Quick answer: This glossary explains 30 common cannabis terms in plain language, from THC and CBD to shatter, terpenes and 510 cartridges. Each term links to the matching shop or guide page where one exists.
Cannabis shopping comes with its own vocabulary. Use this glossary to decode product labels and menu listings before you order. Definitions are written by The Purple Leaf team and reviewed under our editorial policy. They describe products, not health effects.
Jump to: 0-9 · A · C · D · E · F · H · I · K · L · M · O · P · S · T
0-9
- 510 cartridge
- A vape cartridge with the standard 510 screw thread that fits most vape batteries.
A
- AAAA grade
- An informal quality grade used by Canadian dispensaries. Grades run from AA to AAAA+ and reflect bud look, smell, trichome coverage and potency. How AA to AAAA grades work.
C
- Cannabinoid
- Any of the compounds in the cannabis plant, such as THC, CBD and CBN, that act on the body's endocannabinoid system.
- CBD
- Cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating compound in cannabis and hemp. It is sold on its own or mixed with THC. See CBD products and guides.
- CBN
- Cannabinol, a minor cannabinoid that forms as THC ages. It often appears in night-time gummy blends.
- Concentrate
- Any product made by pulling cannabinoids out of the plant, including shatter, hash, wax, live resin and distillate. See Concentrate products and guides.
D
- Decarboxylation
- Heating cannabis to turn THCA, which is not intoxicating, into THC. Smoking, vaping and baking all do this.
- Disposable vape
- An all-in-one, pre-filled vape pen that is used until empty and then thrown away. No charging setup or cartridge swap needed. See Disposable vape products and guides.
- Distillate
- A refined cannabis oil that is close to pure THC or CBD, used in vape carts, syringes and edibles.
E
- Edible
- Any food or drink made with cannabis, such as gummies, chocolate or drink mixes. Effects start later and last longer than smoking. See Edible products and guides.
F
- Flower
- The dried and cured buds of the female cannabis plant, the most common form of cannabis. See Flower products and guides.
- Full spectrum
- An extract that keeps the plant's full range of cannabinoids and terpenes, including small amounts of THC.
H
- Hash
- A traditional concentrate made by pressing trichomes into a solid block or ball. See Hash products and guides.
- Hybrid
- A strain bred from both indica and sativa parents. Most strains sold today are hybrids. See Hybrid products and guides.
I
- Indica
- A cannabis type with short, broad-leaf plants. Shoppers use the word for strains described as heavier and more relaxing. See Indica products and guides.
- Isolate
- A pure single cannabinoid, usually CBD, with every other plant compound removed.
K
- Kief
- The fine, sticky powder of trichomes that collects at the bottom of a grinder.
L
- Live resin
- A concentrate made from plants frozen straight after harvest, which keeps more of the fresh terpenes.
M
- Microdose
- A small dose of THC, usually 2.5 mg or less, taken for mild effects.
- Moon rocks
- Cannabis buds coated in oil or concentrate and rolled in kief, which makes them much stronger than plain flower.
O
- Ounce (oz)
- 28 grams of cannabis. A quarter is 7 g, an eighth is 3.5 g and a half ounce is 14 g.
P
- Pre-roll
- A joint that comes already rolled and ready to smoke, sold singly or in packs. See Pre-roll products and guides.
S
- Sativa
- A cannabis type with tall, narrow-leaf plants. Shoppers use the word for strains described as lighter and more energetic. See Sativa products and guides.
- Shatter
- A glassy, brittle concentrate that snaps when you break it. See Shatter products and guides.
- Strain
- A named variety of cannabis, such as Blue Dream or Gorilla Gas, with its own genetics, look, smell and THC range.
T
- Terpenes
- Aromatic compounds that give each strain its smell and taste, such as myrcene (earthy), limonene (citrus) and pinene (pine).
- THC
- Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main intoxicating compound in cannabis. Product labels list it in milligrams (edibles) or as a percentage (flower). Read our full THC guide.
- THCA
- The raw acid form of THC found in fresh cannabis. It becomes THC when heated.
- Tincture
- A liquid cannabis extract taken by dropper, usually under the tongue or mixed into food or drink. See Tincture products and guides.
- Trichomes
- The tiny resin glands on cannabis buds that hold most of the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes.
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