But over the past 10 years, 18 U.S. states have legalized the sale and use of recreational cannabis (and nearly 40 have some form of medical marijuana). So, it’s just as likely that the “skunky” odor you smell driving through certain areas is coming from a new kind of source: a legal marijuana grow.

Do People Like Their Marijuana to Smell Like a Skunk?

Yes, the cannabis plant is known—and even celebrated—for its distinctive skunky odor. You can find references to the pungent smell in marijuana strain names like Skunkberry, White Super Skunk, and Thelonious Skunk. 

And you can find references to it in lyrics by famous cannabis enthusiasts like the rap trio Cypress Hill.

“Skunk” strains are celebrated for their relaxation-inducing mellow and heavy highs, which many people believe help with mood disorders and anxiety.

But what exactly causes your weed to smell like a skunk? Well, thanks to nearly a century of federal cannabis prohibition making most studies of the plant illegal, we don’t know for sure. But experts do have some ideas—and some of those theories involve one of beer’s most essential ingredients: hops.

Photo: skodonnell via gettyimages.com

The Theories

Terpenes: Terpenes are a relatively new area of focus for most cannabis companies and producers. Terpenes are natural compounds found mostly in plants. They, among other things, produce smells and affect pigment and coloration. And you could say they’re universal: The same terpenes that make a lemon smell like lemon are likely the same terpenes that make your Super Lemon Haze strain smell like a lemon.

There’s a growing understanding within the world of cannabis that the old indica-sativa way of thinking about the effects of the cannabis plant is flawed at best and inaccurate at worst. Instead, “The Entourage Effect” concept is picking up steam. The concept posits that a combination of cannabinoids (CBD, CBG, CBN, THC, etc.) and terpenes are really what cause the unique smell, look, and effect of each cannabis strain.

Another intoxicant that Americans love to consume and sometimes refer to as “skunky” (though usually not in a good way) is beer. And beer is full of hops, which are genetically related to the cannabis plant, falling in the same plant family, called Cannabaceae. 

Experts frequently point to one terpene, myrcene, as having a particularly skunky smell—and it’s found in certain cannabis strains in addition to hops.

“While not all strains with myrcene smell like skunks, it’s a common trait—and one that stoners have grown to love,” explained Herbert Fuego, the columnist for “Ask a Stoner,” a feature in Denver’s Westword alt-weekly.

But a growing body of scientific evidence is pointing to a different culprit.

Thiols: Thiols are alcohol-like chemical compounds, except with a sulfur atom in place of the oxygen atom. They’re also the primary cause of a skunk’s defensive stench, according to 1980s research referenced by Discover Magazine.

A 2001 study by the University of Northern Carolina and Belgium’s University of Gent found that 3-MBT, a thiol similar to one emitted by skunks, causes beer to get that skunky persona. That particular thiol was found in the hops used to make the beer.

Thomas H. Shellhammer, a professor of fermentation science at Oregon State University, told Discover that the minute a beer is exposed to ultraviolet light—like sunlight—a chemical reaction occurs that quickly creates the sulfury thiol.

“If you walk outside with a nice yellow beer like a pilsner on a summer day, the change is happening almost immediately,” Shellhammer told Discover.

And the thiol theory got some serious backing in a recent peer-reviewed study by California-based terpene research and production company Abstrax Tech.

Using a technology called 2-Dimensional gas chromatography (or 2DGC) the researchers found “key volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs)—organic compounds containing sulfur” and thiols as the primary cause of the skunky smell in cannabis, according to a press release announcing the findings. The study says these compounds are actually similar to VSCs found in garlic.

“I have suspected for years now that we were missing something in our understanding of this plant,” study co-author and cannabis industry veteran Josh Del Rosso said in the release. “Although terpenes have been hailed as the major source of the pungent scent of cannabis, we now know that it is this new class of VSCs.”

So whether it’s terpenes, thiols, key volatile sulfur compounds or something else yet to be discovered, the age-old question of, “Why does my weed smell like a skunk?” has a growing body of science to be explored.

Renew ‘Moonlight’ by Solei, CBN Vape Pen, Now Available Across Canada

TORONTO, March 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tilray Brands, Inc. (“Tilray” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TLRY; TSX: TLRY), a leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life, today announced the launch of Renew Moonlight a new CBN vape pen designed for nighttime use by wellness brand, Solei. Joining Solei’s award-winning portfolio of wellness products, this precisely formulated high-CBN vape pen with a potency of 4:1 THC and CBN is blended with citrus and herbal aromas.

“Solei products are designed to support daily wellness routines from day to night,” said Danielle Minard, Solei, Brand Manager. She continued, “Renew Moonlight is the perfect CBN product for consumers looking to ease into the night after a long day.”

Renew Moonlight, CBN vape pens by Solei are now available across Canada. For more information, visit www.Solei.ca and follow @SoleiCanada.

About Solei
Solei is a leading cannabis wellness brand inspired by the joy of discovery and embracing the brighter moments of life. Beloved by consumers for its carefully formulated products, Solei’s occasion-based offerings are curated to complement the familiar moments of everyday wellness routines. Available in a wide range of formats including best-selling CBD oils, THC aromatic vapes, and blended topicals. Solei makes it easy for anyone to choose a cannabis product for any occasion.

About Tilray Brands, Inc.
Tilray Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: TLRY and TSX: TLRY) is a leading global cannabis-lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company with operations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America that is changing people’s lives for the better – one person at a time – by inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life by providing them with products that meet the needs of their mind, body, and soul and invoke a sense of wellbeing. Tilray’s mission is to be the trusted partner for its patients and consumers by providing them with a cultivated experience and health and wellbeing through high-quality, differentiated brands and innovative products. A pioneer in cannabis research, cultivation, and distribution, Tilray’s unprecedented production platform supports over 20 brands in over 20 countries, including comprehensive cannabis offerings, hemp-based foods, and alcoholic beverages.

__________
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this communication that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (together, “forward-looking statements”) under Canadian securities laws and within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections and other applicable laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “forecast,” “future,” “should,” “could,” “enable,” “potential,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “project,” “will,” “would” and the negative of these terms or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Certain material factors, estimates, goals, projections or assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this communication. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, the Company’s ability to commercialize new and innovative products worldwide. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievement to be materially different from any forward-looking statements, and other risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that the Company deems immaterial could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements contained herein. For a more detailed discussion of these risks and other factors, see the most recently filed annual information form of Tilray and the Annual Report on Form 10-K (and other periodic reports filed with the SEC) of Tilray made with the SEC and available on EDGAR. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made as of the date of this communication and the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.

Contacts:
Tilray Global:
Jaydon Case
[email protected]

Investors
Raphael Gross
203-682-8253
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c75c1bb-ae1a-4814-a0a4-39726f1de557

This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.

About Ryan Allway

Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.