TERMINOLOGY | DEFINITION |
| Butane Hash Oil (aka BHO) | A potent concentrate of cannabinoids, made by extracting them from the cannabis plant using butane as a solvent, resulting in a thick sticky oil with very high THC levels.1 A concern with BHO (and many extracts) is if residual solvent is left behind and consumed inadvertently by the user. |
| Bong | A large pipe, usually made of glass, that uses water to diffuse and cool smoke before it is breathed into the lungs.1 |
| Blunt | Cannabis wrapped in tobacco or cigarillo paper. Typically larger than joints.1 |
| Bubbler | A handheld pipe, usually made of glass, with a water reservoir to cool and diffuse the smoke before inhalation.1 |
| Bud | The unfertilized flower of the female marijuana plant. Contains the highest concentration of active cannabinoids.1 |
| Budtender | Attendant who works at a local dispensary or cannabis shop.1 |
| Cannabinoids | Chemical compounds from the cannabis plant that act on the body’s cannabinoid receptors.2 Over 85 cannabinoids are known, the best researched being tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).1 |
| Cannabinoid Receptors | Cell membrane receptors that bind cannabinoids to trigger cell responses. There are two major types of receptors found in the human endocannabinoid system. CB1 receptors are primarily found in the central nervous system along with some peripheral tissues. CB2 receptors are primarily found in the immune system.2 |
| Cannabis | Genus of three species of flowering plants: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are the species colloquially known as “marijuana”. Cannabis ruderalis is rarely farmed due to its naturally low THC and small yield.1 There is debate in the scientific community as to whether cannabis indica and cannabis sativa actually represent different species. |
| Cannabis Oil | Often used interchangeably with “cannabis concentrate” |
| Cannabidiol (aka CBD) | One of the cannabinoids in cannabis. Unlike THC, CBD is non-psychoactive.1 |
| CBD Oil | An extract from the cannabis or hemp plant that is high in CBD, and typically low in THC. Note the distinction between CBD oil and Hemp Oil. |
| Cesamet® | Oral nabilone capsules that are indicated for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments. It is a FDA approved prescription medicine in the U.S.3 |
| CO2 Oil | Concentrate created by extracting the compounds in cannabis using supercritical CO2 as solvent.1 |
| Concentrates | The active compounds in cannabis are extracted using various solvents, resulting in a “concentrate” that is high in cannabinoids. Concentrates include cannabis oil, dabs, wax, shatter, etc.1 |
| Co-op | Short for cooperative. A community of patients or consumers who share and receive marijuana. In some states, co-ops exist alongside or in lieu of dispensaries.1 |
| Dab/dabbing | A dab is a cannabis concentrate. Dabbing is when a dab is vaporized on a hot surface and inhaled.1 |
| Dispensary | General term used to refer to any location where a patient can legally access cannabis.1 |
| Dronabinol | Synthetic pharmaceutical drug that is identical to the delta-9-THC found in cannabis. It is administered as a capsule sold in the U.S. under the trademarked name Marinol®.2, 4 |
| Edibles | Food that has been infused with cannabis oil. Most often in the form of baked goods, such as cookies or brownies. Consumed edibles take longer time to take effect compared to inhaled cannabis, as the active compounds must be first absorbed through the digestive system.1 |
| Endocannabinoid | Endogenous, naturally synthesized ligands of cannabinoid receptors that are produced by both humans and animals. Some endocannabinoids are arachidonyl-ethanolamide (anandamide), 2-arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG), 2-arachidonylglyceryl ether (noladin ether), arachidonyl-ethanolamine (virodhamine), and N-arachidonyl-dopamine (NADA).2 |
| Flower | The most commonly used portion of the cannabis plant is the flower portion of the female cannabis plant, which contains the highest concentration of cannabinoids. |
| Hash | Hash or hashish is the gathering of trichomes via a dry sieve or water extraction method, which end product can be pressed and ultimately consumed. Trichromes contain the majority of the plant’s cannabinoids. Hash is typically stronger than cannabis flower due to higher concentration of THC.5 |
| Hemp | Hemp is defined as cannabis containing less than 0.3% THC, and is regulated as an agricultural product and not a controlled substances. Some contend that hemp is a source of legal non-THC cannabinoids, however the DEA contends that these cannabinoids are still Schedule 1 controlled substances.6 |
| Hemp Oil/Hempseed Oil | An oil created by pressing cannabis seeds. Contains negligible amounts of cannabinoids. High in unsaturated fatty acids, used in various household products, and sold in a wide variety of food products. Note the distinction with CBD Oil.7 |
| Hybrid | A cannabis variety that is the result of cross breeding between cannabis indica and cannabis sativa. Most marijuana on the market today is some form of hybrid.1 |
| Indica | A variety of the Cannabis Indica strains. Anecdotally believed to have more relaxing physical effects and stronger sedation compared to Cannabis sativa, however empirical evidence of this is scant.1,8 |
| Kief | Kief is a collection of trichromes that have been separated from the cannabis flower and stored as loose powder like substance. Trichromes contain the majority of the plant’s cannabinoids.1 |
| Marijuana | Colloquial term for the cannabis plant.1 |
| Marinol | A dronabinol capsule that are indicated for the treatment of loss of appetite in people with AIDS who have lost weight and nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments.4 Marinol® is available in the US, Canada, and some European countries.2 |
| Medical Card | A card issued by a government agency that identifies the holder as a registered medical cannabis patient.9 |
| Nabilone | Synthetic pharmaceutical drug that is based on a slightly modified structure of delta-9-THC. It is administered as a pill. Nabilone is sold in the U.S. under the trademarked name of Cesamet®.2 |
| Nabiximol | Pharmaceutical drug that is a botanical extract of the naturally occurring constituents in cannabis, comprised of a defined ratio (1:1) of THC and CBD, alongside a minor amount of other cannabinoids and cannabis constituents. It is administered as an oromucosal spray. Not approved in the U.S., but sold throughout Europe under the trademarked name Sativex®.2 |
| Pot | Slang for cannabis.1 |
| Prop 64 | The Adult Use Of Marijuana Act of 2016, which legalized recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older in California.10 |
| Sativa | A variety of the Cannabis Sativa strains. Anecdotally believed to produce more cognitive effects, as opposed to physical and sedative effects characteristic of Cannabis Sativa, although empirical evidence is scant.1,8 |
| Sativex® | Oromucosal spray of formulated extract of the cannabis sativa plant that contains the principle cannabinoids delta -9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) in a 1:1 ratio. It is a prescription medicine approved in Europe for multiple sclerosis spasticity.11 |
| Shatter | A type of cannabis concentrate.1 |
| Terpenes | The primary aromatic elements in cannabis, providing the scent and flavor of the cannabis plant. Produces a variety of physiologic responses4. |
| Tetra-hydrocannabinol or Delta-9-tetracananbinol (aka THC) | Most well-studied and abundant cannabinoid in marijuana plants. Responsible for psychoactive effects (“high”).1 |
| Tincture | A liquid solution containing the active compounds in cannabis. Often dosed with a dropper.1 |
| Topical | A lotion or cream containing the active compounds in cannabis. Topicals are applied to the skin.1 |
| Trichrome | Resin production glands of the cannabis plant. Appear as sticky “hairs” on the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids and terpenes are stored in these glands.1 |
| Vaporizer, or Vape | A hand-held device that heats cannabis flower or cannabis oil to produce a vapor that can be inhaled, without combustion.1 |
| Wax | A form of cannabis concentrate.1 |
| Weed | Slang term for cannabis.1 |
