Cannabis terminology can be complex, especially with the wide variety of products, extraction methods, and consumption tools available today. Understanding these key terms helps patients, consumers, and professionals make informed choices about what they use and how they use it.
The following glossary provides clear, simplified definitions for common cannabis-related words—from extraction processes and concentrate types to devices and dosing methods—offering a foundation for better knowledge and safe, confident use.
-
Battery: A power source used to heat and vaporize the oil in a vape pen cartridge. The cartridge or pod, which holds cannabis oil, must be connected to a charged battery before use. Most batteries are rechargeable and reusable, and the threading must match the cartridge. The most common type is the 510-thread battery.
-
BHO Extraction: Short for Butane Hash Oil extraction, this process uses butane as a solvent to draw out desired compounds from the cannabis plant to produce the final extract.
-
Cannabinoids: Naturally occurring compounds in cannabis that produce various effects. Common examples include THC, CBD, CBG, and THCV.
-
Cartridge: A pre-filled container (often called a “cart”) holding 500mg–1000mg of cannabis oil. When attached to a battery, the oil heats up, activating cannabinoids and terpenes, which are inhaled as vapor.
-
CO₂ Extraction: A method that uses pressurized carbon dioxide to extract essential plant materials, resulting in a clean, solvent-free concentrate.
-
Cold Press Classic: Kief that has been compressed into solid blocks for use in vaporizers, either alone or blended with dry flower.
-
Cold Press Concentrate: Solventless pressed rosin made from cured flower, designed for dabbing or vaporization.
-
Concentrates: Potent cannabis extracts with high THC levels, consumed by vaping or dabbing for fast-acting effects.
-
Crystalline: Also called “diamonds” or “isolates,” these are produced through supersaturation, yielding concentrates that are over 99% pure cannabinoids.
-
Cured Resin: Extract derived from cannabis flowers that have been dried and cured after harvesting.
-
Curing: The controlled process of drying and aging harvested cannabis to remove excess moisture, enhance potency, and preserve flavor and terpenes.
-
Dablicator: A precision applicator for cannabis oil that delivers exact doses without heat. It can be used orally, topically, or for vaporization.
-
Distillate: A refined, highly concentrated cannabis oil (often THC-dominant) made through distillation. Only cannabis-derived terpenes are added back for flavor.
-
Dry Herb Vaporizer: A device that gently heats cannabis flower to produce inhalable vapor without combustion.
-
Eighth: A term for one-eighth of an ounce, equivalent to 3.5 grams.
-
Extraction: The process of separating and collecting valuable oils from the plant’s trichomes to obtain cannabinoids and terpenes.
-
Half: A measurement equal to one-half ounce, or 14 grams.
-
HTE: Stands for High Terpene Extract — a full-spectrum product known for its rich terpene content and strong aroma.
-
Kief: Fine, powdery trichomes sifted from cannabis flowers, rich in cannabinoids and aromatic compounds.
-
Live Resin: A solvent-based extract made from freshly frozen cannabis to retain maximum flavor, aroma, and cannabinoid content.
-
Live Rosin: A solventless concentrate made from frozen cannabis using heat and pressure to extract cannabinoids and terpenes.
-
Live: Refers to extracts or products made from freshly harvested and immediately frozen cannabis plants.
-
Nano-Emulsion: Water-soluble cannabis tinctures or capsules with fast absorption (15–20 minutes) due to their tiny particle size, ideal for adding to beverages.
-
Preground: Cannabis that has been pre-crushed or shredded, ready for immediate use.
-
Prepack: Cannabis flower that has been pre-weighed and packaged before sale.
-
Quarter: One-fourth of an ounce, equal to 7 grams.
-
RSO: Rick Simpson Oil, a thick, highly potent cannabis extract typically used orally or topically.
-
Rosin: A solvent-free concentrate created by pressing and heating cannabis plant material to release oils.
-
Sap: A full-spectrum extract with a sticky, syrup-like texture, suitable for vaporizing or oral use.
-
Strain: A distinct variety of cannabis with unique genetics, effects, and flavors; strain names are not standardized across growers.
-
Terpene: Fragrant organic compounds in cannabis and other plants that influence flavor, aroma, and potential synergistic effects with cannabinoids.
-
THCA: Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid — the non-psychoactive precursor to THC. When heated (decarboxylated), it converts into delta-9 THC, producing euphoric effects.
-
Tincture: A liquid cannabis extract, typically taken under the tongue with a dropper; often flavored for easier dosing.
-
Trichomes: Tiny resin glands on cannabis buds that hold the plant’s cannabinoids, terpenes, and other active compounds.
-
Troche: A medicated lozenge that dissolves in the mouth (either buccally or sublingually), allowing fast absorption and bypassing liver metabolism.
-
Vaping/Vaporizer: The process of heating cannabis oils or flower without combustion to produce vapor. In Pennsylvania, only vaporization (not smoking) is permitted.
