What compounds are responsible for giving cannabis also called Cannabis sativa L. (C. sativa L.) its unique flavor and smell? This is what a recent study published in Molecules hopes to address as an international team of researchers investigated the chemical and farming processes that result in the compounds that give cannabis its flavor and smell. This study has the potential to help cannabis farmers develop new techniques for increasing cannabis plant diversity and quality.
For the study, the researchers conducted a literature review regarding cannabis flavor and smell, including biochemistry and genetic regulation, influencing strategies, compound stability, and flavor profiling. The goal of the study was to ascertain the specific cannabis compounds responsible for the plant’s flavor and smell, along with the pros and cons of enhancing cannabis flavor and smell through modified farming and growth techniques.
In the end, the researchers found that the compounds responsible for cannabis flavor and smell is influenced by several environmental factors, including heat, oxygen, light, and humidity. The researchers suggest strategies for long-term preservation of cannabis plants to ensure their flavor and smell maintain their strength.
The study concludes, “The aroma and flavor of C. sativa L. are defining features that contribute to its identity, appeal, and potential therapeutic effects. By integrating findings from related plants such as hops, and leveraging tools such as flavor wheels, the cannabis industry can develop standardized approaches to sensory characterization. These efforts will not only enhance consumer understanding and satisfaction, but also support innovation in breeding, cultivation, and processing.”
This study comes as the cannabis industry is estimated to have contributed approximately $115.2 billion to the US economy in 2024 and the cannabis industry is estimated to reach $45 billion in 2025.
What new discoveries about cannabis flavor and smell will researchers make in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!
Sources: Molecules, Marijuana Moment, Flowhub