Finding your way through the fast-growing cannabis scene can feel like learning a new language. With its own slang, science terms, and legal rules, cannabis can be confusing for new users and long-time fans alike. This thorough dictionary is here to help you decode key words so you can talk with budtenders, understand strain reviews, and make smart purchases. Learning this changing vocabulary matters for day-to-day use and for appreciating the long history and culture around this plant.
Cannabis Terminology Dictionary: Why Accurate Language Matters
As cannabis changes fast and becomes mainstream, clear language matters more than ever. Vague street terms are giving way to a more precise set of words that reflect science, law, and a better grasp of the plant. Whether you are a medical patient, a recreational user, or simply curious, knowing the right terms helps you use cannabis responsibly and with confidence.
Think about it like this: you wouldn’t talk about fine wine or a piece of equipment without knowing the basic terms. Cannabis is similar. Its details, effects, and uses are easiest to understand and share when everyone uses the same clear language. This shared language helps people communicate, reduces confusion, and improves the overall experience.
What Are the Benefits of Knowing Cannabis Terms?
There are many benefits to learning cannabis terms. First, it empowers you as a buyer. When you can describe what you want using accurate words, you’ll have better conversations with budtenders, who can guide you to the right options. This means less guessing and a better chance of finding products that match your goals, whether you want relaxation, pain relief, creativity, or sleep.
Outside the store, knowing the lingo helps you take part in online groups, read articles, and understand labels. For medical patients, knowing terms like CBD, THC, indica, and sativa can be very helpful for choosing products that fit specific needs. It also helps make communication clear with doctors, caregivers, and other users, building a more informed community.
Common Misconceptions and Language Barriers
As cannabis moved from the shadows to mainstream, its language also changed, sometimes in mixed ways. In the past, terms often came from stigma and criminalization, and words like “weed” or “pot” carried a rebellious tone. While these words are still common, the shift to legalization, especially for medical use, brought in a more clinical and professional vocabulary.
But this shift has bumps. Misconceptions can come from casual slang that hides important differences between strains, products, and effects. For example, “weed” is widely understood, but “cannabis” or “Cannabis sativa” is the proper term and covers all uses-medical, recreational, and industrial (hemp). Knowing these differences helps avoid confusion, especially in legal and medical settings where precision matters. This dictionary helps close that gap by separating informal slang from formal terms.
Types of Cannabis Plants and Strains
Cannabis is not all the same; it shows a wide range of forms, effects, and growth styles. Learning these basic groups is like learning a family tree, giving you a framework to understand the many products you see today. This basic knowledge helps you make smart choices and appreciate the plant’s complexity.
At a simple level, cannabis falls into a few main types, yet each type includes many varieties with unique features. These groups are not only botanical; they also give clues about possible effects, smells, and benefits. Let’s look at these core categories.
Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid: What’s the Difference?
Most strains are grouped into three main types: Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid. These labels have long been used to predict general effects, though today we know effects also depend on the full mix of compounds.
Indica strains are usually linked to relaxing, sedating effects. They tend to grow shorter and bushier, with broader leaves. Many people use Indicas at night for stress, anxiety, pain, and sleep. Feeling “stoned” often refers to the heavy, mellow high associated with many Indicas.
Sativa strains often create uplifting, energizing effects. These plants usually grow tall with narrow leaves and lighter green color. Sativas are known for sparking creativity, improving focus, boosting mood, and supporting daytime activity. Their effects are usually more cerebral and stimulating.
Hybrid strains are crosses of Indica and Sativa. Most strains today are hybrids, bred to mix traits from both sides. Hybrids can offer both uplifting and calming effects, depending on whether they lean Indica, lean Sativa, or are balanced. The exact effect depends on the ratio and the strain’s unique cannabinoid and terpene profile.
What Is a Cannabis Strain or Cultivar?
The words “strain” and “cultivar” both refer to a cultivated variety of cannabis. A strain is a specific line bred to bring out certain flavors, smells, and effects. These traits come from selective breeding and stabilization, making the strain show the same traits consistently.
Think of dog breeds: all are dogs, but a Golden Retriever differs from a Poodle. Likewise, Blue Dream differs from OG Kush. Strain names may reflect traits, lineage, or origin, giving buyers a quick way to spot likely matches for their preferences.
What Are Phenotypes and Chemotypes?
While a strain refers to genetics, phenotypes and chemotypes describe how those genetics show up. A phenotype is the set of visible traits, like color, height, bud shape, smell, and even cannabinoid content. These traits come from both genetics and the growing environment. Two plants of the same strain can look and act differently if grown under different conditions.
A chemotype describes the plant’s chemical profile, focusing on dominant cannabinoids and terpenes. A plant might be THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, or balanced. This approach offers a clearer idea of likely effects than Indica/Sativa alone. Knowing phenotypes and chemotypes helps growers get the best expression of cannabinoids and terpenes, leading to consistent quality and predictable effects.
Key Cannabis Compounds and the Endocannabinoid System
Beyond plant types, the real power of cannabis comes from its chemical makeup. The plant contains many active compounds that interact with our bodies in strong ways. Learning about these compounds and the body system they affect is key to understanding how cannabis works and how to use it well.
These compounds work together to create a unique experience, much more than a simple “high.” From the well-known psychoactive parts to the aroma molecules, each piece shapes the plant’s wellness and recreational effects. Let’s explore these main components and the body system they interact with.
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol): Effects and Uses
THC is the most famous cannabinoid. It is the main psychoactive compound that causes the “high.” THC binds to receptors in the brain and changes mood, perception, and thinking, leading to euphoric and relaxing effects. It can make you feel “blazed” or “stoned,” often with deep relaxation and altered perception.
THC also offers many medical benefits. It can help manage chronic pain from arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and nerve issues by changing how the body processes pain. THC can help control nausea, boost appetite (the munchies), and reduce muscle spasms. Many people use it as an alternative to opioids for pain.
CBD (Cannabidiol): Effects and Uses
CBD is different from THC because it does not cause a “high.” It’s the second most common cannabinoid and is popular for health uses without intoxication, making it a common pick for wellness.
CBD is used for anxiety, inflammation, and epilepsy. It can promote relaxation, ease stress, and has anti-inflammatory effects. CBD can also balance the effects of THC, making some experiences more comfortable. In the U.S., CBD from hemp with less than 0.3% THC is federally legal, which has helped its wide use.
Other Cannabinoids: CBG, CBN, and More
Beyond THC and CBD, cannabis contains over 100 other cannabinoids, each with its own effects. These “minor” cannabinoids are gaining attention for their unique benefits and their role in the overall experience.
- CBG (Cannabigerol): Often called the “mother” cannabinoid because THC and CBD form from it. Found in lower amounts, it’s being studied for anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.
- CBN (Cannabinol): Forms when THC breaks down over time. Mildly psychoactive. Often linked to sleep support and easing insomnia.
- THCV (Tetrahydrocannabivarin): Similar in structure to THC but can reduce appetite and may help with blood sugar control.
Ongoing research on these cannabinoids is widening our view of cannabis beyond THC and CBD, showing a richer picture of its chemistry.
Terpenes: Flavor, Aroma, and Entourage Effect
Terpenes are aroma compounds found in many plants, including cannabis. They give strains their scent and flavor. Limonene smells citrusy, myrcene smells earthy, and pinene smells like pine.
Terpenes do more than smell good; they can shape how cannabis feels. Myrcene may help you relax, limonene can lift mood, and pinene may support alertness. Terpenes interact with cannabinoids to create a team effect called the “entourage effect,” explained next. This means the experience depends on more than THC or CBD levels-it also depends on the terpene mix.
What Is the Endocannabinoid System (ECS)?
Cannabis affects the body strongly because of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a cell-signaling network found throughout the body. It includes receptors, enzymes, and natural endocannabinoids (compounds our bodies make).
The ECS plays a big role in mood, appetite, pain, sleep, immune function, and balance. Cannabis compounds, especially THC and CBD, interact with ECS receptors (mainly CB1 and CB2). This interaction changes how the body handles these functions and leads to the effects people feel. Knowing the ECS helps explain cannabis’s medical actions.
What Is the Entourage Effect?
The “entourage effect” describes how cannabinoids, terpenes, and other plant compounds can work together to boost benefits. Instead of working alone, these elements can combine to create stronger and broader effects than one compound by itself.
For example, THC and CBD may work better together, with CBD balancing some of THC’s psychoactive effects. Certain terpenes can also change how cannabinoids bind to receptors, affecting the overall feel and outcome. This is why many people prefer full-spectrum extracts, which keep many of the plant’s natural compounds for better results than isolates.
Cannabis Product Types and Forms
Today’s market offers a wide range of products, far beyond just dried flower. New growing, extraction, and use methods have created many options for different needs. Knowing these forms helps when you visit a dispensary and pick what fits your life and goals.
From classic flower to concentrates and edibles, the choices can feel overwhelming at first. Each form has a unique way of delivery, onset time, duration, and feel. Here are the most common product types you’ll see.
Flower and Bud
Flower or bud is the classic form of cannabis. It’s the dried and cured flowering part of the plant, most often smoked or vaporized. Flower is covered in trichomes, the tiny resin glands that hold cannabinoids like THC and CBD, plus terpenes. More trichomes usually mean stronger effects and a frosty look.
People consume flower in joints, pipes, or bongs. It offers the full mix of plant compounds. A “nug” is a small, high-quality piece of flower rich in trichomes and aroma. “Shake” is the loose material that falls to the bottom of a bag or jar and is often used for joints or pre-rolls.
Pre-rolls and Joints
If you want convenience and a classic experience, pre-rolls and joints are popular. A joint is ground flower rolled in paper, sometimes with a filter tip. Unlike spliffs, joints usually don’t include tobacco. Pre-rolls are ready-made joints sold in dispensaries, handy for new users or people who don’t want to roll.
“Doobie” and “zoot” are casual slang for a joint. “Doobie” became popular in the 1970s, and “zoot” is more common in British and Caribbean slang. Both provide quick effects through inhalation.
Vaporizers and Vape Pens
Vaporizing has become popular as a smokeless alternative. It heats cannabis (flower or concentrates) to release vapor with cannabinoids and terpenes without burning. This avoids smoke, reduces harmful byproducts, and offers a smoother, more discreet experience.
Vape pens are small devices that heat cannabis oil in cartridges. Vaporizers can also work with flower and come in portable, disposable, and tabletop models. Vaping acts quickly, like smoking, but often tastes cleaner and allows more control.
Edibles and Infused Drinks
Edibles are cannabis-infused foods and drinks. They come as gummies, baked goods, chocolates, and beverages with different doses and cannabinoid mixes. Edibles kick in slowly (about 30 minutes to 2 hours) but last longer and can feel stronger, since the liver changes THC into a more potent compound.
Most people say to “start low and go slow” because of the delay and potential intensity. Edibles are good for steady relief and for those who prefer not to inhale. The increased hunger after cannabis, especially with THC, is called “the munchies” and has a real biological cause.
Tinctures and Oils
Tinctures are liquid extracts made with alcohol or glycerin. They allow discreet, precise dosing and are often taken under the tongue for quicker effects than edibles. They can also be mixed into food or drinks. Many people use tinctures for medical needs because dosing is easy to control, and effects are typically quicker than edibles but longer than inhalation.
“Oils” is a broader term for various extracts, while “tinctures” are liquids intended for oral or sublingual use. They are flexible and useful for those who want measured doses without inhaling.
Topicals and Transdermals
Topicals are lotions, creams, balms, and oils applied to the skin for local relief. They don’t cause a “high” because the cannabinoids don’t usually reach the bloodstream. They’re helpful for muscle soreness and inflammation.
Transdermals are applied to the skin but are made to pass through and reach the bloodstream. These can offer wider or whole-body relief and still may avoid intoxication. They provide steady delivery and work well for targeted or broader relief.
Capsules and Tablets
Capsules and tablets offer a very discreet and convenient way to consume cannabis, similar to regular medicine. They contain pre-measured doses of cannabinoids for consistent intake. Tablets can be immediate release or use timed delivery for longer relief, which can help with insomnia, digestive issues, stress, and anxiety.
Medical users often prefer this method for exact dosing without smoking or vaping. Capsules and tablets make effects predictable and easy to fit into a daily routine.
Cannabis Concentrates and Extraction Methods
The area of cannabis use now goes far beyond smoking flower. Concentrates (extracts) provide higher potency and focused effects, offering a strong and often cleaner experience. These products isolate and concentrate cannabinoids and terpenes into a potent form.
Extraction methods range from traditional techniques to modern lab processes. Knowing these methods and the products they create helps you understand today’s variety and strength. Let’s look at concentrates more closely.
What Are Concentrates? (e.g., Kief, Hash, Shatter, Wax)
Concentrates are extracts with much higher cannabinoid levels than flower. They deliver a strong version of cannabis effects, popular with experienced users and those seeking strong therapeutic results.
- Kief: Powdery trichomes that fall off flower during handling or grinding. Very high in cannabinoids. Often sprinkled on flower or pressed into hash.
- Hash (Hashish): Compressed trichomes (kief) formed into blocks or balls. Made by physical separation methods. Known for potency.
- Shatter: A hard, glass-like concentrate with high THC. Breaks easily and is usually vaporized or dabbed.
- Wax: A sticky concentrate used for dabbing. Often high in THC. Common textures include “budder” (buttery, flavorful, easy to handle) and “crumble” (crumbly, drier).
These are just a few types. Each comes with its own texture, flavor, and strength.
Solvent-Based Vs. Solventless Extraction
Concentrates are made using two main extraction approaches: solvent-based and solventless.
Solvent-based extraction uses a chemical solvent to pull cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant. Common solvents are butane (for BHO), ethanol, and CO2. BHO is made by dissolving plant material in butane to create a thick, sticky oil high in THC. CO2 extraction is considered very clean and is often used for vape carts. These methods work well but need careful purging to remove leftover solvent.
Solventless extraction uses no chemical solvents. It relies on heat, pressure, or agitation to separate trichomes. Many health-conscious users prefer these methods. Kief and hash are classic solventless products. Rosin, made with heat and pressure using a press, is prized for purity and strong terpene content.
Popular Extract Types: Rosin, Live Resin, Distillate, RSO
Within concentrates, several types stand out:
- Rosin: A solventless extract pressed with heat and pressure. Loved for purity and rich terpene flavor.
- Live Resin: Made from freshly frozen plants instead of dried material. Freezing preserves delicate terpenes and cannabinoids, leading to fuller flavor and aroma. Often has a texture between wax and liquid.
- Distillate: A thick, amber oil made by distillation, often containing mostly one cannabinoid like THC or CBD. Very potent and commonly used in vape cartridges or infused products because it has little to no flavor or smell.
- RSO (Rick Simpson Oil): A thick, sticky oil taken mainly by mouth for medical use. It is full-spectrum, keeping a wide range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds. Often used for serious conditions and can also be applied to the skin.
What Does Full Spectrum Mean?
Full spectrum describes extracts that keep many of the plant’s original compounds, including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Unlike isolates (which contain only one cannabinoid), full-spectrum products aim to keep the plant’s full chemical range.
Full spectrum ties into the entourage effect: by keeping the plant’s natural mix, these products may deliver better results than single-compound products. All parts work together to maximize benefits, offering a more whole and potent experience. Full-spectrum products are also called whole-plant extracts, highlighting their complete chemical makeup.
Popular Consumption Methods and Devices
There are many ways to use cannabis, and each affects how fast it starts, how long it lasts, and how strong it feels. Different methods come with different tools and techniques, fitting a wide range of preferences and levels of privacy.
From long-standing traditions to modern devices, knowing these options helps you choose what works for you. Whether you want fast effects or longer relief, there’s a method that fits.
Smoking: Pipes, Bongs, and Bowls
Smoking is a classic method that involves inhaling smoke from burning dried flower. Effects are fast because cannabinoids reach the bloodstream through the lungs.
- Pipes: Small handheld devices made of glass, wood, or metal with a bowl for ground flower. Simple and portable.
- Bongs (Water Pipes): Use water to cool and filter smoke, making hits smoother. A “bubbler” is a handheld version with a small water chamber.
- Bowls: The part of a pipe or bong that holds the ground flower.
Other smoking methods include joints (rolled in paper) and blunts (rolled in cigar wrappers that often contain tobacco, which adds nicotine’s stimulating effect).
Vaping: Devices and Technology
Vaping heats cannabis to make vapor without burning. Many people like it for smoothness, discretion, and potentially fewer harmful byproducts than smoke.
The main device types include:
- Vape Pens: Small, pen-shaped devices that heat oil cartridges. Discreet and easy to use with consistent dosing.
- Portable Vaporizers: Handheld units for dry herb or concentrates (depending on the model). Often offer temperature control for a custom experience.
- Desktop Vaporizers: Larger home units with precise temperature control and very efficient vapor production.
Vaping acts quickly and often preserves terpene flavor better than smoking.
Dabbing: Rigs and Techniques
Dabbing is a way to inhale vapor from highly concentrated extracts (“dabs”). It is known for strong, fast effects and is often preferred by experienced users.
The main tool is a dab rig (oil rig) with a heated metal or quartz “nail” or “banger.” You heat the nail with a torch, place a small amount of concentrate on it, and inhale the vapor. People dab shatter, wax, budder, live resin, and more. Because concentrates are potent, effects can be very strong and quick.
Oral and Sublingual Consumption
Oral consumption means swallowing cannabis products like edibles, capsules, or RSO. The body digests them, and the liver converts THC into 11-hydroxy-THC. Effects take longer to start (30 minutes to 2 hours) but often last longer and can feel stronger. This method is discreet and avoids lung irritation, making it good for prolonged relief or for those who don’t want to inhale.
Sublingual consumption places liquid extracts under the tongue, where they absorb into the bloodstream through the mouth’s lining. Effects begin faster than edibles (about 15-45 minutes) but not as fast as inhalation. It offers precise, discreet dosing, popular for medical use when people want control without smoke or a long wait.
Topical Application
Topical application uses cannabis-infused creams, lotions, balms, and oils on the skin for local relief. These products don’t usually cause a “high.”
Topicals are used for localized pain, inflammation, sore muscles, and some skin issues. For deeper or wider effects without intoxication, transdermal products are designed to carry cannabinoids into the bloodstream.
Legal, Medical, and Industry Terms
Legalization and mainstream use brought a new set of words for laws, medical use, and business practices. Moving away from street terms toward formal language helps with compliance, safety, and clear communication. To work through this space, you need to know key terms that describe how cannabis is grown, tested, sold, and used under the law.
From different market types to job roles and testing, these words form the base of safe and informed cannabis use. Here are the essentials.
Medical vs. Adult-Use (Recreational) Cannabis
A core legal split is between medical cannabis and adult-use (recreational) cannabis. This affects who can buy, how products are taxed, and what products are available.
Medical cannabis is used to help treat conditions like chronic pain, epilepsy, cancer, anxiety, and PTSD. Patients usually need a doctor’s recommendation and a medical marijuana card to buy, possess, and use these products. Medical-only products may allow higher potency, fewer limits, and lower taxes.
Adult-use cannabis is legal for people 21+ in certain places without a medical card. It’s used for enjoyment and relaxation, though it can also support general wellness. States often apply special excise taxes to adult-use products, while medical products may be taxed less.
Qualifying Conditions and Medical Cards
For medical use, knowing your state’s qualifying conditions and how a medical card works matters a lot. Qualifying conditions are diagnoses that allow access to medical cannabis. Lists vary by state but often include chronic pain, anxiety, PTSD, epilepsy, and cancer. Some states let doctors approve cannabis for any condition they think may benefit.
A medical marijuana card is an ID card or certificate letting qualified patients buy regulated medical products at licensed dispensaries. Cardholders may get tax breaks, access to stronger products, and sometimes priority service. Getting a card usually means meeting with a licensed medical provider who reviews symptoms and history. “Recertification” is the renewal process, often yearly.
Dispensary and Budtender
A dispensary is a licensed store that sells cannabis for medical or recreational use under state rules. It’s the main access point for legal products.
A budtender is a trained staff member who helps customers choose products based on their needs and preferences. Think of them like bartenders for cannabis. They know strains, product types, methods, and effects. A basic grasp of terms helps you talk with a budtender and make informed choices.
Certificate of Analysis (COA) and Testing
In regulated markets, safety and quality are very important. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a third-party lab report that confirms a product’s purity, potency, and safety. Good brands and dispensaries share COAs so buyers know what they are getting.
COAs show cannabinoid levels (THC, CBD, CBG, etc.), terpene content, and confirm the product is free of pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and mold. Learning to read a COA lets you check quality and safety before you buy. This move toward testing shows the industry’s focus on accountability and consumer protection.
Excise Tax and Regulatory Terms
Legal cannabis, especially for adult use, brings new tax and regulatory language. An excise tax is a special tax on certain goods, and many states apply it to cannabis. These taxes are often higher than standard sales tax, creating revenue and sometimes encouraging medical registration.
There are also many regulatory terms tied to growing, processing, distribution, and sales. These include licenses, packaging and label rules, seed-to-sale tracking, and advertising limits. While buyers may not use all these terms, knowing they exist highlights the complex legal system behind safe products and fair markets.
HIPAA Compliance and Patient Privacy
For medical patients, HIPAA Compliance matters. HIPAA is a federal law that protects health information. In medical cannabis, any provider or service involved in evaluations and certifications must follow strict rules to keep patient data private.
Trusted providers, including telemedicine services, use secure, encrypted platforms to protect privacy during visits and messaging. This focus on confidentiality builds trust and helps people feel safe seeking medical cannabis care.
Cannabis Slang and Colloquial Expressions
Even as cannabis adopts more formal and scientific language, its cultural roots keep slang alive. These informal terms add color, history, and a sense of community that changes with the times. Knowing both formal and informal language gives you a full picture.
From names for the plant to phrases for effects and social rituals, slang keeps growing and changing. Some terms have lasted for decades; others are new with product trends. Here are common examples.
Popular Slang Words for Cannabis
Cannabis has many nicknames across cultures and generations. While “cannabis” is the preferred term in professional settings, slang remains popular.
- Weed: The most widely used casual term, common across age groups.
- Pot: An older term, less common today. May come from a 1930s infused drink called potación de guaya.
- Ganja: A traditional word from Sanskrit, widely used in Jamaica and Rastafarian culture.
- Grass: An older term from the 1960s-70s for dried flower.
- Mary Jane: A playful name from the Spanish “marihuana,” common in pop culture.
- Dank: In cannabis, means high-quality, potent, aromatic flower.
- Chronic: Popularized in the 1990s for very potent cannabis.
- Skunk: Refers to very pungent strains with a skunky smell.
Measurement and Buying Terms: Eighth, Zip, Plug, Re-up
Common measurement and buying slang includes:
- Eighth: One-eighth of an ounce (about 3.5 grams).
- Zip: One ounce (about 28 grams), often linked to ziplock packaging.
- Plug: An informal supplier, often unlicensed.
- Re-up: To restock your supply.
Common Phrases: 420, 710, Munchies, Stoned
These phrases are central to cannabis culture:
- 420: Refers to April 20 (4/20), an unofficial cannabis holiday, and 4:20 p.m., a popular time to consume. Originated in the 1970s with a group of students who used “420” as a code. “420-friendly” means open to cannabis use.
- 710: Refers to oils and dabs; “710” upside down looks like “OIL.” Celebrated on July 10 (7/10).
- Munchies: Increased appetite after consuming cannabis, especially THC-heavy products.
- Stoned: A heavy, sedative high, often linked to Indica effects, with strong relaxation.
Social Consumption Phrases: Hotbox, One-hitter, Toke
Social habits come with their own phrases:
- Hotbox: Smoking in a small enclosed space so smoke builds up.
- One-hitter: A tiny pipe for a single inhale. Discreet and good for microdosing.
- Toke: To inhale from a pipe, joint, or bong.
- Rolling: Hand-making a joint or blunt. Many people take pride in their rolling skills.
FAQs: Common Questions About Cannabis Language
The changing language of cannabis brings questions about famous references and subtle differences between common terms. Here are clear answers to frequent questions.
Why do people say 420 in cannabis culture?
“420” began with a group of high school students in San Rafael, California, in the early 1970s. They used “420 Louis” (a meeting spot near a statue) as a code for meeting at 4:20 p.m. to look for a rumored cannabis crop. The term spread through the Grateful Dead community and then worldwide.
Today, April 20 (4/20) is an unofficial cannabis holiday, marked by events and gatherings. “420” now broadly means anything related to cannabis, and “420-friendly” signals comfort with use.
What’s the difference between weed, marijuana, and cannabis?
These words overlap but carry different tones:
- Cannabis: The scientific, botanical term. Preferred in medical, legal, and scientific settings. Covers medical, recreational, and industrial (hemp) uses.
- Marijuana: Common in older U.S. usage but tied to anti-cannabis campaigns in the early 1900s. Many professionals now avoid it due to that history.
- Weed: The most common casual slang term. Fine in informal settings but not precise for professional use.
Use “cannabis” for formal or neutral discussions; “weed” is casual; “marijuana” is fading in professional contexts.
What is the meaning of 710?
“710” is slang for cannabis oils and concentrates used in dabbing. Flip “710,” and it looks like “OIL.” Like 420 for flower, 7/10 (July 10) is a day for concentrate fans to celebrate wax, shatter, budder, and other oils. The term grew with vaping and dab culture.
How do beginners learn cannabis terminology?
For beginners, the terms can feel overwhelming at first, but learning is simple if you take it step by step:
- Start with the basics: Learn Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, THC, CBD, edibles, and vaping. These are core ideas.
- Talk with budtenders: Ask questions and share your goals. They can explain terms in plain language and suggest products.
- Read labels and menus: Watch for repeated words and patterns to build your vocabulary.
- Use online resources: Good glossaries, blogs, and education sites can explain terms clearly.
- “Start low and go slow” for learning too: Add new terms as you need them instead of trying to memorize everything at once.
- Stay curious: The language is always changing. Keep an eye out for new terms.
By being active and asking questions, beginners can quickly become fluent and move through the industry with confidence.
Further Resources and Continuing Education
The cannabis field is fast-moving and always changing, with new research, products, and terms appearing often. If you want to deepen your knowledge and stay current, keep learning. There are many reliable resources to help you along the way.
Staying informed improves your personal experience and also helps you be a more knowledgeable voice in the wider community. Whether you care about science, law, or new products, the resources below can help.
Reputable Sources for Cannabis Terms
For accurate information, it’s best to use trusted sources, such as:
- Government and health organizations: State regulatory sites and national health agencies often offer glossaries and guides based on science and law.
- Academic and research institutions: Universities and research centers publish studies and explain scientific terms.
- Licensed businesses and industry groups: Quality dispensaries, cultivators, and associations share education and often post COAs for transparency.
- Medical cannabis platforms: Services focused on medical use, often reviewed by clinicians, explain therapeutic terms and processes.
Always check your sources. Favor those that cite research, are reviewed by experts, and are clear about where their information comes from.
Glossaries and Reference Guides
Dedicated glossaries and reference guides are a direct way to grow your vocabulary. Many cannabis education and industry sites offer wide-ranging lists that explain both science terms and slang with clear definitions and context.
Checking these often can help you:
- Clarify new words: Look up terms you see on labels, menus, or in articles.
- Understand subtle differences: Tell similar-sounding words apart and grasp small distinctions.
- Stay updated: Good glossaries are refreshed as language changes.
By using these tools, you can keep your knowledge clear, accurate, and well-rounded, and engage with cannabis and its culture with confidence.