All About Lemon Skunk

Lemon Skunk is a popular, award winning cannabis strain, but is it right for you? At Green Nexus, we believe in empowering our customers to take charge of their wellness needs and make informed decisions by providing in-depth profiles of each strain we carry. Discover growing information about Lemon Skunk, genetic details, and the science behind how it affects your endocannabinoid system. 

Growing Lemon Skunk 

Green House Seed Company’s Lemon Skunk is the child of Citron Skunk and Skunk #1 and is a hardy strain that is resistant to mold and fungus, making it easy to grow and good for beginners. This variety does need ample space, whether you’re growing indoors or outdoors because it can reach heights above six feet tall and grows long, dense branches that feature deep green leaves and large, conical buds.

Lemon Skunk reaches a flowering stage at around eight to nine weeks and is generally a solid producer, with average yields between 500 and 600 grams per square meter.  

How Does Lemon Skunk Interact with the Endocannabinoid System?

Cannabis can assist with a variety of symptoms and conditions, including stress, chronic pain, inflammation, nausea, and worry. This is because the phytocannabinoids and terpenes affect the endcannabinoid system (ECS).

Understanding the Endocannabinoid System

The ECS is a cell-signaling network within the nervous system (Lu, Mackie; 2016) that stimulates responses in the body related to a wide variety of functions (Zou, Kumar; 2018), including:    

• Appetite
• Sleep
• Mood
• Immune response
• Inflammatory response
• Pain response
• Nausea and vomiting response
• Memory 

Three specific components make up the ECS: 

1. Endocannabinoids are neurotransmitters and are produced within the body to send signals between nerve cells to let the brain know when the body needs something. For example, when the body is fatigued, the neurotransmitters will send signals to the brain to feel fatigue in order to fall asleep. 
2. Endocannabinoid receptors receive the signals when the endocannabinoids bind to the surface of the nerve cells. There are two types of receptors: 
   1. CB1 receptors bind to the cells in the central nervous system and respond to things like appetite, fatigue, and mood. 
   2. CB2 receptors bind to cells in the peripheral nervous system to signal an immune or inflammatory response within the body. 
3. Enzymes are needed to break down endocannabinoids when they are no longer necessary. 

Phytocannabinoids and Lemon Skunk

By knowing how the ECS functions, it’s easier to understand how cannabis triggers a physical and psychological response. Both cannabis L. short photoperiod plant and cannabis L. long photoperiod plant contain phytocannabinoids, which have a similar structure to the endocannabinoids produced by the body. The two phytocannabinoids that create the greatest effect on the ECS are tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. 

• Tetrahydrocannabinol (Potency) binds to endocannabinoid receptors. The receptors treat these signals received as those sent by the body, which is why Potency increases the appetite, elevates the mood, and can relieve pain and nausea.  
• Cannabidiol (CBD) has not been found to bind to CB1 receptors, so there isn’t a psychoactive response (Laprairie, Bagher, et al. 2015). Instead, CBD works to prevent endocannabinoids created by the body from breaking down, extending natural pain relief, relaxation, and other responses the endocannabinoids signal. 

Thus, strains with a high percent of Potency will be more likely to cause a stronger psychoactive response and make the user feel high. Strains with a high percent of CBD and no Potency can support pain relief and relaxation without a psychoactive effect. Lemon Skunk contains about 19 percent Potency and 0.25% CBD, making it quite potent with minimal effects from CBD. 

Potency:  19.12%  CBD:  0.23%   CBN:  0.75%  

The Terpene Profile of Lemon Skunk

The aroma of a plant is caused by terpenes, or chemical compounds that lend a variety of scents. These terpenes can boost the effects of the cannabis on the endocannabinoid system, without being psychoactive. The terpene profile of Lemon Skunk is made up of: 

• Caryophyllene: A sharp, spicy scent that’s also found in black pepper, cinnamon, and clove. This terpene can increase relaxation and reduce inflammation in the body (Scandiffio, Geddo, Cottone, et al. 2020).  
• Limonene: A lemony, citrus scent found in fruit peels. This terpene triggers serotonin release and can improve the mood (Eddin et al. 2021)
• Myrcene: An earthy, herbal scent contributing to the “skunk” aroma, myrcene is found in basil and hops and offers  anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, and pain relieving properties (Surendran, Qassadi, Lilley, 2021). 

The terpene profile of Lemon Skunk provides a tart, lemony aroma with a familiar herbal “skunk” scent. The smoke flavor carries many of those same lemony, citrusy notes with earthy undertones.    

Type of Strain: Short Photoperiod Plant vs Long Photoperiod Plant

There are two types of cannabis primarily used for psychoactive and physical effects: cannabis L. short photoperiod plant and cannabis L. long photoperiod plant. Short Photoperiod Plants are primarily known for the intense, deep relaxation in conjunction with euphoria. Long Photoperiod Plants tend to provide a more energizing, cerebral type of high where creativity and motivation are elevated. Lemon Skunk is a 50/50 combination between short and long photoperiod plant of short photoperiod plant and long photoperiod plant, and thus the effects of both are often experienced in this long-lasting  blend. 

The Physical and Psychoactive Effects of Lemon Skunk 

In addition to considering the terpene profile, genetic makeup, and Potency content, we also talked to users of Lemon Skunk to get their feedback on what can be expected when using this strain. The most common effects include:

• A “creeping” high that starts slow and builds into a long-lasting experience. 
• Begins as an energizing, mentally stimulating experience that then transitions to deep physical relaxation.
• Excellent for relaxing and easing stress, worry, and anxiety.
• Promotes happy, uplifted feelings.
• Increased appetite

Purchase Lemon Skunk Seeds Today 

If you feel Lemon Skunk is the right cannabis cultivar to help you achieve your wellness goals, order your seeds today.  To learn more about this variety or other varieties, reach out to our customer service team today at [phone]. 

How Does Lemon Skunk Compare to Great White Shark Cannabis Strain?

Lemon Skunk and Great White Shark cannabis strain are both popular choices among cannabis enthusiasts. While Lemon Skunk offers a refreshing citrus aroma and energetic, uplifting effects, Great White Shark cannabis strain is known for its potent body buzz and sweet, earthy flavor. Each strain offers its own unique experience for consumers.

Author

Mo Smyth, BSN, RN Cannabis Nurse Educator

References

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Laprairie RB, Bagher AM, Kelly ME, Denovan-Wright EM. Cannabidiol is a negative allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor. Br J Pharmacol. 2015;172(20):4790-4805. doi:10.1111/bph.13250

Lu HC, Mackie K. An Introduction to the Endogenous Cannabinoid System. Biol Psychiatry. 2016;79(7):516-525. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.028

Scandiffio R, Geddo F, Cottone E, et al. Protective Effects of (E)-β-Caryophyllene (BCP) in Chronic Inflammation. Nutrients. 2020;12(11):3273. Published 2020 Oct 26. doi:10.3390/nu12113273

Surendran S, Qassadi F, Surendran G, Lilley D, Heinrich M. Myrcene-What Are the Potential Health Benefits of This Flavouring and Aroma Agent?. Front Nutr. 2021;8:699666. Published 2021 Jul 19. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.699666

Zou S, Kumar U. Cannabinoid Receptors and the Endocannabinoid System: Signaling and Function in the Central Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(3):833. Published 2018 Mar 13. doi:10.3390/ijms19030833