. This eliminates the need to use marijuana flowers in production, making it ideal for flavoring vape pens and CBD tinctures.
What Are The Benefits of Terpenes?
Let’s talk about the most widely-used terpenes and their advantages of each:
Ocimene
Ocimene’s scent is sweet and herbaceous with touches of citrus and wood. Flowers from the Citrus Unshiu plant have anti-inflammatory qualities, according to a 2014 study.
Results showed that Ocimene accounted for around 6% of the plant’s total chemical makeup. Another study discovered that the ocimene in black pepper helps control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
2. Myrcene
Aromatherapists may suggest trying myrcene-rich essential oils. Cannabis, hops, and mangoes have been studied for their potential sedative outcomes, and the results have been promising. Additionally, Myrcene has been credited with an anti-inflammatory effect, antibacterial characteristics, and the ability to prevent mutations on some accounts.
3. Linalool
Lavender is just one of several plants that contain this pleasant terpene. The average person probably consumes around a thousandth of an ounce of it yearly through their meals. Aromatherapy utilizes anti-inflammatory, analgesic, stress-relieving, mosquito-repellent, moderate sedative, and anti-epileptic essential oils.
4. Terpinolene
Terpinolene has a multifaceted scent that combines floral, woody, and citrusy notes. The sedative outcomes of this terpene are speculated to be mild. Inhaling Terpinolene causes drowsiness in animals, according to a study done in 2013. Some studies have shown that Terpinolene is effective at keeping pesky insects like mosquitoes at bay.
5. Caryophyllene
Black pepper, basil, oregano, and cinnamon all contain caryophyllene, which has a woodsy and spicy scent. Possible anti-inflammatory properties of beta-caryophyllene in illnesses like arthritis. Researchers observed that caryophyllene at a certain dosage of healthy rats reduced lymph node enlargement.
A study conducted in 2016 found that beta-caryophyllene inhibited the development and metastasis of cancer cells. Further, it boosted the efficiency of cancer treatments.
Detailed Summary – Are Terpenes Legal or Not?
In the United States and around the world, terpenes have zero legal ramifications. So, now you know whether are terpenes legal or not, right? These days, you can buy anything from fruit to hemp terpenes, and both are frequently integrated into commercial products, therapeutic cures, and health supplements.
When it comes to their qualities, pure terpenes from different plants are essentially interchangeable as long as they are 100 percent pure. It’s strange that some parts of the cannabis plant are legal while others aren’t.
Terpenes and the benefits they produce are fascinating even if you don’t live in a place where cannabis is legal. More research is needed, as is the case with each innovation in the scientific infrastructure. If these molecules are indeed effective in healing, then it would be a betrayal of science to ignore them.
