Zen Glossary of Cannabis Terms

All tools, devices, materials, equipment, and products that are either intended or designed for a process related to harvesting, propagating, planting, growing, producing, and otherwise cultivating cannabis. Accessories can also apply to anything that can be used in the process of making cannabis products, and/or introducing it into the body via inhaling or ingesting.

An innovative method for growing cannabis where the plant is suspended in the air and uses mist as a way to receive water.This means no medium like soil is used to cultivate.

A process to strip the cannabis plant of its resinous trichomes and their oils using either ethyl alcohol or ethanol.

Refers to the distinctive smell and taste of a particular strain of cannabis flower. For example, users or producers can individually classify cannabis flower’s aroma in terms of how “citrusy” “earthy” or “skunky” it smells.

The percentage of active ingredient that reaches its target destination – often the bloodstream.

The slang term for a cannabis cigar when wrapped in cigarillo paper or inside a tobacco leaf cigar. The cigar’s tobacco may or may not be hollowed out and then rerolled using the cannabis material.

This cannabis extract is created by melting cannabis shatter, then whipping the resulting substance as it cools, giving it the texture of thick peanut butter.

Butane oil is used to blast cannabis flower, separating the resins and oils into a thick substance referred to as butane hash oil (BHO) or wax. This process allows THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids to become available for use and precedes the making of extracts like shatter, cannabis sugar, crumble, budder, and more.

This is the second most concentrated cannabinoid found within the cannabis plant. Cannabichromene does not produce euphoric effects because it does not bind itself to the receptors in cannabinoids 1 (CB1) or 2 (CB2).

A non-psychoactive cannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant. CBD is popular for its use as a medicinal therapy assisting with brain and nerve conditions, pain relief, anxiety relief, and more.

A compound produced by the cannabis plant capable of interacting with the body’s many endocannabinoid receptors, which modulate appetite, sleep, mood, and more.

A cannabinoid created as THC degrades, prominently found in aged and dried flower.

A method of extracting cannabis compounds from the cannabis flower that uses a completely enclosed blasting process instead of allowing the blasting solvent to disperse into the air. The solvent is reused in the extraction process and is deemed a safer method than the “open blast” process.

The process of loading a dab of cannabis extract on the nail before heating it, also known as reverse dabbing. The carb cap should then be placed on top of the nail, with heat applied for approximately 10 seconds.

An extremely potent concentration of cannabinoids from the collection of trichomes, that is extracted without the use of solvents. Typically, cannabis concentrates are created by sifting cannabis or by using adding heat and pressure.

A concentrated form of cannabis extract, identified by its honeycomb-like texture that “crumbles” when manipulated.

Cultivator refers to not only licensed entities, but also to home growers. However, most laws in legal states define a cultivator as someone who is licensed. So, there can be several meanings here.  Some states we do operate in allow for legal home growing. With that information feel free to update this definition, if you think the added information is useful. Otherwise, what you guys have does work in a compliance capacity.

Curing is a process of drying cannabis flower slowly. This slowed drying allows for a gradual change in state that maximizes the plant’s flavor and enhances the smoke quality.

A water pipe intended for use with cannabis extracts; instead of a bowl for flower, a nail is used, which is typically made of quartz, glass, or titanium.

The flash vaporization of cannabis extracts.

The most abundant psychoactive cannabinoid produced by the cannabis plant. THC has psychoactive effects, meaning it creates the “high” commonly sought from cannabis use.

A dispensary is a business that can legally sell medicinal cannabis products, recreational cannabis products, or both to consumers.

Crafted through extensive extraction and post-extraction processes, distillate is a concentrated form of cannabis produced to isolate cannabinoids and terpenes or even a single compound—most often THC. It is the active ingredient in many cannabis products, such as topicals, edibles, and vapes.

Refers to the specific cannabinoid levels contained in a whole product, and the recommended amount of a cannabis product one should consume.

Dosing refers to the process of titrating a cannabis dose, where the amount of product is gradually increased until the dose provides the desired effect.

Short for electronic nails, these are used in place of the traditional blowtorch and dab nail setup. Using E-nails allows users to heat the nail to an accurate temperature that can be maintained and has no open flame.

Food infused with cannabis. Edibles can contain a variety of cannabinoids like CBD, THC, or both.

Also known as vaporizers, vapes, and e-cigarettes, these are rechargeable devices used for heating materials including dried cannabis flower, THC-infused liquids, extracts, and nicotine products, thereby transforming them into vapor for inhalation. Electronic smoking devices serve as an alternative to traditional hand-lit ways of smoking cannabis or tobacco products.

A compound that binds to cannabinoid receptors. Endocannabinoids are naturally produced molecules in the body.

A body-wide signaling system built of receptors and the compounds that interact with them (endocannabinoids and cannabinoids). It’s responsible for establishing and maintaining homeostasis within the body.

The combined effect of the various cannabis compounds produced by the plant. The compounds work together synergistically to produce a greater effect than those provided by isolated compounds.

A solvent used in cannabis extraction processes.

This refers to the many processes used to remove cannabinoids from the cannabis plant for use. Extraction processes include, but are not limited to butane hash extraction, alcohol extraction, hydrocarbon extraction, CO2 extraction, and more.

A lesser-known and less-abundant class of cannabis compounds that help keep the plant healthy and are responsible for helping to provide plants with pigment, they may also hold therapeutic value.

a generalized term used to describe the entire area of the cannabis plant that is typically used as a smokable substance.

Also referred to as whole plant extracts, FSE maintains the full chemical profile of the cannabis plant.

The genetic, inherited characteristics of an organism.

Industrial hemp plants and cannabis plants are the same cannabis species, Cannabis sativa L. To be classified as industrial hemp, the plant must legally contain 0.3% or less delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration when the plant is dry-weighed. Hemp is used for both medicinal and industrial purposes.

A description of how evenly a particular cannabinoid is distributed throughout a cannabis product. For example, a cannabis brownie would be considered homogenous if 20% of the brownie contains less than 40% of the total amount of THC it contains. Knowing the homogeneity of the edible allows the user to know the edible was prepared consistently.

The random or deliberate crossing of two different cannabis strains. When done deliberately, the goal is to create an ideal combination of the two existing strains with a carefully selected set of flavors, aromas, cannabinoid concentrations, and terpene profile.

A soilless method for growing cannabis plants which utilizes water-based solutions to provide the nutrients.

A subspecies of cannabis that typically grows short plants with thick stems and broad leaves. Indica strains are thought to provide the relaxing effects of cannabis.

Also referred to as dust, frost, or chief, cannabis kief is the original cannabis concentrate, and is a collection of loose trichomes collected by sifting flower in mesh screens.

Cannabis is considered an annual plant that goes through 4 stages of growth: germination, seedling, vegetative, and the flowering stage. Cannabis plants can go through all four stages in as little as 4 months and can take as long as 10 months, on average..

Flower that is frozen before being dried, this allows for the “living” profile of the plant to be preserved.

This cannabis extract is created by flash-freezing live cannabis flower, exposing it to a solvent, and pressing it to release the resin.

The process of compounding, blending, extracting, infusing, or otherwise making or preparing a product made of or containing cannabis.

Slang terminology for the dried flowers of a cannabis plant and/or its stems, leaves, or seeds that originated in the mid-1800’s but was popularized in the 1930’s by Harry Anslinger through fear-mongering propaganda that attempted to villainize Mexican people.

Using the cannabis plant to help patients treat or cope with chronic medical conditions or the symptoms of the condition.

The formation of new neural connections in the brain throughout life.

A nug is short for nugget, a piece of high-quality cannabis flower.

This is a slang term that’s used to describe many different cannabis strains and eventually became part of the official strain name of many strains. It was originally used to describe So-

Cal’s Ocean Grown Kush or OG Kush strain of cannabis plant but has become popular and adopted for Kush’s variations.

This term refers to any type of retail-friendly wrapper or container used to hold a cannabis product or cannabis-infused product for its final sale.

The harvesting, drying, curing, trimming, or separating of parts of the cannabis plant by hand or machine.

Removing residual solvents from cannabis extracts, a post-extraction process.

An organ or cell able to respond to external stimuli and transmit a signal to a sensory nerve.

Recreational use is the intentional use of cannabis or cannabis-infused products to achieve a euphoric high or relaxing effects. Recreational cannabis products can be purchased by adults aged 21 years or older, who have valid government-issued identification at an official dispensary in a legal recreational state.

This refers to entities with a license to buy, transport, or deliver cannabis or cannabis-infused products from cultivator establishments to then sell, deliver or transport said products to other cultivators and/or consumers.

A full spectrum extract created in 2003 by Rick Simpson, who used it to treat his skin cancer. RSO can be applied topically or consumed orally.

Rosin is a cannabis concentrate created by isolating trichome heads and applying heat and pressure.

A subspecies of cannabis that typically grows taller plants with narrow leaves.

A cannabis concentrate that is brittle in texture and shatters like glass when handled.Shatter is typically used for dabbing but can be “whipped” to create other cannabis concentrates like budder or badder.

A liquid capable of dissolving solids within it, used to extract cannabis compounds. Common solvents include butane, CO2, and ethanol.

Concentrates created without the use of solvents, typically solely with heat and pressure.

A specific genetic variation of a cannabis plant, examples include strains like Afghan Kush or Hindu Kush.

This is a cannabis extract that produces crystals of THCA as it cools and ages, giving it the texture of damp sugar.

Terpene Compounds are abundant in all plants. Terpenes lend the scent and flavor profiles of cannabis strains, provide strain-specific effects, and may provide therapeutic benefits to the human body.

This liquid form of cannabis extract is usually made through alcohol extraction, contained in a glass bottle, and dosed via a dropper.

Any cannabis-infused product that can be applied directly to the skin for medicinal purposes. Most topical products have only localized effects, but transdermal patches with encapsulated cannabinoid technology are capable of delivering cannabinoids into the bloodstream and producing full-body effects.

Another term used for electronic smoking devices that vaporize cannabis extracts.

A form of cannabis extract that takes on a thick, wax-like texture.