MUR-seen
The most abundant cannabis terpene. Earthy, musky, sedating — the reason indicas make you sleepy.
Myrcene is the most common terpene in cannabis, often comprising over 50% of a strain's terpene profile. It produces earthy, musky aromas and is primarily responsible for the sedating "couch-lock" effect associated with indica strains.
Myrcene (beta-myrcene) is the single most abundant terpene in modern cannabis cultivars, found in concentrations ranging from trace amounts to over 65% of total terpene content. Its dominance in the terpene profile is a key reason why terpene testing has become essential for understanding a strain's effects.
The terpene produces a distinctive earthy, musky aroma reminiscent of cloves and ripe mangoes. It is also found abundantly in hops (giving beer its characteristic aroma), lemongrass, thyme, and bay leaves — making it one of the most widely consumed terpenes in the human diet.
Myrcene's most significant pharmacological property is its ability to increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, potentially enhancing the uptake of THC and other cannabinoids into the brain. This is the scientific basis for the popular claim that eating a ripe mango before consuming cannabis intensifies effects.
Research has demonstrated myrcene's sedating, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. It acts as a muscle relaxant and potentiates the effects of barbiturates and other sedatives in animal models — explaining the "couch-lock" phenomenon associated with high-myrcene strains.
To maximize Myrcene in your vapor, set your vaporizer to just above its boiling point:
Lower temperatures preserve more terpenes; higher temperatures extract more cannabinoids.
Full-spectrum products preserve Myrcene and all other terpenes alongside cannabinoids for the complete entourage effect. Our editorial team's top picks:
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Editorial Disclosure: These brands are selected by our editorial team based on independent staff testing, lab result analysis, and 7 years of annual awards data. We do not accept payment for editorial placement. See our Annual Awards methodology for full details.