Cannabis Terms & Slang

Cannabis Basics

Cannabis

Also called: Marijuana, weed, pot

The plant and the products made from it. High at 60 uses cannabis as the main term while recognizing other common names.

Cannabis Basics

Marijuana

Also called: Cannabis, weed, pot

A common word for cannabis. Some people prefer the term cannabis because it is broader and more neutral.

Cannabis Basics

Weed

Also called: Cannabis, marijuana, pot

Informal slang for cannabis.

Flower

Also called: Bud, cannabis flower

The dried part of the cannabis plant commonly smoked or vaporized.

Flower

Bud

Also called: Flower, nug

A common slang term for cannabis flower.

Flower

Nug

Also called: Bud, flower

A small piece of cannabis flower.

Flower

Shake

Also called: Loose flower pieces

Small pieces of flower that collect at the bottom of a container.

Flower

Trim

Also called: Leaf material

Small leaves and plant material removed while preparing flower.

Flower

Pre-roll

Also called: Joint, cone

A ready-made cannabis cigarette filled with flower.

Flower

Joint

Also called: Pre-roll, cone

Cannabis flower rolled in paper for combustion.

Flower

Blunt

Also called: Cigar wrap

Cannabis rolled in a tobacco or hemp wrap.

Devices

Bowl

Also called: Pack, chamber

The part of a pipe, bong, or vaporizer that holds flower.

Devices

One-hitter

Also called: Chillum

A very small pipe designed for a small amount of flower.

Devices

Bong

Also called: Water pipe

A device that pulls smoke or vapor through water before inhalation.

Devices

Water pipe

Also called: Bong

A device using water to cool and condition smoke or vapor.

Devices

Perc

Also called: Percolator

A diffusion feature inside a water pipe that breaks smoke or vapor into smaller bubbles.

Devices

Recycler

Also called: Recycler bong, recycler rig

A water pipe that continuously moves water through multiple chambers.

Devices

Swiss perc

Also called: Swiss-style water pipe

A glass design with large openings that route airflow around the holes.

Concentrates

Dab

Also called: Concentrate hit

A small amount of cannabis concentrate used in a compatible device.

Devices

Dab rig

Also called: Rig

A water-pipe-style device commonly used with concentrates.

Devices

Banger

Also called: Quartz banger, nail

A heated chamber used with many dab rigs to vaporize concentrate.

Devices

Carb cap

Also called: Cap

A small tool placed over a banger to control airflow and vaporization.

Devices

E-rig

Also called: Electronic dab rig

A battery-powered device that heats concentrates without a torch.

Devices

Nectar collector

Also called: Honey straw

A concentrate device with a heated tip that contacts compatible concentrate.

Devices

Ball vape

Also called: Desktop dry herb vaporizer

A powerful convection vaporizer that moves heated air through flower.

Devices

Dry herb vaporizer

Also called: Flower vaporizer

A device that heats cannabis flower without directly burning it.

Vape Cartridges

Cart

Also called: Cartridge, vape cart

A small container filled with cannabis oil that connects to a compatible battery.

Vape Cartridges

510 battery

Also called: Threaded vape battery

A reusable battery compatible with many standard 510-thread cartridges.

Vape Cartridges

Pod

Also called: Vape pod

A cartridge-like oil container made for a brand-specific battery system.

Vape Cartridges

Disposable

Also called: All-in-one vape

A vape with the battery and oil reservoir built into one unit.

Vape Cartridges

Refillable cartridge

Also called: Empty cart

A cartridge designed to be filled with compatible cannabis oil.

Other Cannabis Products

Cannabis oil syringe

Also called: Distillate syringe, applicator

A needle-free dispenser filled with thick cannabis oil. Intended uses depend on the product label.

Concentrates

Distillate

Also called: Disty

A highly refined cannabinoid oil commonly used in vapes and edibles.

Concentrates

Wax

Also called: Dab wax

A soft, opaque cannabis concentrate with a wax-like texture.

Concentrates

Shatter

Also called: Glass

A hard, glass-like concentrate that may snap into pieces.

Concentrates

Badder

Also called: Budder, batter

A soft, creamy concentrate with a whipped consistency.

Concentrates

Crumble

Also called: Honeycomb

A dry, porous concentrate that breaks apart easily.

Concentrates

Live resin

Also called: Live extract

A concentrate usually made from fresh-frozen cannabis to preserve more aroma compounds.

Concentrates

Live rosin

Also called: Solventless live rosin

A concentrate made from fresh-frozen material using mechanical separation, heat, and pressure.

Concentrates

Rosin

Also called: Pressed concentrate

A solventless concentrate made with heat and pressure.

Concentrates

Resin

Also called: Cannabis resin

A broad term for sticky trichome-rich material or certain extracted concentrates.

Concentrates

Diamonds

Also called: THCA diamonds

Crystal-like formations rich in THCA.

Concentrates

Sauce

Also called: Terp sauce

A terpene-rich liquid concentrate that may contain cannabinoid crystals.

Concentrates

Kief

Also called: Dry sift

Loose trichomes collected from cannabis flower.

Concentrates

Hash

Also called: Hashish

A concentrate made by collecting and compressing trichomes.

Other Cannabis Products

RSO

Also called: Rick Simpson Oil

A thick, dark cannabis extract commonly sold for specific labeled oral or topical uses.

Other Cannabis Products

Tincture

Also called: Drops

A liquid cannabis product measured with a dropper or dispenser.

Other Cannabis Products

Topical

Also called: Cream, balm, salve

A cannabis-infused product applied to the skin.

Other Cannabis Products

Transdermal

Also called: Patch, gel

A product designed to deliver ingredients through the skin.

Edibles

Edible

Also called: Cannabis-infused food

A food or drink containing cannabinoids such as THC or CBD.

Edibles

Gummy

Also called: Edible candy

A chewy edible containing measured cannabinoids.

Edibles

Dose

Also called: Serving amount

The amount of a cannabinoid consumed at one time.

Edibles

Microdose

Also called: Very small dose

A small amount intended to produce subtle effects.

Edibles

Onset

Also called: Start time

The time it takes before effects begin.

Edibles

Duration

Also called: How long it lasts

The length of time effects may continue.

Cannabinoids

THC

Also called: Delta-9 THC

The best-known psychoactive / intoxicating cannabinoid in cannabis.

Cannabinoids

CBD

Also called: Cannabidiol

A generally non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis and hemp.

Cannabinoids

THCA

Also called: Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid

The acidic precursor that converts largely into THC when heated.

Cannabinoids

CBDA

Also called: Cannabidiolic acid

The acidic precursor that converts largely into CBD when heated.

Cannabinoids

CBG

Also called: Cannabigerol

A minor cannabinoid found in some cannabis products.

Cannabinoids

CBN

Also called: Cannabinol

A cannabinoid that can form as THC ages and oxidizes.

Terpenes

Terpene

Also called: Aroma compound

A compound that contributes to cannabis aroma and flavor.

Terpenes

Total terpenes

Also called: Terpene total

The combined reported amount of measured terpenes in a product.

Terpenes

Dominant terpene

Also called: Primary terpene

The terpene listed at the highest measured amount.

Terpenes

Entourage effect

Also called: Combined profile theory

The idea that cannabinoids and terpenes may influence the overall experience together.

Flower

Strain

Also called: Cultivar, variety

A common consumer term for a named cannabis variety.

Flower

Cultivar

Also called: Variety

A more precise horticultural term for a cultivated plant variety.

Flower

Indica

Also called: Indica-labeled

A traditional category often associated with certain plant traits or marketing, not a guaranteed effect.

Flower

Sativa

Also called: Sativa-labeled

A traditional category often associated with certain plant traits or marketing, not a guaranteed effect.

Flower

Hybrid

Also called: Mixed lineage

A cannabis variety described as combining indica- and sativa-associated genetics or traits.

Terms & Slang

Couch lock

Also called: Heavy relaxation

Slang for feeling very physically relaxed or less motivated to move.

Terms & Slang

Munchies

Also called: Increased appetite

Slang for feeling hungry after using cannabis.

Terms & Slang

Head high

Also called: Cerebral effect

Slang for effects felt more mentally than physically.

Terms & Slang

Body high

Also called: Physical effect

Slang for effects felt more in the body than the mind.

Terms & Slang

Tolerance

Also called: Reduced sensitivity

When repeated use leads someone to need more for a similar effect.

Terms & Slang

T-break

Also called: Tolerance break

A period of not using cannabis intended to reduce tolerance.

Terms & Slang

Session

Also called: Use period

A period of time spent using cannabis.

Terms & Slang

Wake and bake

Also called: Morning use

Slang for using cannabis soon after waking.

Terms & Slang

Greening out

Also called: Overconsumption

Slang for feeling sick, anxious, dizzy, or overwhelmed after using too much cannabis.

Shopping

Dispensary

Also called: Cannabis store

A licensed location where cannabis products may be sold.

Shopping

Budtender

Also called: Dispensary staff

A worker who helps customers understand cannabis products.

Shopping

COA

Also called: Certificate of Analysis

A laboratory report showing measured cannabinoids, terpenes, and sometimes contaminant testing.

Shopping

Batch number

Also called: Lot number

An identifier linking a product to a specific production batch.

Shopping

Medical cannabis

Also called: Medical marijuana

Cannabis obtained under a medical program where available.

Shopping

Recreational cannabis

Also called: Adult-use cannabis

Cannabis sold to eligible adults without a medical recommendation where legal.

Shopping

Allotment

Also called: Purchase limit

The amount a medical patient or adult-use customer may legally purchase within a set period.

Hemp

Also called: Low-Delta-9 cannabis

Cannabis that meets the applicable legal definition for hemp.

Hemp

Delta-8

Also called: Delta-8 THC

An intoxicating cannabinoid sold in some hemp-derived markets.

Hemp

Delta-9

Also called: Delta-9 THC

The primary intoxicating THC commonly found in cannabis.

Hemp

Delta-10

Also called: Delta-10 THC

Another intoxicating cannabinoid sold in some hemp-derived markets.

Terms & Slang

Decarb

Also called: Decarboxylation

Heating acidic cannabinoids such as THCA so they convert into forms such as THC.

Devices

Combustion

Also called: Burning

Using direct flame or heat to burn cannabis and create smoke.

Devices

Convection

Also called: Hot-air heating

Heating cannabis by moving hot air through it.

Devices

Conduction

Also called: Surface heating

Heating cannabis through direct contact with a hot surface.