Glossary of Cannabis Terms

The cannabis world is expanding daily, and it might be hard to keep up with it, especially if you don’t know what you’re talking about. Whether you’re new to this world or a seasoned user, there are basic cannabis terms you must know. Here, we will introduce you to some dispensary terminology to help you understand cannabis a little better.

Adult-Use

The recreational use of cannabis for pleasure as opposed to its medical use for improving symptoms of illnesses.

Blunt

A hollowed-out cigar filled with cannabis.

Bioavailability

The rate and extent to which a drug or active substance is absorbed by the body.

Bong

A device for smoking cannabis flower that uses water to filter out the undesirable plant material.

Bud

Another word for cannabis flower. Buds are dried parts of the female cannabis plant used for smoking.

Budtender

One of the most popular cannabis terms. A budtender is a friendly and knowledgeable employee at a dispensary who helps you choose the right product for your needs. 

Cannabinoids

These phytochemicals are naturally-occurring chemical compounds found within the cannabis plant that contribute to its medicinal effects. 

Cannabis

Also known as weed, pot, and marijuana, cannabis is a genus of plants belonging to the Cannabaceae family. It has extensive industrial and therapeutic uses.

CBD

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the primary cannabinoids in cannabis. It’s a non-psychoactive compound with extensive medicinal potential. 

CO2 Extraction

A method for extracting phytocompounds from the raw cannabis plant.

Concentrates

These are refined and concentrated forms of cannabis without the waxy lipid parts.

Cultivar

A plant variety with a distinct taste, aroma, and phytochemical profile that has been created through selective breeding. This is one of the cannabis terms people usually mistake for strain. 

Dabs

A word in the dispensary terminology you may not be familiar with is dabs. These are concentrated forms of cannabis used with a dab rig.

Dispensary

A retail store where you can purchase cannabis legally for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Edibles

Foods or beverages that are infused with cannabis. 

Eighth

A standard weight of cannabis flower. It refers to an eighth of an ounce or 3.5 grams.

Endocannabinoid System

A complex biological system in the body of all mammals. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) contains cannabinoid receptors such as CB1 and CB2 that interact with the cannabinoids from the cannabis plant. This system regulates various functions such as pain, mood, appetite, and more. 

Entourage Effect

This cannabis term was coined by Dr. Raphael Mechoulam in 1998. The entourage effect is the enhanced effect caused by the synergy between different cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in the cannabis plant. 

Extract

Extracts are cannabis concentrates produced through various processes. 

Flower

The female sex organ of the cannabis plant. Also known as the bud, this section has the highest concentration of cannabinoids.

Full spectrum

Another well-known word in dispensary terminology. Full spectrum products are cannabis extracts containing all the beneficial compounds found within cannabis. 

Hemp

A botanical class of the Cannabaceae family. Most legal CBD products are extracted from hemp and contain less than 0.3% THC.

Hybrid

This is one of the cannabis terms that relate to cultivars. It refers to the offspring of two cannabis cultivars, Indica and Sativa, produced to have specific phytochemicals and characteristics. 

Indica

A type of cannabis plant originating in the Middle East and countries like Pakistan and Tibet. Indicas have short, thick leaves with a shrub-like appearance. They generally have a higher CBD content and produce a more calming effect than Sativa.

Joint

Ground cannabis flower rolled up in rice or hemp paper for convenient smoking.

Marijuana

This is another one of the terms for cannabis that is derived from Spanish and refers to a mix of dried flowers, leaves, and stems from the plant. 

Nug

Nugget or nug is a slang term describing the smokable manicured buds of a cannabis plant.

Pot

Another slang term for cannabis. It originates from the word potación de guay, a wine in which cannabis buds have been steeped.

Prerolls

Another word in dispensary terminology for joint. Prerolls are convenient, cone-shaped smokables containing ground cannabis flower wrapped in rolling paper. 

Rig

This is the water pipe used for dabbing cannabis concentrates. It’s also called an oil or vapor rig.

Sativa

This cannabis term refers to a type of cannabis plant originating in warmer regions such as Southeast Asia and South America. Sativas are tall plants with thin leaves. They have a higher THC content and produce a more energizing effect than Indica. 

Shake

This word refers to small pieces of cannabis flower that gather at the bottom of cannabis bags or containers.

Spliff

Another term for marijuana cigarettes with a mix of ground cannabis flower and tobacco. 

Strain

This is another term for a cultivar that describes different breeds of cannabis with distinct cannabinoid profiles and physical characteristics.

THC

This is one of the most popular cannabis terms. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is another primary cannabinoid in cannabis that produces euphoric effects.

Terpenes

A group of aromatic compounds that give different cannabis cultivars their characteristic scents and tastes. Terpenes also modulate the effects of other phytochemicals, including cannabinoids and flavonoids.

Tincture

A tincture is a liquid cannabis extract produced by soaking the plant material in solvents. These are one of the most popular forms of CBD that users can take sublingually or add to their foods and drinks. Most people use this word in dispensary terminology interchangeably with CBD oil.

Topicals

Cannabis-infused creams, lotions, gels, and balms users can apply directly to their skin for localized effects. 

Trichomes

This is one of the cannabis terms you may not hear a lot. Trichomes are sticky, translucent resin glands that cover the surface of cannabis leaves and contain most of the phytochemicals, including terpenes and cannabinoids. 

Trim

This term refers to the trimmings of a cannabis plant that include a combination of sugar leaves, trichomes, and bits of other parts. 

Vape 

An electronic device used to smoke cannabis. It consists of a battery, a cartridge for dry marijuana or CBD oil, and a heating section. 

Weed

Another popular slang term for cannabis. It probably refers to the fast growth rate of the plant.

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Congratulations! Now you know the basic cannabis terms to navigate the cannabis industry. Rogue Origin is here to provide you with quality homegrown hemp products. You can get our collection of natural, USDA-certified products in larger quantities and enjoy the wonders of our farm-direct hemp. Visit our shop now and purchase cannabis from your hemp farmers. If you liked this guide on dispensary terminology, head to our blog for more fun reads.