Alpha-pinene

Alpha-pinene is a pine-scented terpene found in conifer needles, rosemary, and many cannabis and hemp varieties.

Terpenes are the volatile compounds that give plants their aroma, and alpha-pinene is one of the most abundant in nature. In hemp, it is produced in the same glandular trichomes that make cannabinoids, so it often appears alongside CBD in whole-plant extracts. On a certificate of analysis, it is usually listed in the terpene panel as a percentage or in milligrams per gram.

Alpha-pinene is not a cannabinoid and does not bind cannabinoid receptors in the way THC does; its presence mainly shapes scent and flavor. Claims that it changes what CBD does in the body come from preclinical work, and clinical evidence in people or animals is limited. Pet owners may see it listed on hemp products marketed for dogs or cats; a veterinarian is the right source for questions about any ingredient and an animal's health.