Why does cannabis smell so skunky? #shorts #science #SciShow

Hosted by: Hank Green (he/him)

Lucas Principe: Writer
Rachel Garner: Fact Checker
Amy Peterson: Script Editor
Stefan Chin: Editor
Savannah Geary: Associate Producer
Daniel Comiskey: Editorial Director
Sarah Suta: Producer
Caitlin Hofmeister: Executive Producer
Hank Green: Executive Producer

Sources:

Images:

[ameliasprague]

People that are around the smell a lot don't think it smells like skunk, but if you don't smell it often that skunky smell hits you hard.

[royrogers]

My mom always told me as a kid that there were skunks in the neighborhood. I was so innocent.

[yungmalaria]

Smelling a skunk from a distance isn’t the same as when your dog gets into the house after being skunked. That is a smell you will never forget.

[robmueller]

One of my all time favorite memories is when my brother and I just had a jar of fresh bud open in our room and our mom walked by and was like “it smells like weed in here!” And my high brother was like “yeah…there must have been a skunk in the neighborhood recently” and she totally bought it.

[kphelps]

This is why I don't let my skunk smoke in the house.

[dharmafuller]

Here in New Mexico, the skunky smell is also associated with roasting green chilis. It smells so much like pot!

[tkayeyeless]

Hank Green talking about dank green is the best thing i’ve heard today

[Jjsupermman]

I remember I was outside in the front yard with my dad who said “ agh why does it smell like skunk over here” I said dad that isn’t skunk it’s the neighbors weed. Boy was he confused and concerned how I knew the smell. The good ole days 😂

[anyascelticcreations]

Crazy coincidence! Just today I had my front door open for some fresh air. I smelled those familiar sulphur compounds and expected to see the cute little guy waddling by. And then I realized that it was far more likely that one of my neighbors had just broken out a new bud or two.

That started me wondering again why they smell so similar. Thanks Scishow!

[samwill]

Do not try to smoke a skunk.
The poor thing doesn't like it and you'd probably get in trouble with animal control

[aliciaocejo]

First time i smelled a skunk was my "i finally get it" moment

[thomasfoolery]

Thank you for being you! Nice stepping outside of the box- Happy New Years to you and yours!
Be Safe Sir - ThomasFoolery

[iancowles]

As a professional grower for a major southern Oregon sulfuric acid is used for making the soil pH more acidic. The slightly acidic soil allows a lot of those vascular structures to open up and allow more nutrients into the plant and flowers... it’s a major component in the entire growing process and only gets flushed out a few weeks before harvesting but it leaves a lot of the other “terps” in the plant compared to the skunk smell. It does all smell like skunk no matter what but if you can lower that VSC prior to harvest it’s more of the other terpenes left behind that whatever strain you’re harvesting produces

[ahobimo]

I'm cracking up picturing the hundreds of stoners that are gonna try to explain this to their friends while they're high af.

[Newcoalition]

Thats crazy because as an avid weed smoker the “skunky” smell really did develop into specific woodsy, citrusy, floral smells. Skunk is definitely a lot more pungent and it’s easy for me to differentiate weed and skunk.

[rickwilliams]

Interesting fact: cannabis and hops are somewhat closely related. They even kinda have similar characteristics. Now I kinda want a joint and a beer, then something with an aioli for a snack.

[praiseboognish]

It’s the same thing with light-struck (skunked) beer. There’s a reaction between the sunlight and the hop oils that create the same compound.

[klutterkicker]

I first read that as why do cannibals smell so skunky.

[EDG]

It’s a defense mechanism by the plant itself. It releases this dank ass smell so that animals won’t be attracted to it.

[DippyDooDa]

Full marks for working this out. Credit to you and where due.