Common Cannabis Terms and Abbreviations

Perfect for cannabis beginners, this guide will help you make sense of the many different cannabis terms and abbreviations used in both medical and recreational settings.

If so, you're in the right place, and I'm glad you're here!

While it may seem a bit overwhelming or confusing at first, my goal is to help you understand cannabis better so you can use it in a way that improves your life and wellbeing.

This guide puts together all of the most common cannabis terms, abbreviations, and acronyms that are used in both medical and recreational settings.

If you are looking for something specific, I recommend using the shortcut "Ctrl + F" on your keyboard to type in the specific term you're looking up. This will bring up the specific term you are looking for.

Otherwise, please feel free to read through this guide and educate yourself at your own pace.

If you feel like you need more in-depth cannabis education, I recommend checking out my Cannabis Compass Online Course, which will help put all of the pieces together in one simple educational format.

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

AVB - already vaped bud. Describing cannabis flower that has undergone dry herb vaporization. Learn more about AVB here.

CBD - cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid. Learn more about CBD here.

CBDA - cannabidiolic acid, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid acid. It is present naturally within the plant. The process of decarboxylation converts CBDA into CBD. Learn more about CBDA here.

CBG - cannabigerol, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid. Oftentimes called the 'mother cannabinoid'. Learn more about CBG here.

CBGA - cannabigerolic acid, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid acid. It is present naturally within the plant. The process of decarboxylation converts CBGA into CBG.

CBN - cannabinol, a slightly intoxicating cannabinoid acid. Oftentimes called the 'sleep cannabinoid' due to its sedative properties. It is not naturally present in the plant and instead comes from the degradation of THC. Learn more about CBN here.

CO - cannabis oil, a general term used to categorize various different types of cannabis oils. Learn more about all of the different kinds of cannabis oils available here.

ECS - endocannabinoid system, a system present in every human body that interacts with cannabinoids from plants. Learn more about the ECS here.

FECO - full-extract cannabis oil, a powerful cannabis plant extract obtained by evaporating the alcohol from an alcohol-based tincture. Learn more about FECO here.

IP - an Instant Pot, a device can be used for decarboxylation or infusion, or both. Learn more about using the Instant Pot here.

MBM - a Magic Butter Machine. Learn more about the MBM here.

MCT - medium-chain triglyceride, a type of oil often used in cannabis preparations. Learn more about MCT oil here.

QWET - quick wash extraction technique, a method of making a cannabis tincture. Oftentimes called the 'Golden Dragon' or a freezer tincture. Learn more about the QWET method here.

RSO - an acronym for Rick Simpson Oil. Similar to FECO, but prepared with unsafe solvents like isopropyl alcohol and naptha. Learn more here.

THCA - tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid acid. It is present naturally within the plant. The process of decarboxylation converts THCA into THC. Learn more about THCA here.

THC (Δ8) - also called delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol, a mostly synthetic derivative of cannabis that provides a less intoxicating experience than delta-9.

THC (Δ9) - also called delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the most common intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis.

THCV - tetrahydrocannabivarin, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid.

Commonly Used Cannabis Terms

Application method - the way cannabis is used in or outside of the body. Learn more about various application methods here.

Ardent - a certain brand of cannabis infusion machines that both decarbs and infuses. Learn more about Ardent products here.

Broad-spectrum - cannabis containing a wide range of cannabinoids, but with the THC removed. Learn more about broad-spectrum products here.

Cannabis powder - a term with two different meanings. This can refer to ground, decarbed cannabis that is used in its natural form. This can also refer to cannabis oil powder made with maltodextrin.

Capsule - a small, empty pill pocket that can be filled with various forms of cannabis. Learn more about cannabis capsules here.

Chlorophyll - a pigment that gives a plant its green hue. It helps a plant make its own food and produce oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. Learn more about chlorophyll here.

Concentrates - several different types of cannabis products that contain cannabinoids in very concentrated forms. Learn more about concentrates here.

Decarboxylation - also called decarb or decarbing, a process required to convert cannabinoid acids to their active cannabinoid form. Learn more about decarboxylation here.

Dosage - how much cannabis, in milligrams, in contained in a serving. This can be determined for edibles using an edibles dosage calculator.

Dry herb vape - an inhalation device that is thought to be safer than smoking. Learn more about dry herb vaporizers here.

Endocannabinoid system - a system present in the human body that helps to maintain homeostasis. Learn more about the endocannabinoid system here.

Fan leaf - the large, green leaves present on the cannabis plant for the purpose of facilitating photosynthesis. Learn more about fan leaves here.

Firecrackers - a simple cannabis recipe that involves sprinkling decarbed flower onto peanut butter on a cracker. Get my cannabis firecrackers recipe here.

Flower bud - one of the most important parts of the cannabis plant, the flower bud contains the majority of the plants trichomes, cannabinoids and terpenes. Learn more about the flower buds here.

Full-spectrum - cannabis containing a wide range of cannabinoids, including THC. Learn more about full-spectrum products here.

Golden dragon - an alcohol-based cannabis preparation also known as a freezer tincture or QWET tincture. This method involves using frozen ingredients and quicker wash times. Learn more about the Golden Dragon tincture here.

Grain alcohol - a high-proof alcohol that is ideal for making cannabis tinctures. Learn more about high-proof grain alcohol here.

Green dragon - an alcohol-based cannabis preparation known for its long soak times. Learn more about the Green Dragon tincture here.

Hemp seeds - a nutritious food obtained from the seeds of a cannabis plant. Hemp seeds no not contain any cannabinoids. Learn more about the benefits of hemp seeds here.

Hemp seed oil - a nutritive oil used for cooking. It does not contain cannabinoids and is not the same as CBD oil. Learn more about hemp seed oil here.

Infusion machine - a small, compact machine that can help infuse your cannabis into butter or oil. There are many different types of these machines. Learn more about infusion machines here.

Kief - the trichome-rich, powdery substance left in the bottom of a cannabis grinder. Sometimes called pollen or dry sift. Learn more about kief here.

Lecithin - a common ingredient used to make cannabis edibles. It helps bind opposing ingredients together, and may help improve bioavailability. Learn more about lecithin here.

LEVO - a certain type of cannabis infusion machine that both decarboxylates and infuses for you. Learn more about the LEVO here.

Munchies - a term used to describe strong food cravings typically associated with post-cannabis consumption. Learn more about the muchies here.

Root - cannabis roots grow from the stalk of the plant into the ground. They deliver nutrients and water to the plant. They also have their own potential health benefits. Learn more about the roots here.

Salve - a type of topical preparation often made with cannabis with the purpose of pain relief. Get my cannabis salve recipe here.

Sublingual - a type of cannabis application method that involves holding the product under the tongue or inside the cheek. Learn more about sublingual absorption here.

Terpene - volatile organic compounds, essential oils, that give the plant its distinct aroma. Terpenes contain their own unique health benefits. Learn more about terpenes here.

Tincture - a cannabis preparation made using high-proof grain alcohol. There is more than one type of tincture; see Green dragon and Golden dragon. Learn more about the differences here.

Topical - a type of cannabis application method that involves applying cannabis directly onto the skin. Learn more about cannabis topicals here.

Trichome - the resinous glands found on the cannabis plant that contain the important cannabinoids and terpenes. Learn more about trichomes here.

Trim - the leaves that are cut off of the plant. These can be fan leaves or sugar leaves. Learn more about trim here.

Vaping - an inhalation method that can involve a dry her vaporizer or a cannabis oil vaporizer. Learn more about vaping cannabis oil here.

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