Can cannabis smell keep biting midges away?

There is no scientific evidence that the smell of cannabis keeps away biting midges or other insects.

While some plants contain natural repellents that can repel insects, this effect has not been demonstrated in controlled studies for cannabis.

There are other, better-researched plants and products that do repel insects, such as citronella, lavender, and eucalyptus. These are often used in insect repellent products because of their proven effectiveness against mosquitoes and flies, for example.

So while the smell of cannabis can be strong, it is not a reliable method of repelling biting midges or other insects.

Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-09-17 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025