Cannabis can be overwhelming when you are not familiar with all the lingo the cannabis community uses. Below are some basic (and not so basic) terms to help get you up to speed.
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4
420
A symbol in the cannabis community that can be used to reference anything having to do with cannabis. It can mean the time of day to consume weed, 4:20 a.m. or p.m., the date, April 20, a celebration of cannabis, or anything having to do with cannabis, for example, “420-friendly.” A “420 friendly” Airbnb or hotel means it is OK to smoke cannabis there.
5
510 Threading
The threading refers to the size of the battery thread that screws into the bottom of a cartridge. 510 threading is the most popular sized threading and most cartridges sold in the legal market will screw onto a battery with 510 threading.
7
710
The time 7:10pm and the day July 10th are times to celebrate all things relating to dabbing and oil—”710″ spells “OIL” upside down and backward.
A
Adult-Use
Adult-Use is a term used to describe access to cannabis for adults (21+ in most places) without the need of a medical cannabis card. Adult-use is another term for recreational use.
Aeroponics
Aeroponics is a method of growing cannabis plants in which the roots of the plant are suspended in the air inside a chamber and consistently sprayed with water. Aeroponics is commonly used to start cannabis clones in order to promote the growth of a healthy root system before being potted in a grow medium.
Alcohol Extraction
A process of extracting the chemical compounds from the cannabis plant. In an alcohol extraction, the cannabis flower is soaked in food-grade alcohol (such as ethanol) for a certain amount of time and then strained, with the remaining liquid put over a low heat source to remove the alcohol while still preserving the cannabinoids. Isopropyl alcohol can be used to make hash, but there are concerns over its potential toxicity.
Aroma
The smells associated with cannabis flowers. As with wine, the aroma is often referred to as the bouquet or nose of the flower. For many, going by a cannabis flower’s aroma is a way to choose the right cannabis strain for their specific medical needs. Common descriptions of a flower’s aroma include earthy, skunky, citrusy, piney, lavender, lemony, peppery, sugary and gassy.
Ash Catcher
A bong accessory that sits between the bowl and the downstem, to keep ash from the bowl from entering the base of the bong. An ash catcher keeps the bong water and smoke cleaner.
Atomizer
The heating element in a vape which turns cannabis oil from either flower or concentrates into vapor.
Autoflower
Autoflower refers to types of cannabis plants that mature and start to produce buds after a certain amount of time, rather than on when the amount of light is reduced. Autoflower strains normally contain genes from a Cannabis ruderalis plant.
B
Backcross
Also known as “BX,” backcross is a type of cannabis breeding in which the grower uses just one parent strain of cannabis and targets a single, favorable characteristic of the parent plant. Backcrossing has an advantage over traditional breeding because backcross breeding results in cannabis offspring that carries two sets of desirable genes.
Banger
A bucket-shaped attachment on a dab rig in which cannabis concentrates are dabbed. Bangers are made from a variety of materials: quartz, titanium, ceramic, or glass, and they come in a variety of sizes and designs. They are either manually heated with a torch or electronically heated by a coil connected to a power source.
Banger Beads
Small borosilicate or quartz beads used to aid in dabbing. Also called “terp pearls” or “dab beads,” banger beads are placed in the bottom of a banger and spin around to distribute concentrate and heat evenly for consistent dabs.
Baptize
To moisten a joint, blunt, spliff or other hand-rolled cannabis product with saliva before lighting it, to supposedly extend its burn time. Not recommended when the item may be shared. Pre-rolled products sold by dispensaries are NEVER baptized.
Battery
A device used to power a vaporizer or other cannabis consumption device. Batteries are most often used to power vape pens—they are usually rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries with a 510 thread.
Beaker (Beaker Base)
A bong or rig with a flat, flared bottom that resembles a beaker used in scientific labs. A beaker base is very stable and less likely to tip over.
BHO
Butane hash oil, or BHO, is cannabis oil that is extracted from marijuana leaves and flowers through a process that uses butane as the primary solvent. Depending on the kind of extraction process used, BHO comes in various consistencies: wax, shatter, crumble, budder, or sauce. BHO can be smoked with a specially designed bong, inhaled through a hash pen or e-cigarette, used to make edibles or added to flower to increase the potency.
Big Six
Refers to the six best known cannabinoids: THC, CBC, CBD, CBG, CBN and THCv.
Blasting
Blasting refers to cannabis extraction methods that force solvents through plant material to extract cannabis oil.
Blunt
Traditionally a blunt was a hollowed-out cigar filled with ground cannabis flower. Today, blunt wraps are made from a wide variety of products (such as tobacco, hemp, rice, lettuce and chamomile) and in an even larger variety of flavors. Blunts tend to burn for a long time and are larger than traditional joints.
Bong
A bong is a vertical water pipe used for smoking cannabis. A bong has a bowl for heating the cannabis, a base for liquid (most frequently water) that cools the smoke as it passes through and a chamber at the top where the user inhales the cooled smoke. Bongs can be very simple objects made from typically glass or silicon or they can be complex pieces of artwork. The liquid used should be non
Bongwater
The liquid inside the base of a bong (usually water) that has been used.
Borosilicate
Borosilicate is a type of glass made from boron trioxide and silica. It is the leading material for making pipes, bongs, and adapters. Borosilicate glass is sometimes sold under the brand name Pyrex and is incredibly heat- resistant, able to withstand very high levels of heat.
Bowl
A bowl is the part of a smoking pipe or bong that is used to hold the cannabis.
Breeding
The practice of pollinating a male and female cannabis plant to produce a new hybrid strain, or to strengthen certain genetic traits of a strain. Male cannabis plants have pollen sacs that will release pollen in the air once mature and then pollinate a female. The female plant will then produce seeds, which will be a new strain that carries the genetics of both male and female parents.
Bubble Hash
Bubble hash, named for the way it bubbles when smoked, refers to a specific type of hash made with ice water. To make bubble hash, cannabis flower is added to bags of ice water (called “bubble bags”) and agitated, which freezes and then breaks the resin glands from the flower.
Bubbler
A small water pipe used to smoke cannabis flower. Like a bong, it has a liquid chamber for filtering and
purifying smoke. But it doesn’t have a removable bowl to clear smoke; instead, this is done with a carb.
Bud
Bud is a synonym for cannabis “flower” – the part of the female plant that has been harvested, dried, cured and trimmed.
Budder
Budder is a cannabis concentrate or extract that is yellow in appearance and has a consistency and texture similar to butter, which is where this cannabis concentrate gets its name from. Budder is one of the more potent and flavorful forms of cannabis because of its high cannabinoid and terpenoid content.
Budtender
An employee who works on the floor at the cannabis dispensary. Budtenders are responsible for educating consumers about the effects, benefits, and overall experience of the products sold by the dispensary. These dispensary employees serve as important guides to using cannabis products, and tailor their patient service to all levels of experience. Common alternative names used for budtenders include Wellness Advisor, Dispensary Technician, Cannabis Concierge, Cannabis Advisor, Bud Educators and Cannabis Consultant.
C
C-Cell
C-Cell is a cartridge made with a ceramic heating element that absorbs, stores and atomizes thick cannabis oils without the scorching and waste many consumers experience with cotton wick cartridges. C-Cells are made by a company called C-Cell.
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is a medical condition believed to be connected to heavy, chronic cannabis use. It is characterized by episodes of nausea and vomiting, which may be relieved by hot baths and showers or by discontinuing cannabis use. Very little is known about this condition, including its causes, but researchers hypothesize that an oversaturation of cannabinoid receptors in the body could lead to these complications. Others suspect that certain pesticides used in cannabis cultivation might be the cause.
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant or synthetic compounds that interact with the human endocannabinoid system. At least 113 different cannabinoids have been isolated from
the cannabis plant—all exhibiting varied effects. All classes of cannabinoids derive from cannabigerol-type (CBGa) compounds and differ mainly in the way this precursor is cyclized. The classical cannabinoids are derived from their respective 2-carboxylic acids (2-COOH) by decarboxylation (catalyzed by heat, light, or alkaline conditions).
The two best known cannabinoids are THC and CBD followed by CBN, CBG, CBC and THCv. Collectively these cannabinoids are known as “the big six”.
Cannabis
Cannabis is a plant genus that produces three species of flowering plants: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are used to produce recreational and medical cannabis. Cannabis ruderalis is used to produce hemp due to its natural lower THC content and small stature. There is some crossbreeding due to ruderalis’s unique ability to auto-flower rather than mature based on light.
Capsules
Capsules are an ingestible form of cannabis, usually an oil, that has been enclosed in a tablet or gel cap to be taken orally. Capsules are digested and metabolized in the stomach and liver like edibles but do not contain food and allergen ingredients. Capsules are a method of ingestion that makes dosing incredibly easy.
Carb or Carb Hole
A small hole in a pipe or bubbler, usually next to the bowl, that allows the consumer to control airflow when smoking. A carb also helps regulate temperature and the rate of burning in the bowl. Bongs can have carbs as well, though they often have a removable bowl that acts like a carb.
Carb Cap
A device that helps regulate the amount and direction of air going to the nail on a dab rig, helping you take a better hit. Like the carb hole on the side of a hand pipe, a carb cap gives a dabber more control over their dab. Carb caps are normally made of glass, borosilicate glass, quartz, or metal.
Cartridge
A pre-filled tank of cannabis concentrate designed to work in a vape system. Cartridges, or “carts,” also incorporate a heating element, which vaporizes the oil. Most cartridges screw onto a battery with 510 thread but some have unique fittings. Cartridges are typically sold in half-gram or full gram units.
Chillum
A chillum is a small pipe with a forward-facing bowl and no carb hole. There is a direct smoke path from the bowl to the mouthpiece. The smallest chillums are frequently called one-hitters or tasters.
Chronic
A slang term for high-quality, potent cannabis, popularized in the 1990s and 2000s with music producer Dr.
Dre’s albums The Chronic and 2001.
Circ Perc
A circular percolator, or “circ perc,” is made up of one ring with slits in the side or numerous rings with gaps in between. It is like a showerhead perc, which gets its name because it has holes or slits on the bottom. All percolators diffuse smoke, making hits cooler and less harsh. Circ percs can be combined with other types of percolators to increase percolation.
Clone
A cutting taken off a cannabis plant, which will grow into another full plant. A clone is a genetic replica of the mother, the plant it was taken from.
Closed Loop System
A cannabis extraction system that uses solvents such as butane or propane to remove oils from cannabis plant material inside a closed system, not open to the outside environment. A closed-loop system can collect solvent used and run it through cannabis material multiple times, allowing for the efficient extraction of specific cannabinoids and terpenes.
CO2 Extraction
An extraction method that uses CO2 as a solvent to strip the cannabis plant of cannabinoids and terpenes into a concentrate, commonly known as CO2 oil. CO2 extraction relies on a closed-loop system and the gas is purged from the final product. CO2 extraction helps keep the integrity of the cannabis plant through processing and produces a clean and safe final product for consumption.
Cola
A cola is a cluster of buds that grow together on female cannabis plants. During trimming, large colas are usually broken up into individual buds or nugs, so they can dry and cure more evenly to prevent mold.
Cole Memorandum
The Cole Memorandum was a Department of Justice memorandum issued August 29, 2013, by United States Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole during the presidency of Barack Obama. The memorandum, sent to all United States Attorneys, governed federal prosecution of offenses related to cannabis.
The memo stated that given its limited resources, the Justice Department would not enforce federal cannabis prohibition in states that “legalized marijuana in some form and … implemented strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems to control the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of marijuana,” except where a lack of federal enforcement would undermine federal priorities (such as preventing violence in cannabis cultivation and distribution, preventing cannabis impaired driving, and preventing cannabis revenues from going to gangs and cartels).
Concentrates
Concentrates, also known as extracts, are produced from cannabis trichomes, which contain the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds which give cannabis its recreational and medical effects. There are a variety of methods to create and process concentrates, and they can generally be lumped into three categories: full- spectrum concentrates, distillates and isolates.
Conduction Vaporization
Conduction vaporization heats cannabis flower or extracts through direct heat and is the method originally used by most vaporizers. This process is analogous to a pan on a stovetop (conduction). Conduction vaporizers have a higher risk of combustion or charring occurring.
Cone
A type of joint shaped like a cone, that is big on one end and tapers down to a small end with a crutch or filter. Their shape allows for a smoother burn, so they don’t have to be relit. Pre-rolls bought in dispensaries are usually cones, made by filling a pre-formed cone with ground cannabis, and empty cones can be purchased and filled with ground cannabis of one’s choosing.
Convection Vaporization
Convection vaporization heats cannabis flower or extracts through indirect heat–a process analogous to a convection oven in your home, which heats the air, which in turn cooks food (convection). Since convection does not involve flower or concentrate touching the heat source, there is a much lower risk of combustion or charring occurring
Controlled Substance Act
The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is a federal law that regulates the manufacture, distribution, possession, and use of drugs in the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determine the classification of “schedule” narcotics. Cannabis is currently classified at the federal level as a Schedule I drug, along with GHB, LSD, heroin, and ecstasy. Schedule I narcotics are defined as substances that have a high potential for abuse, that do not have any currently accepted medical use in treatment, and that are not safe for use under medical supervision.
Cottonmouth
Cottonmouth is the sensation of a dry or parched mouth and throat after smoking cannabis. It is likened to the feeling of having a mouth full of cotton balls.
Creeper
A strain that takes a while for the onset of effects, but when they do come on, they hit strong. The delay between consumption and feeling effects gives the sense that the strain creeps up on you.
Cross
A cross is a cannabis strain that combines the genetics of two other strains, or a hybrid. Cross can also be short
for “crossbreeding,” or the act of crossing two strains to make a new one.
Crossbreeding
Crossbreeding occurs when two different cannabis plant strains are bred together. Cannabis strain breeders attempt to combine the best features from distinct “parent” strains to create a unique blend that captures all the positive qualities of the parents but none of the negative qualities. The process of crossbreeding two cannabis strains can take several years to achieve the desired effects.
Crumble
Crumble is a type of cannabis concentrate or extract with a crumbly surface, yellow appearance, and high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels. Cannabis crumble is also known as crumble wax or honeycomb wax because it looks like honeycomb. While budder wax, shatter wax, and crumble wax are all made through a similar extraction process that involves intense heating, only crumble has a malleable texture that falls apart. Cannabis crumble can be smoked or dabbed.
Crutch
Otherwise known as a filter or tip, the crutch is a small bit of stiff paper that acts as a mouthpiece for a joint. When done correctly, a crutch prevents burnt plant matter from reaching your lips, mouth, and lungs.
Crystals
Also known as trichomes, crystals are found on the cannabis plant and contain concentrated amounts of the chemical compounds found in cannabis, such as the cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids.
Crystalline
A cannabis isolate with over 99% cannabinoids. Also called “diamonds” or “isolates,” these have such a high degree of purity that they form a crystalline solid. This extract is usually made from concentrated THCA, CBDA, or CBD.
Cultivar
Cultivars are groups of cannabis plants that differ in appearance, aroma, and effect. In cannabis, the term
“strain” is commonly used, though it is not used in traditional horticulture.
Cultivation
Cannabis flowers are typically grown through a process known as cultivation. The cannabis plant begins as a seed or clone that is then cultivated in several stages: germination, seedling, vegetation, pre-flowering, and flowering. Cannabis can be grown indoors or outdoors, with each type of cannabis cultivation presenting unique challenges. Factors that may affect cannabis cultivation include type and quality of the grow medium, watering frequency, temperature, humidity, light, and access to nutrients.
Cure
The process of preserving cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis buds by placing them in airtight containers after harvesting and drying. Curing is distinct from, and done after, the drying phase of harvesting.
D
Dab Rig
A dab rig is a water pipe used to inhale cannabis extracts, or dabs. It filters cannabis vapor through a liquid (typically water) much like a bong.
Dabber
A dabber is a tool used to manipulate concentrates for dabbing. They often resemble dentistry tools and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. A common type of dabber will have a sharp point on one end and a flattened scoop on the other.
Dabs
A dab is a slang term used to refer to a dose of concentrates extracts received through butane combustion and inhalation
Dabbing
Dabbing is a method of consuming cannabis that involves flash vaporizing an extract—called a “dab”—on a hot surface and inhaling the vapor through a pipe. Popular for its fast-acting and hard-hitting high, dabbing is often too intense for cannabis beginners (although it is possible to dab with non-intoxicating CBD extracts). To dab, you must have a dab rig, which is usually a glass pipe with specific attachments that allow you to apply the extracts.
Dank
“Dank” is a popular term to describe high-quality, fragrant cannabis. In this context, “dank” refers to the pungent odor of cannabis and implies that it is potent, moist, and grown well. Dank is also used as a general term for anything good.
Decarboxylation
Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction responsible for activating the cannabinoids in cannabis. The decarboxylation process involves applying heat. During this process, carbon dioxide is released from the cannabis. In the case of smoking or vaporizing cannabis, decarboxylation happens instantly. When making edibles or creating a cannabis product for topical use, decarboxylation needs to occur before the infusion.
Dewaxing
An extraction process that typically uses a closed-loop system to remove waxes and fatty lipids from a cannabis concentrate. This removes plant lipids, which are considered undesirable and will negatively impact the flavor and aesthetics of a concentrate. Dewaxing is like winterization, which also separates undesirable fats and waxes from concentrates.
Diamonds
Diamonds are a cannabis isolate with such a high degree of purity that the specific cannabinoid forms a crystalline solid, like a diamond. Cannabis diamonds are usually made from concentrated THCA or CBDA.
Diesel
Cannabis strains that have a distinct smell and taste of fuel. Sour Diesel is the most popular of these strains.
“Gas” or “Gassy” are also common terms used to describe these types of strains.
Diffused Downstem
A downstem that diffuses smoke through holes or slits before it enters the water chamber, cooling the smoke and making hits smoother.
Diffuser
A device in a bong or dab rig that diffuses smoke when in water, creating a smoother, cooler hit. Usually attached to or replacing the downstem, diffusers create many smaller bubbles than a traditional downstem, increasing surface area and cooling the smoke.
Diffusion
Diffusion is the movement of smoke or vapor from an area where it is highly concentrated to an area of low concentration. Diffusion cools and purifies smoke by increasing the surface area of the smoke exposed to water. Cooled, purified smoke can be inhaled in greater amounts than hot, ashy smoke, so a diffuser can enable larger inhalations and potentially higher doses of THC. However, water purification with diffusion not only reduces temperature and ash volume, but THC content as well
Disc Perc
A horizontal, circular, disc-shaped percolator with slits or holes all over it that’s usually welded into the body of a bong or dab rig. Disc percs with many tiny holes are often called honeycomb percs.
Dispensary
Dispensaries are licensees in the cannabis industry who dispense products to patients and customers.
Distillate
A viscous, golden liquid created by refining cannabis resin. Distillation allows the processor to isolate a desired compound from the cannabis plant and leave behind undesirable plant material. Distillates are commonly used in vape cartridges and can also be used in edibles, topicals, and other products. Distillates also tend to be potent because they isolate a specific compound.
Dogwalker
A small joint, meant for a short smoke session. Unlike pinners, which are thin and long, dogwalkers are a normal width but short in length. Dogwalkers are known by a variety of names, such as short tokes, minis and singles.
Domeless Nail
A nail, the apparatus that holds cannabis concentrate in a dab rig, can either be domeless or domed. Domeless nails are open and usually require a carb cap to help regulate airflow, and domed nails have an additional glass dome piece around the nail that helps contain vapor when dabbing.
Doobie
A doobie is another term for a joint.
Dose/Dosing
A quantity of cannabis inhaled, ingested, or administered to achieve desired effects. Cannabis is most easily dosed in edibles, as they can be easily measured and mixed. Edible doses are measured in milligrams (mg), usually of cannabinoids such as THC or CBD. It is much more difficult to dose other cannabis products, such as joints, bowls, dabs, etc., because it is hard to quantify one hit.
Downstem
The piece of a water pipe that connects the bowl to the main chamber. The downstem helps provide suction, pulling smoke or vapor into the water before getting inhaled. This long piece of glass can be fixed or removable, and can have a diffuser at the chamber end, which additionally cools smoke.
Dry Ice Hash
Dry ice hash is made by adding dry ice to a container of shredded cannabis buds and shaken, causing the resin glands to freeze, allowing them to easily break off and fall through the mesh net at the bottom of the container.
Dry Sift
Commonly known as kief, dry sieve, or dry sift hash, this cannabis concentrate is free of chemicals and water, created by dry sifting cannabis plant material through a series of screens. Dry sifting is one of the oldest methods of creating cannabis concentrates.
Dugout
A small carrying case that holds a one-hitter pipe and has a chamber for cannabis flower that is usually ground up. A dugout is a convenient, all-in-one kit that allows a smoker to pull out the one-hitter, easily pack it with bud from the chamber, and smoke while on-the-go.
E
E-nail
An e-nail is an “electronic nail” used for heating and inhaling high-THC cannabis extracts, or dabs. Instead of using an open flame to heat up a nail (a piece on a dab rig where cannabis concentrates are vaporized), e-nails electronically heat concentrates, allowing dabbers to select and maintain a desired temperature, leading to safer, more consistent dabs.
E-rig
E-rigs electronically heat a nail for dabbing and have internal sensors to control temperature. E-rigs can be a complete unit or an attachment that is placed onto a separate dab rig.
Earwax
One of the many interchangeable terms used to describe an opaque variety of hash oil. This texture is normally achieved by whipping the extracted oil, which infuses air into the product and makes a lighter, aerated texture. Some extractions will automatically turn to wax, which is known as “auto-buddering”.
Edibles (Medibles)
Cannabis edibles (sometimes referred to as medibles) are food products and beverages infused with cannabinoids. Medibles are often sold at cannabis dispensaries as brownies, candy bars, cookies, gummies, energy drinks, lozenges, cooking oil, and butter. An edible can lead to intense highs and have long-lasting effects for the user because it takes longer to metabolize cannabis when ingested than cannabis which is inhaled and subsequently enters the bloodstream through the lungs.
Eighth
An eighth (⅛) is a measurement of cannabis weight. It is the shorthand for “one-eighth of an ounce,” or 3.5
grams.
Elixir
A drinkable cannabis product. Elixirs are a type of edible and, therefore, are processed through the stomach and liver.
Entourage Effect
The phenomenon that all compounds in the cannabis plant, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and more, work together synergistically to provide greater effects and health benefits than by themselves when consumed— the sum is greater than the whole of the parts.
Errl
Slang term for hash oil.
Ethanol Hash Oil (EHO)
A cannabis extract made using ethanol alcohol. Ethanol alcohol is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA, making it a healthier solvent for extraction than butane, propane, and many other chemical solvents. EHO can be made through either a warm or cold process.
Extract
The resin of a cannabis plant, which contains cannabinoids, terpenes, and other active compounds, can be extracted into a concentrated form, called an “extract.” There are many different types of cannabis extracts, depending on the extraction method used and the texture, consistency, and appearance of the resulting
extract. Broadly, extracts can fall into two categories: full spectrum (which contain all compounds of the plant) and isolates, which are a concentrated form of one compound.
Extraction
Extractions are the processes that aim to remove oil or resin from cannabis plant material to make a concentrate product. Extraction methods can use solvents such as butane, propane, or CO2 in a closed-loop system to produce BHO, PHO, or CO2 extracts, or can use heat and pressure to remove oils, as in making rosins or hash. Different extraction techniques can produce a variety of concentrates, including wax, shatter, oil, rosin, hash, and many more, and new extraction methods are created all the time.
F
Farm Bill
The 2018 Farm Bill, also known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was passed by the United States Congress largely to provide necessary subsidies and guidance to farmers. The law also legalized hemp at the federal level, making it legal to cultivate hemp in any state and to transport hemp across state lines for interstate commerce. The legislation drew a clear distinction between hemp and cannabis by stipulating that legal hemp cannot contain more than 0.3 percent of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Fatty
A fatty is a slang for a large, unusually wide, joint.
Feminization
Feminization refers to the process of breeding two female cannabis plants to create a female, bud-bearing cannabis plant. Cultivators do this to ensure that the breeding does not result in a male cannabis plant, which tends to have a lower yield of cannabinoid-rich flowers and buds than a female plant. The specific process of feminization requires the grower to force one female cannabis plant to produce pollen sacs, which are then harvested for pollen and used to pollinate a second female plant and generate feminized seeds.
Fire
Fire is an adjective used to describe high quality cannabis, typically flower or concentrates.
Fixed Downstem
A downstem is the piece of a water pipe that connects the bowl to the main chamber, and in this case, it is fixed to the pipe, but others can be removable. The downstem helps provide suction, pulling smoke or vapor into the water before getting inhaled.
Flavonoid
Flavonoids are a group of plant metabolites thought to provide health benefits through cell signaling pathways and antioxidant effects. These molecules are found in a variety of fruits and vegetables and cannabis.
Flavonoids are polyphenolic molecules containing 15 carbon atoms and are soluble in water.
It is estimated that up to 10% of the cannabis plant compounds are flavonoids with up to almost 3% by weight in dried leaves and buds. The list of flavonoids in cannabis depends on which strains are being examined and the color of the plants.
Flower
While cannabis flowers don’t have traditional petals, they are still the reproductive organ of the female plants. Cannabis flowers are the hairy, sticky, crystal-covered bits of the female plants that are harvested and dried to be used as medication. When male plants fertilize them, these flowers will produce cannabis seeds. If not, they will continue to produce the resin that contains their active cannabinoids until they are harvested or begin to die.
Flowering Time
Flowering time refers to the time it takes for a plant to produce mature flowers. Cannabis flowering times are affected by the length of daily exposure the plant receives to sun (except for Cannabis ruderalis species, which flower automatically). When flowering times are reported for a strain, they are general estimates based on how the plants do on average in optimal conditions. Actual flowering times will vary, and it is up to the grower to decide when to harvest for maximum benefit.
FMCD (Full Melt Clear Dome)
The top grade of water hash and dry sieve, which is indicated by the way it bubbles when heated. To see this most clearly, it is best to use a screen and smoke the hash on its own. Applying light, indirect heat will cause the hash to start to melt and puddle — if well made, you will see large, clear bubbles forming readily as the hash melts away to basically nothing.
Fresh Frozen
The process of freezing cannabis immediately after harvest, usually with dry ice, to preserve trichomes for concentrate extraction. Fresh frozen cannabis usually produces high-quality concentrates such as live resins and live rosins and saves cultivators time and labor by skipping the trimming, drying, and curing processes.
Frit
Frit is a ceramic, powder-like material made from several inorganic materials that have been melted together and crushed to a granular consistency. It is often used for glazing and decorative purposes in glassblowing, and can be used to make pipes, bongs, and other pieces. Due to its high-silica and low-aluminum content, frit is usually melted within other glass to enhance color saturation or to customize a design.
Full Melt
Full melt is a term for high-grade dry sieve or water hash—it fully melts and doesn’t leave a residue or char behind. Dry sieve and water hash are rated on a scale of one to six stars, indicating refinement and meltability. Full-melt hash is highly refined and usually rated at five or six stars.
Full-Spectrum
Full-spectrum extracts are extracts of cannabis flower that include all compounds of the plant including cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, and more, instead of an isolate of one of the compounds.
G
Ganja
A Hindu term for cannabis that refers to the plant’s buds, which are meant to be smoked. The term is most commonly associated with Rastafari culture and is used in Jamaica, but the term originated in India.
Gassy
Gassy refers to strains that emit a strong odor much like gasoline. Diesel is another term used for gassy.
Generation Joint
The culmination of many pieces of leftover roaches broken up and rerolled into one joint. Can be somewhat nasty tasting.
Genotype
Genotype is the genetic blueprint or code of a cannabis plant. The physical expression or appearance of a plant depends in part on the plant’s genotype. The environmental conditions in which a cannabis plant grows also plays a significant role in determining the activation or suppression of specific genes.
Germination
Germination is the start of the cannabis plant’s growth cycle when a seed first cracks and sprouts a seedling. During cultivation, cannabis growers may trigger the germination process to accelerate the growth cycle. Without germination, a cannabis seed will not have access to the water, oxygen, and other nutrients needed for plant growth.
Glass
The most popular material used to make pipes and bongs. Glass is a favorite because flavors won’t leach into the cannabis and can withstand high temperatures. Glass is also easy to manipulate and create artistic pieces with. Glass pieces are often divided into scientific and heady glass: scientific pieces are sturdy, functional, and more basic in appearance, whereas heady pieces favor form over function. Borosilicate and quartz are high quality types of glass that are durable and commonly used in dab rigs and nails but are also used in pipes and bongs.
Grinder
A grinder is a tool used for grinding up dried cannabis flower into smaller pieces for a more even burn when smoking, usually to roll into a joint or blunt, or for cooking into oil for edibles. A grinder is most often a small, handheld container: cannabis is loaded onto the “teeth” inside and ground up by twisting the top piece.
H
Half
A half is half an ounce, normally of cannabis bud, but it can also be shake or trim. An ounce is 28.35 grams, technically making a half-ounce 14.17 grams. 14 grams is frequently the accepted weight of a half-ounce.
Hash
Hash (aka hashish or bubble hash) is made from tightly compressed cannabis resin, forming solid chunks of concentrated trichome heads that are usually brown in color. Hash is commonly smoked in a pipe, but it can also be prepared into ingestible forms or vaporized. Because hash separates the potent trichome heads from the cannabis plant material, it offers more potency in a smaller amount.
Heady Glass
High-quality glass pipes or bongs prized for their artistry and the skill used to make them. Although they may seem more like art pieces than pipes, they don’t sacrifice function for form.
Heirloom
Cannabis strains whose seeds or genetics have been preserved and passed down for generations. Heirloom strains differ from landraces in that they have been brought from their place of origin and cultivated in a new environment.
Hemp
Hemp is a plant in the Cannabaceae family that is traditionally used for creating textiles and other materials. Today, hemp is used for Hemp-based CBD products. Since the passing of the Farm Bill in 2018, hemp with less than 0.3% THC may be grown across the US for hemp-based CBD products. However, each state still has its own laws regarding CBD.
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil comes from hemp seeds and contains no CBD or other cannabinoids. Hemp seeds are high in essential fatty acids and other nutrients.
Honeycomb Disc
A flat, horizontal, disc-shaped percolator with many tiny holes that resembles a honeycomb. Honeycomb percs usually sit inside a bong or dab rig, whereas disc percs are welded to the body of the piece.
Hot Box
Hot boxing is the act of smoking cannabis in a small, enclosed space. Common hot box locations include cars, closets and bathrooms.
Hybrid
A cannabis plant that is the result of crossbreeding two other plants. Cannabis breeders often create hybrids to combine characteristics of the parent plants into one strain. Typically, a hybrid is used to refer to a plant that shares genetics from both a sativa and an indica.
Hydrocarbon Extraction
Cannabis plant extractions that use hydrocarbons such as butane, propane, and hexane to remove resin from the plant. Hydrocarbons are highly volatile and can be explosive, and are recommended to be used only by licensed, trained professionals.
Hydroponics
A method of growing cannabis plants using water as a medium, rather than soil. In hydroponics, roots are suspended in water and water not initially absorbed gets recycled through the system for later use.
I
Ice Catcher
An ice catcher is a feature in bongs and dab rigs which allows the neck of the device to be filled with ice cubes in order to cool down smoke, making it easier on the throat and easier to inhale a larger volume of smoke or vapor.
Ice Water Hash
A cannabis concentrate in which trichomes are frozen and broken off the plant using ice water and physical agitation, then poured through mesh bags to sift out non-resinous plant material. Ice water hash is also called bubble hash, ice wax, and cold-water hash, and is usually dabbed but can also be sprinkled on top of flower.
Indica
Indicas are one of two types of cannabis plants, along with sativas. Indica plants originally grew in cold, northern climates, are short and dense, and have broad leaves. Indicas are also known to have a shorter growing time than sativas, and some turn purple in color.
Infused
The process of adding cannabis to another substance so as to affect the entire substance. Topicals, food and beverages may all be infused with cannabis.
Infused Pre-Roll
An infused pre-roll is a pre-roll, or already-rolled joint, with some type of concentrate added to it. The concentrate may be applied to the outside or rolled inside the pre-roll. Many types of concentrates may be used to infuse pre-rolls—but most frequently kief, bubble hash or wax is used.
Isolate
Isolate products are those which contain a singular cannabinoid (such as THC, CBD, CDC, CBG or CBN) with no accompanying terpenes or flavonoids.
J
Jelly Hash
A cannabis concentrate made by mixing bubble hash and hash oil in varying ratios, creating a jelly-like consistency.
Joint
A joint is a rolled cannabis “cigarette” usually made of ground cannabis flower. Rolling papers can be made from wood pulp, hemp, rice, and other materials. Joints are one of the most common methods of smoking cannabis.
K
KD
A KD is a slang term representing a 3.5 gram serving of cannabis—or an eighth—named for NBA superstar Kevin Durant. Durant wore the number 35 before switching to 7.
Kief
Kief is trichomes that have fallen off cannabis buds. It’s usually a gold or brown powder-like dusting that is often collected in grinders as it detaches from buds when ground. The cannabis flower’s trichomes are glands that secrete oils rich in compounds like THC, CBD, terpenes, and more.
Kind
Kind bud, more properly known as “kine bud,” is a term for high quality cannabis flower. The term “kine” is native Hawaiian for “excellent,” and it is often mispronounced by English speakers as “kind.”
Kush
Kushes are a family of cannabis phenotypes that were originally cultivated in California from seeds obtained at a Grateful Dead concert, believed to be related to Chemdawg and Hindu Kush varieties. Kushes are some of the most popular cannabis cultivars.
L
Ladder Perc
A ladder perc is type of percolator found in glass bongs and dab rigs. Ladder percs are made of several stacked disc-shaped bubbler chambers. Water moves up each chamber when inhaling smoke or vapor, as if climbing a ladder. As with all percolators, ladder percs cool and filter smoke, making hits smoother.
Landrace
A cannabis cultivar that is native to a specific region. Landraces have unique physical and chemical traits that are a result of growing in their native environment. Their names often reflect their regions: Afghani, Acapulco Gold, Hindu Kush, etc. They are some of the oldest varieties of cannabis strains and intense hybridization over the past several decades has made true landraces hard to find.
Leaf
Perhaps the most iconic symbol of the cannabis plant, leaves stick out of branches and usually have five or seven points. They absorb light and are essential for photosynthesis.
Leafly
Leafly is a website focused on cannabis use and education. Leafly has some compiled a comprehensive collection of information on all aspects of cannabis. The company says it has more than 120 million annual
visitors and over 10 million monthly active users.
Liquid Live Resin
Liquid live resin is a cannabis concentrate, a liquid derived from having reduced cannabis plant material down to its most potent parts.
Live Resin
Live resin is a cannabis concentrate made from fresh-frozen cannabis plants, in which plants are frozen immediately after harvesting, whereas other extraction processes typically use buds that have been dried and cured. This process ensures a greater retention of terpenes in the finished product.
Live Rosin
Live rosin is a solventless cannabis concentrate made from fresh-frozen cannabis plants. Frozen plants are placed in a rosin press, which uses heat and pressure to extract a hot oil from the plants, which is rosin. The
“live” in live rosin means frozen plants were used as the source material; when dried cannabis plant material is used, it is just rosin.
Loud
A slang term for high quality, fragrant cannabis. Loud can also refer to the pungency of a bud’s aroma.
Low-temp Dab
Dabbing done at a low temperature, which preserves terpenes and flavors more than when dabbing at a high temperature, which can burn up terpenes but usually produces a stronger high. Low-temp dabs are usually achieved through cold-start or reverse dabbing, in which concentrates are placed in a nail first and then heated. A dab at 450°F (232°C) or below is generally considered a low-temp dab.
M
Marijuana
Marijuana is a slang term for cannabis. Derived from Mexican Spanish and corrupted from its original spelling marihuana. The term marijuana gained popularity in the US at the turn of the 20th century. Some etymologists trace the word to the Chinese term “mar ren hua” meaning “hemp seed flower.”
Mary Jane
Mary Jane is a slang term for cannabis flower.
Medibles
Medibles is a term for edibles made to be used in the medical cannabis market.
Medical Use
Medical use refers to the therapeutic use of cannabis for treatment of various conditions, illnesses and symptoms.
Micron Grade
Refers to size of the micron bag used to collect trichomes during hash production, Popular micron grades include 73u, 90u and 140u. Each micron grade has different sized holes.
Micron Screen
A small finely perforated mesh screen (sieve) used in the production of hash—usually bubble hash or Ice hash.
Mid
Mid is medium-to-low quality cannabis with poor appearance, smell, and minimal effects beyond a dull headache.
MIP
Short for marijuana infused product.
Moon Rock
A nug of cannabis flower that has been covered in liquid cannabis concentrate and dusted with kief. Moon rocks get their name because they are so potent the high will send you to the moon.
N
Nabilone
Nabilone is a man-made drug (sold under the name Ceramet) similar to a cannabinoid.
Nail
An apparatus that holds cannabis concentrate in a dab rig. A nail is an attachment that connects to the downstem, much like a bowl in a bong, and they are commonly made of quartz, glass, ceramic, or titanium. Nails are heated to a high temperature with a torch, flash vaporizing concentrates when they are placed on the nail. E-nails also exist, which heat up to a controlled temperature using electricity, not a torch.
Nectar Collector
A nectar collector is a type of portable dab rig used to vaporize cannabis concentrates. Nectar collectors have a vertical design that looks like a straw. The body is made of glass or silicone, and the tip is made of titanium or quartz, which is heated with a torch or electric power, and then used to inhale concentrate.
Nug
A nug is a smokable, self-contained piece of cannabis flower. Nugs can vary in size and color depending on
their genetics and how they were cultivated and typically fit in the palm of one’s hand. “Nug” is an abbreviation of “nugget,” possibly in reference to the discovery of gold in California.
Nug Run
A batch of cannabis concentrate made exclusively with nugs or buds and not shake or trim, as is common. Nug runs can use dried buds or fresh frozen cannabis, as in the case of live resins. Because they use buds, extracts made from nug runs are typically higher in quality.
O
Octobowl
A glass bowl piece for bongs that features a built-in glass screen to maximize airflow, provide even burning, and reduce clogging.
OG
OGs, also known as “Kushes,” are a family of cannabis phenotypes that were originally cultivated in California from seeds obtained at a Grateful Dead concert, believed to be related to Chemdawg and Hindu Kush varieties. OGs are some of the most popular cannabis cultivars. While much controversy exists over what the “OG” in OG Kush stands for, most evidence points to it meaning “ocean grown”.
Oil
Cannabis oils are liquid extracts from cannabis plants. Unprocessed, they contain the same active ingredients as the plants.
One Hitter
As the name implies, a one-hitter is a small pipe designed for just one hit at a time. One-hitters often have the bowl facing straight out, away from the mouthpiece, rather than on the top of the pipe, and usually don’t have a carb.
Ounce
A common unit of measurement for weighing cannabis. An ounce equals 28.35 grams, but 28 grams is often accepted as an ounce.
P
Papers
Rolling papers used for making joints. Papers come in a variety of formats including standard paper, flavored, or printed with designs and are made from a variety of materials (such as rice, hemp and chamomile).
Percolator
A part of a bong or dab rig that diffuses smoke. This process further cools and filters smoke, making it easier to inhale. They come in a variety of designs, each of which produce unique types of bubbles and filtration.
Phenotype
A phenotype, or pheno, refers to the physical expression of a cannabis plant’s genetic blueprint; when a female cannabis plant produces seeds, each seed is a phenotype that expresses a unique set of traits from the mother and father plants. Phenotypes occur as the result of the interaction between a plant’s genetic blueprint and the environment in which it is grown.
Piece
Slang for a pipe used to smoke cannabis.
Pinner
A small, thin joint often mocked for its size and small amount of marijuana. Pinners are so named because they look like sewing pins.
Pipe
A pipe is a small device used to smoke cannabis, commonly made of glass, metal, wood, or silicon. Pipes come in all shapes and sizes and are perhaps the simplest and most common method of consuming cannabis. A pipe has four main parts: the bowl, where cannabis is placed for combustion; the mouthpiece, where you draw in smoke; the chamber, which fills with smoke; and a carburetor, which allows you to control airflow (this is optional but found on a vast majority of pipes).
Pistils
The reproductive organ of the female cannabis plant. In cannabis, as well as other plant species, pistils are composed of three parts: a stigma, a style, and an ovary. Pistils and their parts receive pollen from male plants and change color as the plant matures. Pistils are often confused with stigmas, which are hairs that grow out of pistils to receive pollen from male plants.
Plug
Plug is a slang term for an illegal or street cannabis seller.
Pollen
A fine, powdery substance produced by a male cannabis plant which carries its sperm cells. Pollen is produced and released through pollen sacs on a male plant, after which it travels through the air and lands on a female plant, pollinating it. The female will then grow seeds, which contain the genes of both male and female plants.
Popcorn
Popcorn refers to the small marijuana flower buds that are about the size of a popped kernel of popcorn. Sometimes referred to as Smalls or B-Buds. Popcorn buds are generally a bit more affordably priced.
Pot
Pot is a slang term for cannabis that gained popularity in the 1930s. Shortened from the name of a Spanish grief potion, pot is an abbreviation of “potación de guaya.” This libation was created by soaking cannabis leaves in wine or brandy.
Potency
Potency refers to the strength of the effects a cannabis product will have on a user. Normally, someone asking about the potency of a product is asking about the THC level.
Propane Hash Oil (PHO)
A cannabis concentrate made using propane in the extraction process. PHO is similar to making butane hash oil (BHO), only propane is used instead of butane, and PHO concentrates usually have a budder-like consistency. BHO is the most common method of hydrocarbon extraction, though PHO is growing in popularity. Like all other hydrocarbons, propane is highly volatile and must be handled by licensed, trained professionals only.
Psychoactive
A psychoactive drug or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it alters brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness, and behavior. Examples of psychoactive substances include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, some cannabinoids, and certain pain medicines.
Pull n’ Snap
A cannabis concentrate with a taffy-like consistency. Pull ‘n’ snap is more malleable than shatter but thicker
than oil.
Purps
A term used for cannabis cultivars that express purple in their buds. The term is often reserved for purple strains with an exceptionally potent aroma and effects. It’s also used as slang for Mendocino Purple or Granddaddy Purple cultivars.
Q
QP
A QP is a quarter pound, normally of cannabis bud, but it can also be a quarter pound of shake or trim. There are four QPs in a pound and four ounces in the QP.
Q-Tip Tech
Short for “Q-Tip technology,” this practice involves cleaning a banger or nail with a Q-Tip to remove any residue after every dab, so as not to interfere with the quality and flavor of the next dab.
R
Raw
Cannabis plant material that is mature and ready for harvest, but has not been dried or cured, or heated for consumption. Raw cannabis is usually eaten by consumers because it contains cannabinoids in their acid forms, such as THCA or CBDA, before decarboxylation. These compounds provide a unique set of health benefits in addition to fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which differ from cannabis that is smoked or decarboxylated.
Reclaim
Char or cold oil leftover on a nail or in a rig from dabbing, analogous to resin leftover in a pipe from smoking flower. As with resin, reclaim can be smoked, but it will be harsh and taste bad.
Recreational Use
Recreational cannabis refers to cannabis grown, sold, and used by adults for purposes of enjoyment.
Reefer
“Reefer” is a slang term for cannabis dating back to at least the 1930s. At the time it was a coded word jazz musicians used to refer to cannabis in their songs. The term rose to infamy with the release of the 1936
propaganda film Reefer Madness, which portrayed students and youth committing heinous crimes or suffering psychological breakdowns due to smoking cannabis.
Resin
A sticky substance secreted by the trichomes of the cannabis plant. Trichomes are glands primarily on cannabis buds that contain most of the cannabinoids and terpenes that get you high or offer medicinal benefits. Resin protects the plant from UV light and pests and is what makes cannabis sticky. Resin can be collected as a concentrate resembling hash.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)
Rick Simpson Oil, more commonly referred to by its abbreviation “RSO,” is a cannabis concentrate that is usually applied topically or ingested. It is made using an ethanol (alcohol) extraction, which pulls the essential compounds out of cannabis buds, resulting in a dark, syrupy oil that is often put into applicators for easier dosing and use. It is named after Rick Simpson, who popularly used the oil as a skin cancer treatment.
Rig
Rig is a shortened form of “dab rig,” a water pipe used to inhale cannabis extracts, or dabs. It filters cannabis vapor through water, much like a bong. A dab rig may be used to consume a variety of extracts, including oil, rosin, butter, sauce, diamonds, and other solvent and non-solvent forms of hash.
Roach
The end of a joint, blunt, spliff, or any rolled cannabis product. An equivalent is the butt of a cigarette. Roach sizes are determined by personal preferences and can be discarded or saved for later.
Roach Clip
Slang term for a small metal clip resembling tweezers, used to hold the butt of a joint to prevent burning one’s
fingers.
Rolling Papers
A rolling paper is a thin piece of paper used to envelop ground-up cannabis flower into a joint. Most rolling papers are made from wood pulp like regular paper, but they can also be made from hemp, rice, flax and other smokeable products. Rolling papers come in different sizes, such as singles, 1 ¼, 1 ½, wide, king, etc., and may be infused with flavors, e.g., grape, cherry, chocolate, etc.
Rosin
Rosin is a solventless cannabis concentrate created using heat and pressure to remove trichomes from cannabis plant matter. Rosin is commonly consumed with a dab rig but can also come in vape cartridges. Rosin is considered by many to be the purest form of cannabis concentrates because it is not made with chemicals.
Ruderalis
Cannabis Ruderalis is a variety of cannabis, like sativa or indica. The most noted feature of
ruderalis is its short growing cycle, which reaches flowering within 21-30 days regardless of the amount of light the plant receives. Because of this, breeders use ruderalis plants to create auto-flowering cannabis strains, allowing for quicker harvests or more outdoor harvests in one growing season.
S
Sativa
Sativa is one of two legacy taxonomic terms for cannabis, along with indica. Physically, sativas are usually tall, airy, narrow-leafed, and slow-growing. Typically, sativas evolved in hot, humid climates, with their lankiness and open bud structure allowing for more airflow to prevent mold.
Sauce
Sauce is an extract usually with a high terpene content that has a liquid consistency, hence its name. Sauces are made with chemical solvents and are known for being flavorful.
Schedule 1 Drug
Under the Controlled Substances Act, various drugs are classified by schedules. Schedule I substances are defined as drugs with no federally recognized medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Schwag
Low-quality cannabis that usually contains popcorn buds with stems, seeds, and leaves. Schwag is distinct from trim (which is sugar leaves and other plant material trimmed off buds) and shake (which is what falls buds after being handled).
Screens
Metal mesh screens or glass pieces placed over the hole at the bottom of a bowl to limit the amount of ash or small bits of cannabis drawn into the stem of a pipe, rig or bong.
Shake
Small pieces of cannabis flower that were once part of larger buds. Shake usually falls off buds when handling them or when they get jostled around in packaging. It is frequently used by producers to make pre-rolled joints.
Shatter
Shatter is a cannabis extract that is solid and translucent in appearance, as if you could shatter it like glass. It achieves its glass-like appearance through specific processing techniques involving solvents like butane or other hydrocarbons.
Showerhead Percolator
A style of a percolator that resembles a showerhead, with holes or slits on the bottom of a flared vertical tube. Percolators diffuse smoke, making it smoother and easier to inhale. Smoke travels from a bowl or nail through the showerhead percolator and into the main chamber before going into the mouthpiece to be inhaled.
Shotgunning
Shotgunning is the act of inhaling cannabis smoke or vapor before putting your lips to another person’s and exhaling the cannabis smoke directly into their mouth. The recipient will then inhale the smoke and both parties will get high from the one hit.
Sinsemilla
A Spanish term meaning “seedless,” sinsemilla refers to cannabis grown without seeds. In the wild, cannabis grows seeds along with buds so when it dies, it will grow again the following year. Growing sinsemilla cannabis was adopted in the 1960s and ‘70s to produce buds without seeds for consumers, by only growing bud- producing female cannabis plants and not allowing them to get pollinated.
Skunk
Slang for any potent, high-THC strain of cannabis. The media has often used the term to define a product as street weed. Skunk is also the name of one of the oldest most popular strains of cannabis.
Slab
Slang for a large piece of concentrate when dabbing.
Solvent
A solvent is a substance, usually a liquid, that can dissolve other substances (called the solute), which forms a solution. In the cannabis industry, “solvent” concentrates refer to products made using chemicals such as butane, propane, ethanol, etc., which are added to a closed-loop system to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from cannabis plant material. Water is technically a solvent as well, and can be used to create bubble hash,
even though this is usually referred to as a “solventless” concentrate.
Solvent Free
A concentrate made with solvents that have been purged out to non-detectable levels. Solvent-free concentrates differ from solventless concentrates, which are made without solvents. Any concentrate made with a solvent can be purged to be solvent free, though solvent-free concentrates are often oils.
Spliff
A joint that has tobacco mixed in with cannabis flower.
STATES Act
The Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act, or STATES Act, was a law first proposed by the United States Congress in 2018. The bill would have officially recognized the cannabis legalization laws and initiatives that have been passed by individual states. The law also would have amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) so that states and territories where recreational or medical cannabis is legal would be exempted from federal enforcement of nationwide laws against cannabis.
The STATES Act would not legalize cannabis at the federal level, but instead would prevent the federal government from interfering with states that have legalized cannabis. Despite having 33 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate and 206 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives, the STATES Act has not yet received enough bipartisan support to become law.
Steamroller
Steamroller pipes are a type of hand pipe designed for the more experienced smoker. Steamrollers are horizontal pipes similar to chillums to the extent that they provide a straight shot from the bowl to the mouthpiece. They are typically much larger than chillums, have a top bowl, and produce a much larger hit.
Stickyguide
Stickyguide is an online listing service for cannabis businesses, particularly dispensaries and delivery services. Most businesses listed on stickyguide also maintain menus of their products in their listing.
Stoner
A slang term who someone who is habitually high from cannabis. Traditionally, the term stoner has had a negative connotation.
Strain
A strain refers to the named variations of cannabis that differ in appearance, aroma, and effect. Cannabis grows natively in different regions of the world and has been selectively bred for various characteristics. Terms like “sativa” and “indica” describe different structural differences in the plant: narrow vs. broad leaves, tall vs. short stature, etc. Cannabis strains that has been crossbred are called hybrids, which make up a vast majority of cannabis available today.
Subcritical Extraction
Subcritical extraction requires less pressure and lower temperature (non-supercritical) than supercritical extraction. In subcritical extractions, the pressure is maintained while the temperature is taken below the supercritical threshold, causing it to become a (non-supercritical) liquid. It still maintains some of hydrophobic extraction properties, but the lower temperatures protect fragile constituents from denaturing. This process is longer, less efficient and produces smaller yields, but it retains and protects fragile constituents like essential oils, terpenes, and other sensitive chemicals within the plant, which is highly desirable when producing full- spectrum cannabis products.
These temperature and pressure differences result in very different cannabis products. Subcritical extraction produces a substance with a consistency closer to molasses. CO2 is the most popular chemical compound used in subcritical extractions.
Sugar
Sugar, sometimes called “sugar wax,” is a type of cannabis concentrate with a consistency like wet sugar, or sugar mixed with a liquid, but not dissolved. Cannabis sugar is made through chemical extraction and can be made from dried flower or fresh frozen cannabis plants. Sugar often has a bright yellow or deep amber color.
Sugar Leaf
Small leaves on the cannabis plant that buds form around as the plant matures and flowers. Sugar leaves are so named because they produce trichomes, which makes them look as if covered in sugar. They can be saved as “trim” during harvest and used for pre-rolls, extracts, and other cannabis products.
Sun Rocks
Sun Rocks are like Moon Rocks in that they both start with cannabis flower coated in THC concentrate for a highly potent sticky bud of weed. However, Sun Rocks are simply drenched in an ultra-strong concentrate for an amber, almost sunny, appearance. The flower and the concentrate used to make a Sun Rock are from the same strain.
Supercritical Extraction
CO2 is the most commonly used supercritical fluid. At standard temperatures and pressure, CO2 is a gas. However, when heated above a critical temperature and critical pressure, it exudes both the properties of a gas and a liquid, becoming what is called a supercritical fluid, and the start of the supercritical extraction process.
This supercritical liquid acts as a solvent and can slide into porous materials in addition to dissolving them. So, in the application to cannabis, the supercritical fluid passes through a chamber containing raw cannabis material, gently dissolving the membrane of the trichomes to capture their active compounds.
Next, the compound-enriched solvent passes into another pressurized separation vessel. As pressures and temperatures fluctuate, compounds such as cannabinoids and terpenes are fractionated away. Finally, the remaining CO2 is transferred to a condenser vessel where the temperature and pressure allow the fluid to stabilize back into a gas.
Supercritical systems produce a substance with the consistency of peanut butter. Higher temperatures and pressures used in supercritical systems can extract much larger molecules such as omega 3 and 6 lipids, chlorophyll and waxes which can then be removed through a process called winterization—leaving behind just cannabinoid oil. While supercritical extractions produce a greater yield and take less time than subcritical extractions, they are too harsh for some terpenes—resulting in a loss or a transformation of these compounds.
Suppository
A solid medical preparation in a roughly conical or cylindrical shape, designed to be inserted into the rectum or vagina to dissolve.
Swiss Perc
Also called a Swiss cheese percolator, it is so named because it resembles Swiss cheese—it’s a round disc covered in holes. Swiss percs are vertical discs with holes in the body of a bong or rig, and smoke is forced around the holes, cooling it. They are different from honeycomb percs, which are horizontal discs inside the body of the bong or rig.
Synergy
Synergy refers to the interaction between compounds in cannabis that define the greater effects and health benefits of the group over the individual effects and benefits. Synergy occurs during the entourage effect.
T
Taffy
A cannabis concentrate with a consistency similar to saltwater taffy. Taffy is slightly heated, then stretched and twisted to expose it to oxygen, changing its consistency. It is sometimes called “pull ‘n’ snap” and is commonly made from rosins.
Terp Pearls
Small balls made of borosilicate, quartz, or other materials that are placed in a banger to aid in dabbing. Also called “banger beads” or “dab beads,” terp pearls spin around the bottom of the banger when dabbing to distribute concentrate and heat evenly, providing consistent dabs and helping to maximize flavor.
Terp Sauce
Terp sauce is a cannabis extract that contains a high concentration of terpenes, resulting in a runny, syrupy sauce-like concentrate. Terpenes are the fragrant oils that give cannabis flower its many different aromas, such as lemon, pine, or skunk; they are also thought to contribute to the various effect profiles of cannabis strains. Terp sauce is often combined with more solid chunks of cannabis isolate or extract or processed into a vape cartridge.
Terp Slurper
A style of a quartz banger nail with a dish attached to the bottom. When concentrate melts, holes in the bottom of the banger allow oil to seep out into the dish, which brings out the concentrate’s flavors and ensures none is wasted.
Terpene
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds that give cannabis strains their unique scent. In other words, terpenes are the reason Tangie smells like sweet oranges, Permafrost like a pine forest, and Sour Diesel like a bucket of funky fuel. Research has yet to demonstrate just how these aromatic compounds contribute to the effects of cannabis, but theoretically, different terpenes may help shape the sensations imparted by different varieties of cannabis. Just as different essential oils have different uses, so might cannabis terpenes.
Thai Stick
An ancient cannabis product originating in Thailand, in which cured cannabis flower is packed around a bamboo stick, wrapped in cannabis fan leaves, and then bound with hemp string. It is essentially the first example of a cannabis cigar, or canna-gar.
Tincture
A cannabis-infused liquid that is ingested or absorbed sublingually. Traditionally tinctures were made with an alcohol base. Today, however, cannabis infused oils (such as MCT and Olive Oil) packaged in dropper bottles are also referred to as tinctures.
Toke
A slang term for the drawing of a puff from a cannabis cigarette, pipe, dab rig or bong. Another term for taking a hit.
Toker
A cannabis smoker.
Tolerance Break (T-Break)
A tolerance break — sometimes called a T-break — is a deliberate, temporary cessation of cannabis consumption for the purpose of resetting the body’s cannabinoid receptors and thereby the body’s tolerance to THC. Many people who regularly consume cannabis will develop higher and higher tolerance to THC.
While there is no research defining the exact duration for a tolerance break, a study published in 2015 shows that after about 48 hours, the endocannabinoid receptors have already started to reset. As a result, it is generally accepted that 72+ hours is a good tolerance break.
However, long-term cannabis consumers and those who have been taking high doses of THC for an extended period may need longer to get back to optimal endocannabinoid system functioning.
Medical cannabis patients who are treating a chronic illness, need to balance any periods of abstinence to ensure symptoms of the condition being treated do not get out of control. It is important to note that individuals who use CBD only products (or products that are mostly CBD) are unlikely to need a T-break. Finally, you can build a tolerance to both THC and to a specific strain of cannabis.
Topical
Topicals are cannabis products applied directly to the skin for therapeutic benefits. To make these products, cannabis is infused in an oil, balm, lotion or some other carrier designed to go directly on the skin. Cannabis topicals are often used to treat localized pain, soreness, and inflammation and don’t make you feel high.
Torch
A heat source used for dabbing. Torches are used to heat the nail of a dab rig to high temperatures so cannabis concentrate can be flash vaporized. Torches often use butane or propane as fuel and are refillable.
Transdermal Patch
A transdermal patch is a cannabis patch that is applied directly to the skin to allow cannabinoids to enter the bloodstream without the user needing to smoke marijuana or consume a cannabis edible. Transdermal cannabis patches are popular among cannabis consumers due to ease of use and because they can be customized to isolate a particular ratio or percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD).
Transdermal patches also enable a slow-timed release of cannabis to the user, creating the conditions for the cannabis consumer to enjoy an all-day high with long-lasting effects.
Tree Perc
A tree perc is a percolator that looks like a tree, with a main trunk and several branches. Smoke comes up through the main trunk to the top, and then is diffused through the many branches and through the water in a bong or dab rig. These branches can also have additional diffusers at their ends, further refining the smoke.
Like all percolators, a tree perc diffuses smoke, cooling it and making hits smoother and less harsh.
Trichome
Trichomes are tiny crystals found on the surface of cannabis flowers. These sticky, hair-like structures protect the cannabis plant against predators, weather conditions, and damaging sunlight. The three most common types of trichomes found on marijuana plants are bulbous trichomes, capitate-sessile trichomes, and capitate- stalked trichomes. Trichomes produce the cannabinoids (such as CBDa and THCa) and terpenes that give cannabis strains their unique flavors, aromas, and effects. Cannabis plants that contain a lot of trichomes may result in strains with a stronger potency.
Trim
Trim are the trimmings of a cannabis plant, cut off during the trimming phase, after harvest. Trim includes sugar leaves, bits of cut-off buds, and knocked off trichomes, or kief. It is considered low quality and usually reserved for making edibles, hash, or pre-rolls.
Troche
A small lozenge infused with cannabis and mixed into a paste with sugar and a viscous or gelatinous solution. Troche is often used to refer to a soft type of gummy that contains medication.
V
Vape
Vape refers to both the process of inhaling cannabis vapor from a vaporizer, vape pen, dab rig, or e-nail and the apparatus used to make the vapor. Vaping cannabis is typically considered to be less harmful than smoking.
Vape Cartridge
A vape cartridge refers to the glass container pre-filled with cannabis oil and designed for use with an e- cigarette battery or vape rig.
Vape Pen
A common type of vaporizer, vape pens are handheld, discreet, and can fit in your pocket. They usually consist of a battery with a cartridge, or “cart,” that screws on top; the cart contains cannabis oil and a heating element.
Vape Rig
A vape rig, also known as an e-nail or a vaporizer rig, is a dab pen rig attachment. It’s intended to be used as part of a portable dab rig pen.
W
Waffle Perc
A waffle perc is a disc-shaped percolator, usually stretching across the entire cylinder of a bong or dab rig, with a crosshatched hole design that resembles a waffle. Like all percolators, waffle percs filter and cool smoke or vapor during inhalation to create a smoother hit. Waffle percs typically produce larger bubbles and have a thicker design than other percolators.
Wax
Cannabis wax is an extract named for its soft, malleable texture that resembles wax. Because wax can take on
so many nuanced forms, it may also be called “butter,” “budder,” “honeycomb,” or other descriptive names that speak to the extract’s texture and appearance. Wax can be made using a variety of different production
techniques such as butane or hydrocarbon extraction. Wax is most popularly consumed via dabbing, but it can also be added to bowls, joints, or blunts for added potency.
Weed
A slang term for cannabis flower. “Weed” is a general word, used to describe any type of cannabis flower of low, or high, quality.
Weedmaps
Weedmaps is an online cannabis community that allows users to review and discuss cannabis strains and local dispensaries. The website is similar to Yelp and contains a database with over 3,000 medical marijuana dispensaries and over 950 strains of cannabis. The company was launched in July 2008 by Justin Hartfield and Keith Hoerling.
The site attracts approximately two million monthly visitors and has annual revenue of $18 million. Weedmaps is widely considered the industry leader and premier medical cannabis site on the web, catering to the entire industry from patients to businesses and continues to see substantial growth.
Whole Plant
Whole plant cannabis products, often called “whole plant medicine,” is a way to describe the consumption of cannabis in its original, biodiverse form. The term emerged in response to the trend of isolating cannabis compounds like CBD or THC, stripping out the many other chemical constituents of the plant through extraction. It is believed that therapeutic cannabis compounds harmonize when consumed as a whole, which has led many to advocate on behalf of whole plant medicine.
Winterization
An extraction process that uses subzero temperatures to remove undesired waxes and fatty lipids from a cannabis concentrate, including plant lipids, which can negatively impact the flavor and aesthetics of a product. Winterization is like dewaxing, which also separates undesirable fats and waxes in concentrates.
Y
Yield
“Yield” is the amount of cannabis a grower gets from a harvest.
Z
Zaza
Zaza or “exotic” is a blanket term for rare, high-grade strains of cannabis.
Zip
A slang term for an ounce of cannabis flower, equal to 28.35 grams.
Sources:
Leafly.com (primary source) The Cannabist
Herbal Alternatives
