Noted and Interesting Terms in the Hemp and Marijuana Industry
Santillán Law P.C. has provided this Hemp and Marijuana Industry glossary as “information” This is a list of common terms used by both people in the industry and consumers of cannabis products both legal and illegal. This glossary is not and should not be construed as legal advice it is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute “Legal Advice” For proper legal advice please consult a qualified attorney.
For more information about the industry and industry trends we recommend visiting the follow ing sites.
- NORML – A nonprofit public-interest advocacy group.
FDA – Federal Food & Drug Administration
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture – Hemp Program Information
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a
- AeroponicsAeroponics is a hydroponic cultivation method where the plant’s roots are suspended in air and sprayed regularly with a fine mist of nutrient solution. Unlike other hydroponic methods, aeroponically grown plants do not have their roots suspended in water. Read More
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- Bong / Bowl / Water PipeA bong or “water pipe” is one method of consumption that essentially acts like a hookah, but for Cannabis. Ground-up Cannabis is placed into a bowl, which is then heated and the smoke is pulled through the apparatus by the user’s lungs. Thus, it is sometimes called “smoking a bowl.” Read More
- Buds / Nugg / Nugget / FlowerBuds and Nuggs are used to refer to the Cannabis flower. Unlike other flowering plants, Cannabis flowers are dense and concentrated, making them resemble little gold nuggets or chicken nuggets. Read More
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- Cannabinoids (Complex definition)Cannabinoids are a group of compounds that can be found in Cannabis and in the human endocannabinoid system. There are a large number of different cannabinoids, and they are often written in their abbreviated form. Note: Every single cannabinoid has an “acid” precursor form. These acid(...) Read More
- CB1 / CB2 ReceptorsThe CB1 and CB2 receptors are receptors found in the signalling pathways in the human body that are responsible for picking up different cannabinoids. CBD and THC often interact directly with these receptors. Read More
- CrystalSome isolates can be converted into a “crystalline” form. The most common crystals you’ll hear about will generally be THC crystals or CBD crystals. These crystals have a very high intensity, and should be treated with caution. Read More
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- Dabbing and NailsDabbing is a consumption method for Cannabis that uses concentrates instead of flower. Dabbing uses a “dab rig” that appears similar to a bong, but with a few key differences: A “nail” typically is composed of titanium, quartz, ceramics, or glass. Nails that are made of quartz are(...) Read More
- Decarboxylation / DecarbDecarboxylation is a chemical process that relies upon heat (often from smoking or cooking) to cause a carboxylic acid group to leave the cannabinoid. This is how the acid forms of cannabinoids are converted into their non-acid forms. For example, THCA is converted to THC by decarboxylation. Read More
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- EdiblesEdibles are a large variety of different foods that are created using Cannabis concentrates. Generally edibles are made using infused sugar, infused oil, or infused butter. A small list of edibles includes: Gummies Lollipops Taffy Candy Brownies / Baked Goods Sodas / Drinks(...) Read More
- Endocannabinoid SystemThe endocannabinoid system is a signalling system found within most animals and is responsible for the regulation of a variety of different hormones and chemical signals. In humans, the endocannabinoid system is what Cannabis acts upon, altering its normal behavior. Read More
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- ”Feminized” SeedsFeminized seeds are female seeds that have been separated from male seeds. This can be done using genetic testing. Cannabis as a plant can be male, female, or both (sometimes called “herms”), and female plants are the most productive of the sexes. As a result, most growers seek out feminized seeds. Read More
- FloweringFlowering is a late stage in the life cycle of Cannabis. It is the stage where buds become dense, trichomes start appearing with greater frequency, and the Cannabis plant begins to prepare for reproduction. After flowering, Cannabis plants will die. Read More
- ”Full-Spectrum” ExtractThis is a special term used to refer to extracts that contain more than just cannabinoids, but also the majority of the cannabis’ terpene content. Read More
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- GeoponicsGeoponics, as opposed to hydroponics, is a conventional growing method using soil. Read More
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- Hemp / Marijuana / CannabisEach of these terms refers to the genus Cannabis. Hemp and marijuana are just different names for the same thing. Industrial hemp, however, refers to something specific. Industrial hemp is Cannabis that contains 0.3% THC or less, and thus cannot used for recreational purposes. Read More
- HydroponicsHydroponics is a growing method that does not rely upon traditional soil. Plants can be grown in a variety of inert mediums (or media) and fed a steady diet of nutrient water. There are different methods to feed the plants, including ebb-and-flow, aeroponics, deep water culture, and more. Read More
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- Indica / Sativa / Ruderalis / HybridIndicas, Sativas, and Ruderalis refer to different subspecies of Cannabis, found natively in different regions of the world. Each type has its own unique properties associated with it. Hybrids are a combination of these different subspecies. Read More
- Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated Pest Management,Also known as IPM, is a pest control strategy that focuses on preventative and proactive techniques, rather than reactive pest control. For example, a common problem in indoor and greenhouse grows is powdery mildew. Many growers will add fans and increase the airflow(...) Read More
- Isolates / Distillates / Extracts / ConcentratesAll the terms above describe products that are made via a chemical extraction process. Essentially, these products remove the compounds we are really after from the plant material. Cannabis, like most plants, produces a variety of different chemical compounds necessary to support its structure(...) Read More
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- Joint / Spliff / Doobie / Marijuana CigarettePossibly the oldest form of Cannabis consumption, next to a pipe, a joint is simply ground-up Cannabis flower rolled with a rolling paper into the shape of a cigarette. The joint is then lit on the opposite end and inhaled. Read More
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- MediumThe “medium” is the substance in which the plants roots are held. This can be traditional soil, coco coir, rockwool, clay, sand, pebbles, or other solid media. Every growing media has its own perks and drawbacks, and many growers will have a preferred medium. Read More
- "Mother” PlantsMother plants, known as stock plants in the horticultural world, are Cannabis plants that are kept permanently in a vegetative state in order for growers to take cuttings from them. These mother plants serve as the genetic basis for the clones in a growing facility. Read More
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- PipeProbably the one of the oldest forms of consumption, is a good old pipe. Ground-up Cannabis is placed inside of it, and heated up. The user then inhales. Pipes are typically made of glass or ceramics, but can be made with other heat-resistant materials. It should be noted that(...) Read More
- PropagationThe propagation phase of a grow is the phase in which plants are either cloned or grown from seed. This is the most delicate phase of the grow. Read More
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- Rosin Press / Closed-Loop Extractor / Subcritical or Supercritical CO2 Extraction /Short-Loop or Short-Path Distillation / Vacuum OvenThese terms refer to some of the equipment and methods used to create the extracts and concentrates we mentioned above. Every extract listed above is produced with a different method. Read More
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- Strains“Strains” is the current term used to refer to Cannabis cultivars. Each strain has a different set of traits and different chemical composition associated with it. Read More
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- TerpenesTerpenes are a group of chemical compounds found in nearly all plant life on Earth, with Cannabis being no exception. Terpenes are responsible for the wide variety of smells and flavors associated with different Cannabis strains. Read More
- TincturesTinctures is a term used to refer to cannabis extracts/concentrates that are typically delivered under the tongue (sublingually) or in a mucous membrane via an eyedropper. Tinctures are intended to be a fast delivery method without smoking. Read More
- Topicals / TransdermalsTopicals and transdermals area type of cannabis product where the active compounds in the flowers have been extracted and added to a product that is applied directly to the skin. As the body’s biggest organ, the skin allows for transdermal absorption of compounds like cannabinoids into the(...) Read More
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- Vape / Vaporizer / Vape Pen / Vape CartridgeA vape, vaporizer, or vape pen is a convenient method of consumption that takes a vape cartridge full of concentrate or extract and heats it up with a small coil. The vaporized contents are then inhaled by the user. This method of consumption is very common, due to the small size of vape(...) Read More
- Veg / Vegetative StateThe vegetative state is the period in-between propagation and flowering. It is a period where the Cannabis plants have a sturdy root system and are growing steadily. The plants are not flowering during this period, and the plant is instead focusing on growth. Read More
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- Wax / Shatter / Live Resin / Cherry Oil / Honey Oil / Rick Simpson Oil / Butane Hash Oil / Hash / Crumble / Rosin / CO2 Oil / Dab / KiefWhoooooa Nelly that’s a lot of terms! All the terms listed above are different kinds of extracts and concentrates. Most of the names for these extracts describe the physical appearance and characteristics of the concentrate. Some also describe how the extract is produced. There are many(...) Read More
More Resources From The Web
GoodRx Health – Guide to Safe and Healthy Cannabis Use
Harvard Health Publishing – What we know about cannabinoids
WebMD – What is legal and where
DISA – MAP OF MARIJUANA LEGALITY BY STATE
FDA – Cannabis and CBD Research
NIH – Cannabis (Marijuana) Drug Facts
NIH – Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know
Vote Hemp – Washington, DC based grassroots nonprofit organization working since 2000 to bring back hemp farming in the U.S.
Other Cannabis & Hemp Related Glossaries
cannacurious
Glossary For The Canna-Curious
Learn! Cannabis & Hemp Law Glossary
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