In the wonderful world of cannabis, there are hundreds (if not thousands) of industry terms—and, honestly, it’s hard for even professionals to keep it all straight.

If you’re a CBD lover, you might not think that there is any reason to dive deeper into the science behind the plant. But, if you’re anything like us, you’d probably love to understand exactly how and what makes our friend CBD so dang powerful. 

Today we’re talking about trichomes; a tiny-but-oh-so-vital part of the cannabis plant. 

(We’re specifically talking about cannabis trichomes today, but many other species of plants, lichens, and algae have trichomes as well! 🌱)

What Do Trichomes Do?

Trichomes are the best line of defense for vulnerable cannabis plants. When female cannabis plants—growing in the wild—start producing buds, they become much more susceptible to predators and weather.

In order to protect itself from danger (animals, insects, fungi, harsh climate...) the maturing cannabis plant covers itself in thick, goopy layers of trichomes. The strong smell and bitter taste keeps any lurking prey away, and the sticky resin acts as a sort of sunscreen, protecting it from the sun’s UV rays as well as any sudden changes in the climate.

Cannabis trichomes also create, and store, terpenes (like pinene, limonene, and myrcene) and cannabinoids (like CBD, THC, CBN, and CBG) in their mushroom-shaped extremities. More trichomes means more cannabinoids and terpenes. More cannabinoids and terpenes means you’ll reap more benefits of whole-plant CBD.

Trichomes take small but mighty to a whole other level.

Before You Go...

If you take CBD on the regular, you might not realize all of the crazy science that goes into your beautiful bottle of CBD. But, understanding all the complexities of cannabis is not only fun but important. As with any product that you put in your body, it’s important to know how it’s made, what goes into it, and what it does. CBD is no exception!

The cannabis plant relies on trichomes for reinforcement and support—and sometimes us women need a little extra help, too.

Selene was created to empower you to take control of your health by utilizing plant-based solutions like CBD.

We’re here for you.

If you're just starting out on your CBD journey, head over to the blog for more info. If you still have a few questions, or you would like to share your own experience with CBD, feel free to contact us here, or send us a message over on our Instagram page.