Cannabis Glossary (A–Z)

This glossary defines more than 40 cannabis terms used across cultivation, chemistry, retail, and consumer contexts. It is intended as a reference resource for consumers, patients, and anyone building fluency with cannabis terminology — from the basics of plant science to the language of legal retail markets. For a structured introduction to cannabis fundamentals, the TGC beginner’s guide provides a useful starting point before diving into this reference.

A

• 420. A cultural reference number associated with cannabis use. The term originated in the early 1970s among a group of California high school students who used 4:20 p.m. as a meeting time. April 20 (4/20) is observed as an informal cannabis holiday in the United States and internationally.
• 710. Slang for cannabis oils and concentrates. The number 710 spells “OIL” when rotated upside down. July 10 (7/10) is observed informally as a concentrate-focused counterpart to 4/20 within cannabis culture.

B

• Broad-spectrum extract. A cannabis extract that contains multiple cannabinoids and terpenes but has had THC specifically removed or reduced to non-detectable levels. Distinct from full-spectrum (which retains THC) and isolate (which contains only one compound).
• Budtender. A retail dispensary employee who assists customers in selecting cannabis products. Budtenders provide product information, explain differences between formats and potencies, and help consumers identify products suited to their stated preferences.

C

• Cannabidiol (CBD). A non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp. CBD does not produce the psychoactive effects associated with THC. It is an active ingredient in an FDA-approved medication for certain types of epilepsy (Epidiolex) and is used widely in consumer wellness products.
• Cannabinoid. A class of chemical compounds that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. Cannabis produces over 100 known cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, and THCV. Cannabinoids can also be produced synthetically or by the human body itself (endocannabinoids).
• Cannabis. A genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae, including the species Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis plants produce cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds. The term is used broadly to refer to both marijuana-type cannabis (high THC) and hemp (federally defined as cannabis with 0.3% or less THC by dry weight).
• CB1 / CB2 receptors. The two primary receptor types in the endocannabinoid system. CB1 receptors are concentrated in the central nervous system and brain; they are the primary site of THC’s psychoactive effects. CB2 receptors are found primarily in immune tissue and the peripheral nervous system.
• Certificate of Analysis (COA). A document produced by an independent, accredited testing laboratory that details the cannabinoid content and contaminant testing results for a specific cannabis product or batch. A COA typically covers potency (THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids), terpene profile, and testing for pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbial contamination.
• Concentrates. Cannabis products made by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant, resulting in a product with significantly higher potency than flower. Concentrates include wax, shatter, oil, live resin, rosin, and distillate. THC content in concentrates typically ranges from 60% to over 90%.
• Cultivar. A contraction of “cultivated variety.” In cannabis, a cultivar refers to a specific genetically distinct variety of the plant bred for particular characteristics — cannabinoid profile, terpene composition, yield, or growth traits. The term is technically more precise than “strain,” which is the more commonly used consumer term.

D

• Decarboxylation. A chemical process that converts cannabinoid acids (such as THCA) into their active forms (such as THC) through the application of heat. Raw cannabis flower contains THCA, which is non-intoxicating. When cannabis is smoked, vaporized, or heated in an oven (as when making edibles), decarboxylation occurs and THCA converts to psychoactive THC.
• Dispensary. A licensed retail location authorized by a state or local government to sell cannabis products. Dispensaries are regulated, require consumer age verification, and are required to sell lab-tested products. They may serve medical patients, adult-use consumers, or both, depending on their license type and the state’s legal framework.
• Distillate. A highly refined cannabis extract produced through a distillation process that isolates specific cannabinoids (most commonly THC or CBD) to very high purity levels, often 90% or above. Distillate is largely flavorless and odorless because terpenes and other compounds are removed in the refinement process. It is widely used as a base ingredient in vape cartridges and edibles.

E

• Edibles. Cannabis-infused food and beverage products. Common forms include gummies, chocolates, beverages, capsules, and baked goods. Edibles are processed through the digestive system, resulting in a delayed onset (typically 30 minutes to 2 hours) compared to inhalation, and a longer overall duration. State regulations in adult-use markets require edibles to be labeled with THC content per serving unit.
• Endocannabinoid System (ECS). A biological signaling system present in humans and other mammals, consisting of endocannabinoids (lipid-based neurotransmitters), cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), and the enzymes that synthesize and degrade endocannabinoids. The ECS plays a role in regulating mood, pain perception, appetite, sleep, memory, and immune function.
• Entourage Effect. A hypothesis proposing that cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis work together to produce effects that differ from those of any individual compound alone. The concept suggests that whole-plant or full-spectrum extracts may produce different effects than isolated cannabinoids.

F

• Flower. The harvested and dried reproductive part of the female cannabis plant. Flower is the most traditional form of cannabis consumption and is typically smoked in a pipe, rolled into a joint, or vaporized. Potency is expressed as a percentage of THC by dry weight.
• Full-spectrum extract. A cannabis extract that retains the full range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds found in the original material, including THC. Full-spectrum products are contrasted with broad-spectrum (THC removed) and isolate (single compound only) products.

H

• Hash (Hashish). One of the oldest forms of cannabis concentrate, made by collecting and compressing trichomes from the cannabis plant. Traditional methods include hand-rolling (charas), dry sifting, and ice-water extraction (bubble hash). Hash can vary widely in texture, color, and potency depending on the production method and starting material.
• Hemp. Cannabis plants containing 0.3% or less THC by dry weight, as defined under the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill. Hemp is federally legal to cultivate, process, and sell in the United States and is used for fiber, seed oil, food products, and CBD extraction.
• Hybrid. A cannabis cultivar bred from crosses between different varieties. In retail contexts, hybrids are commonly classified as either “sativa-dominant” or “indica-dominant.” The practical relevance of these classifications to consumer experience is limited — effect is more accurately predicted by cannabinoid and terpene profile than by the hybrid label.

I

• Indica. One of the historically used classification categories for cannabis varieties, associated with shorter, bushier plant structures and often with sedating or relaxing effects in consumer descriptions. Modern cannabis science does not support a reliable correlation between the indica label and specific biochemical profiles or effects; the term persists primarily as a retail shorthand.
• Infused pre-roll. A pre-rolled cannabis cigarette that has been enhanced with additional cannabis extracts or concentrates — such as oil, kief, or wax — to increase potency beyond that of flower alone.
• Isolate. A cannabis extract refined to contain a single cannabinoid compound in its purest form, typically 99% or higher. CBD isolate and THC isolate are the most common forms. Isolates are flavorless and odorless, and are used in formulated products where precise cannabinoid dosing is required.

K

• Kief. The accumulated trichomes (resin glands) that fall from cannabis flower during grinding or handling. Kief contains a higher concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes than the flower it came from and is sometimes pressed into hash or sprinkled on top of flower to increase potency.

L

• Live resin. A cannabis concentrate made from freshly harvested, flash-frozen plant material rather than dried and cured flower. The freezing process preserves terpenes and other volatile compounds that are typically degraded during drying, resulting in a product with a more complete terpene profile and often a more pronounced aroma and flavor.

M

• Microdosing. The practice of consuming sub-perceptual or threshold amounts of cannabis — typically 1–5mg THC — with the goal of achieving functional effects without producing noticeable intoxication. 2.5mg THC is the commonly cited reference point for a standard microdose.
• Myrcene. One of the most abundant terpenes found in cannabis. Myrcene has an earthy, musky aroma and is also found in hops, lemongrass, and mangoes. It has been studied for potential sedative and anti-inflammatory properties.

N

• Nug. Consumer slang for an individual bud or cluster of flower from the cannabis plant. A nug is the harvested, dried, and cured floral cluster — the primary retail form of cannabis flower sold by weight at dispensaries.

P

• Pre-roll. A pre-rolled cannabis cigarette (joint) sold ready to use. Pre-rolls are manufactured from ground cannabis flower and sold at licensed dispensaries in single units or multi-packs, labeled with strain, weight, and THC/CBD content.

R

• Rosin. A solventless cannabis concentrate produced by applying heat and pressure to flower, hash, or kief to extract cannabinoid- and terpene-rich oil. Because no chemical solvents are used in production, rosin is considered a cleaner extraction method by many consumers and retains a broader terpene profile than solvent-based extracts.

S

• Sativa. A historically used classification category for cannabis varieties, associated with taller plant structures and often with more energizing or cerebral effects in consumer descriptions. Like “indica,” the sativa label does not reliably predict cannabinoid or terpene composition in modern cultivars and is largely a retail taxonomy rather than a scientific classification.
• Sinsemilla. From the Spanish “sin semilla,” meaning “without seeds.” Refers to the cultivation practice of growing female cannabis plants without male plants present, preventing pollination. Unseeded female plants direct energy into cannabinoid and terpene production, producing more potent flower. Most commercial cannabis flower sold at dispensaries is sinsemilla.
• Sublingual. A method of administration in which a substance is placed under the tongue and absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the mucous membranes. Sublingual cannabis administration produces faster onset than edibles (typically 15–45 minutes) and more predictable absorption.

T

• Terpenes. Aromatic compounds produced by cannabis and many other plants that give each cultivar its distinctive smell and flavor. Cannabis produces over 200 identified terpenes. Common examples include myrcene (earthy), limonene (citrus), linalool (floral), and pinene (pine). Terpenes interact with cannabinoids in ways that influence the overall effect profile of a product.
• THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). The primary psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, responsible for the intoxicating effects associated with marijuana. THC binds primarily to CB1 receptors in the brain and central nervous system. In raw cannabis, THC exists as THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), which must be decarboxylated through heat to become psychoactive. THC content in legal cannabis products is expressed as a percentage by dry weight (flower) or in milligrams per serving (edibles).
• Tincture. A liquid cannabis extract typically produced using alcohol or a carrier oil as a solvent. Tinctures are administered sublingually (under the tongue) or added to food and beverages. They allow more precise dose measurement than flower and produce onset times between inhalation and edibles, depending on administration method.
• Tolerance. A reduction in response to a substance following repeated exposure, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect. Cannabis tolerance develops through prolonged use and is associated with measurable downregulation of CB1 receptors in the brain. Tolerance breaks (periods of abstinence) partially reverse this process.
• Topical. Cannabis-infused products designed for external application to the skin, including lotions, balms, salves, and transdermal patches. Most topical products do not produce systemic psychoactive effects because cannabinoids do not readily penetrate the skin deeply enough to reach the bloodstream in significant quantities.
• Trim. The plant material removed from cannabis buds during the post-harvest trimming process — primarily fan leaves and sugar leaves. Trim has lower cannabinoid concentration than flower but is commonly used as input material for extracts, edibles, and lower-cost pre-rolls.

V

• Vaporizer. A device that heats cannabis flower or concentrate to a temperature sufficient to vaporize cannabinoids and terpenes without reaching the combustion threshold. Vaporization produces an inhalable aerosol rather than smoke, avoiding most combustion byproducts. Vaporizers range from portable devices for flower to cartridge-based vape pens designed for oil concentrates.

W

• Wax. A category of cannabis concentrate with a soft, opaque texture similar to ear wax or thick oil. Wax is produced through solvent-based extraction (commonly butane) followed by a purging process that removes the solvent. Like other concentrates, wax typically contains 60–90% THC. Variations in consistency — such as budder, crumble, or sugar wax — result from differences in agitation and temperature during the purging process.

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