A-Flower is a category designation referring to the thickest, densest flowers from the top colas of the plants. These are usually sold as whole raw flowers. A-Flowers are larger than 0.75 inches (approx. 20mm).

A/B Flower Mix is a category designation of an unsorted mix of A and B Flowers. (See also A-Flower, B-Flower)

Aeroponics refers to a hydroponic growing method where plant roots are suspended in the air, rather than rooted in a growing medium, and fed nutrients through a water mist. (See also Hydroponics)

Appraisal refers to the process of grading and quality-verifying raw materials and byproducts. (See Graded, Quality-Verified).

Aquaponics refers to a hydroponic growing method where plants float above fish that feed the plants through their waste, while the plants purify the water for the fish. (See also Hydroponics) 

Autoflowering refers to Ruderalis flower varieties of the cannabis plant that switch from the vegetative to the flowering growth stage based on their maturity, rather than photoperiod like an Indica or Sativa. They reach maturity faster than varieties that rely on photoperiod to induce flowering. (See also Photoperiod, Ruderalis)

B-Flowers, also known as “larf” or “popcorn buds”, develop beneath the plant’s canopy and are smaller and less dense than A-Flower as a result of a lack of exposure to full light. B Flowers are smaller than 0.75 inches (approx. 20mm).

A backcross refers to the result of breeding a hybrid plant back to one of its parents to increase the chances of desired genetics in the next and subsequent generations of offspring.

A combination of genetics and stress can cause an otherwise female cannabis flower to become a hermaphrodite. The first identifiable signs of hermaphroditism are elongated yellow-green pollen-containing stamens growing through the female bract, or “bananas”. Bananas can quickly pollinate a crop and cause it to turn to seed. (See Stamen)

​Bud is a slang term that refers to the dense nugget-shaped cannabis and hemp flowers.

A budtender advises and serves customers at medical or adult use cannabis stores. While not all budtenders are formally trained, they are the client interface at the point of sale and have the most direct influence on purchase decisions.

A bract contains the ovule, or potential seed. Bracts are green tear-shaped leaves accompanied by the stigmas that have high concentrations of trichomes. (See Stigma)

Because bracts contain a higher concentration of trichomes than sugar leaf, a high bract-to-sugar leaf ratio increases the value of cannabis and hemp flowers.

Branch refers to the stalks that grow off the mainstem to support the flowers.

Bubble hash is a form of solventless cannabis concentration. Bubble hash is named for both the way it bubbles when heated and for “Bubble Bags” a popular tool used for ice water hash extraction. (See Hash)

Bucking is a term that refers to the part of the harvesting process where the flowers are cut, or "bucked", from their stems and branches.

A category of extracts produced through butane extraction (See Extraction: Butane)

Cannabichromene (CBC) is the third most prevalent phytocannabinoid after THC and CBD. CBC is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It is non-psychotropic, or non-intoxicating.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a prevalent phytocannabinoid found in larger quantities in landrace and “hemp” varieties. It is non-psychotropic, or non-intoxicating, and used in the treatment of epilepsy. It is found in FDA-approved medicines as well as cannabis and hemp products sold over-the-counter nationwide in food, supplements and cosmetics. (See Hemp) 

All phytocannabinoids originate as Cannabigerol (CBG) before converting into either THCa, CBDa or CBCa as the plant matures. CBG is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It is non-psychotropic, or non-intoxicating.

A cannabinoid is a biologically active chemical compound that binds with receptors in the endocannabinoid system. There are four main types of cannabinoids; endogenous, phyto, pharmaceutical and synthetic. There are hundreds of identified cannabinoids, the most well known being the phytocannabinoids THC and CBD. (See Endocannabinoid System)

An endogenous cannabinoid is a naturally occurring cannabinoid produced within the body. (See Cannabinoid, Endocannabinoid System)

A pharmaceutical cannabinoid is a legal FDA-approved medicine containing or consisting of either a plant-sourced or synthetic cannabinoid. (See Cannabinoid, Endocannabinoid System)

A phytocannabinoid is a naturally occurring cannabinoid produced by cannabis and hemp plants. (See Cannabinoid, Endocannabinoid System)

Cannabinoid profile refers to the specific and varying ratios of the full spectrum of cannabinoids found in a particular cultivar. 

Synthetic cannabinoids are those designed and produced in laboratories either for pharmaceutical, recreational or illicit use. They are difficult to regulate and the use of non-pharmaceutical synthetic cannabinoids has been linked with serious illnesses and in some cases death. (See Cannabinoid, Endocannabinoid System)

Cannabinol (CBN) is the result of aged or degraded Δ-9 THC. CBN is used as an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory and sleep aid. (See Δ-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol, THC)

The term “cannabis” refers to all members of the Cannabis L. genus, which includes all species and subspecies of industrial hemp and flowering "marijuana" plants. In common use, cannabis refers to plants regulated under medical and adult use programs, as opposed to federally legal hemp, which are cannabis plants that contain less than 0.03% THC.

A Certificate of Grade is a document that verifies and a quality scoring inspection according to the International Cannabis and Hemp Standards has been performed by an ICHS-approved Fair Market Certification provider.

Chemotype refers to the chemical profile of a cannabis cultivar, including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. (See also Genotype and Phenotype). 

A “clone” is an asexually produced starter plant. When cuttings are taken and rooted from a mother plant, the resulting plants are genetically identical. Clones are used for standardization and consistency, among other reasons.

Closed loop extraction is an industrial method that recaptures and recycles solvent without releasing it into the open air, which is dangerous. (See Extraction)

A cross, in genetics, refers to a hybrid plant that is the result of breeding two distinct varieties.

CO2 oil refers to cannabis extracts made with carbon dioxide as a solvent.

Cola is the Spanish word for “tail”, a reference to the shape of the biggest densest flowers that grow at the top of the plants. Colas are the most sought-after raw flower “buds”. 

A concentrate is a solventless hash or hash made by stripping cannabis trichomes from plant matter through water, heat, pressure and/or agitation. Concentrates are full spectrum products. While all extracts are also concentrates, concentrates are not extracts. (See also Extract, Full Spectrum, Hash). 

While the word “strain” is often used to describe plant varieties, the term is inaccurate because it is meant to describe species of bacteria and fungi, not plants. The term “cultivar” refers to the unique final product of a cultivated harvest, which is a result of both nature (genetics) and nurture (farming) and results in varying chemotypic, genotypic and phenotypic expressions. (See Chemotype, Genotype, Phenotype)

The curing process is the final stage of drying flowers. During the curing process flowers are aged using precise temperature, humidity and light controls to preserve and refine tastes and aromas.

Dabbing is the process of heating a vaporizer element, either using a blow torch or electric heating coil, to vaporize and inhale small amounts of concentrates or extracts. 

Decarboxylation is the process of converting “raw” cannabinoids, or acid cannabinoids, into active cannabinoids. Heat is used to remove a carboxyl group and alter the structure of the cannabinoid. It is an important process in converting raw cannabis into edibles with active Δ-9 THC or CBD. Cannabinoids decarboxylate differently so this process could take longer or require more heat depending on desired outcome. 

Cannabis is a Schedule I Controlled Substance in the United States which, among other things, prevents it from being prescribed as a medicine in any state. Doctors write “recommendations” for cannabis rather than prescriptions, the key difference being there is no set dosage, method of ingestion or frequency of use determined and controlled by the doctor. 

Dronabinol is FDA-approved synthetic THC suspended in sesame oil. Originally developed in the mid-1980s under the trade name Marinol, it is the first in a class of synthetic cannabinoid based drugs. The use of dronabinol as opposed to full-spectrum cannabis led researchers to posit that the effects of cannabis are a result of the “entourage effect”, or all the phytochemicals found in the plant working in concert, rather than THC alone. (See Entourage Effect, Cannabinoid).

Drying is the process of removing water from the flowers by storing them in controlled environments.

Foods infused with cannabis or hemp are referred to as “edibles."

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a network of receptors found on the central and peripheral nervous systems of all mammals and most animals. The ECS was discovered through research on cannabinoids found in cannabis. Both naturally occurring and plant sourced chemical compounds interact with the ECS to regulate processes such as mood, insomnia, pain, digestion and more. (See Cannabinoid). 

Also referred to as the “ensemble effect”, the term “entourage effect” refers to the effects of cannabis varieties being a result of the full spectrum of chemical compounds found in an individual cultivar, rather than one or more of its separated or isolated chemical elements.

Environment refers to how the five essential inputs-- light, temperature and humidity, carbon dioxide and water -- are provided to fuel plant growth. Controlled environments include Indoor, Hoop Houses and Greenhouses. Outdoor cannabis is grown naturally with very few or no environmental controls. 

Greenhouses are enclosed structures that both utilize the sun as well as many of the same controls as an indoor garden.

Hoop houses are outdoor-grown plants covered with hoops that support a layer of plastic sheeting that diffuses light. Hoop houses are sometimes utilized for light deprivation.  (See Light Deprivation)

Indoor gardens are the most controllable environments. Artificial sunlight is provided and controlled through light emitting diode (LED) or high-intensity discharge (HID) lights run on timers to control the crop’s flowering schedule. Indoor-grown flowers are most often associated with higher quality because of the cultivator’s ability to design, tailor and tweak the growing environment.

Outdoor refers to plants grown under the full sun in the traditional growing season (annual in non-tropical climates). Outdoor plants are grown directly in the ground or in raised beds or pots.

Exit bags are childproof containers required under the majority of state-level cannabis regulatory schemes used to transport legal cannabis purchased from dispensaries to a consumer’s home.

An extract is hash made by stripping cannabis trichomes from plant matter using a chemical solvent such as an alcohol, butane, propane or carbon dioxide. The resulting concentrate is no longer full spectrum. While all extracts are also concentrates, concentrates are not extracts. (See also Concentrate, Full Spectrum, Hash).

While both A and B Flowers can become extract material, this refers to trim, shake and other material that is suitable only for extraction.

​Grain alcohol, ethanol or isopropyl alcohols are used to extract the full spectrum of plant compounds for use in tinctures or further processing to create full extract cannabis oils. (See Full Extract Cannabis Oil, Rick Simpson Oil (RSO))

Butane is a high-yielding solvent used to extract cannabinoid and terpene containing trichomes from the leaf material. The butane is evaporated off using controlled industrial processes and the remaining extracted hash is referred to as BHO, shatter or wax and is consumed through vaporization or dabbing or further refined through distillation. 

Carbon dioxide is a high-yielding solvent used to extract cannabinoid and terpene containing trichomes from the leaf material. The CO2 is evaporated off using controlled industrial processes and the remaining hash is referred to as CO2 oil, shatter or wax and usually consumed through vaporization or dabbing or further refined through distillation. (See Distillate) 

A distillate is an extract that has been further refined through a precise process of pressure, temperature and heat. The resulting oil is 90 percent or more of the same cannabinoid, most often THC or CBD. (See Extract, Extraction: Isolate)

An isolate is dried and powdered distillate with a higher concentration of one cannabinoid, usually THC or CBD, up to 99 or 98 percent pure. (See Extract, Extraction: Distillate)

Propane is a high-yielding solvent used to separate cannabinoid and terpene containing trichomes from leaf material. The propane is evaporated off using controlled industrial processes and the remaining hash is referred to as PHO, shatter or wax and usually consumed through vaporization or dabbing or further refined through distillation. 

The fan leaves are the signature five-fingered leaves that represent the plant in popular culture. The fan leaves develop first and spread out to harvest light, which fuels the growth of the plant and its flowers through the process of photosynthesis. Fan leaves are often discarded in the trimming process but are sometimes juiced for the potential therapeutic benefits of the “raw” or acid-cannabinoids and other plant compounds found in them.

Fanning, also known as stripping, shucking or de-leafing is the process of removing the fan leaves from the stalk to leave just the flowers. 

Feminized seed refers to seeds that are produced through a process that utilizes colloidal silver and sodium thiosulfate or gibberellic acid solutions to produce only female seeds.

After cannabinoids and terpenes, flavonoids are the most common phytocompounds found in cannabis and likely contribute to the varying effects of different cultivars. Flavonoids are plant pigments found in most plant life. (See Entourage Effect).

Cannabis and hemp flowers grow as dense or tail-shaped flowers and include the pistils, or sex organs of the female plants. The cannabis pistil is comprised of two stigmas that grow from a single bract, or ovule. If the female flowers are unfertilized, they concentrate production on the trichome covered flowers rather than producing seeds. 

Flowering is the final stage of cannabis growth. During flowering the plant either produces seed or dense trichome-rich flower. 

Flushing is the process of removing nutrients from the soil using pH balanced water free of supplemental or added nutrients, up to two weeks before the plants are harvested.  

Full extract cannabis oil (FECO) was popularized as a DIY cancer treatment by Canadian advocate Rick Simpson. While the Simpson method originally called for chemical solvents, West Coast producers use a grain alcohol solvent to extract the full spectrum of phytocompounds from flowers. The final product is a dense full spectrum high-potency cannabis oil that has been purged of its alcohol. (See also Extraction: Alcohol)

​Full spectrum refers to concentrates where all the cultivar’s phytocompounds have been preserved. (See Concentrate)

Genotype refers to the genome, or genetic roadmap, of the plant. (See also Chemotype, Phenotype). 

Germination is the first stage of the cannabis life cycle. During the process of germination, seeds are given moisture and humidity to trigger the growth of the sprout and its first roots. 

The term “graded” refers to raw cannabis and hemp materials and their byproducts that have been categorized and evaluated for quality using the International Cannabis and Hemp Standards (ICHS) Fair Market Certification. (See Quality-Verified)

Grow refers to the garden operation, or “grow-op."

Hash refers to all concentrates and extractions of cannabis. (See also Concentrate, Extraction and Hash Oil)

Hash oil is hash extracted or concentrated for viscosity, usually for dabbing or vaporizing.  (See Hash)

An heirloom plant is a cultivar bred and handed down from grower to grower over time.

Cannabis is dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants, unlike most flowers, which are monoecious. As a result of stress and/or genetics, female plants can produce male stamens (pollen sacs), resulting in a seeded crop. 

The term “hemp” has traditionally referred to varieties of the Cannabis L. genus that were bred for seed (food, personal care products), fiber (paper and fabric) and a variety of other industrial non-drug uses. In common use, hemp refers to cannabis plants, including “marijuana” flowers, containing less than 0.03% THC. 

Hybrid refers to a genetic cross between two distinct cannabis varieties or cultivars. 

Hydroponics is a method of plant cultivation that utilizes a soilless medium and delivers essential nutrients to the plants through water. 

Indica refers to varieties of cannabis originating from the Hindu-Kush region that are known for being shorter, bushier, broader leafed and higher in their THC content than varieties referred to as Sativa. Indica and Sativa are also used colloquially (though not scientifically) to refer to the effects of a variety, generally that Indicas are sedative while Sativas are energetic, although this is not the case. (See also Sativa). 

Kief is a form of solventless hash, or concentrate, that is made simply by cooling and/or agitating cannabis plant material to shake off the cannabinoid and terpene containing trichomes. (See also Concentrate, Hash and Trichomes).

Landrace refers to varieties of cannabis that have adapted to a specific isolated environment and stabilized over time. In cannabis breeding, they are the base of all modern hybridized varieties.

(See B-Flower)

Light deprivation is the process of using blackout curtains in outdoor or greenhouse gardens to control the photoperiod and induce early flowering.

Live Resin refers to an extract or concentrate of cannabis produced using freshly harvested and immediately frozen flowers. It can be produced with or without solvent, resulting in the differences of final chemical profile.

Natural nutrients are those that are obtained through organic processes in soil or compost.

Macronutrients are the nutrients used in the largest quantities for plant growth; Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K). 

Manicuring refers to the final stage of hand-trimming cannabis flowers, where the sugar leaves and stems are removed and the flower is shaped.

A manufacturer is a cannabis operator who purchases raw cannabis to convert and sell as a finished byproduct.

Marijuana is both a slang term and the legal classification for drug varieties of the genus Cannabis L. in the United States. In Spanish it translates to “Mary Jane” and as a result the English translation has also become slang to refer to cannabis flowers. The term was used in the late nineteenth century in Northern Mexico and popularized as a way to use racism to demonize the cannabis plant leading up to the start of prohibition through the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.

​Method of ingestion refers to how cannabinoids are delivered to the human endocannabinoid system and includes smoking, vaporizing, oral consumption and topical application.

Micronutrients are the nutrients required for plant growth but used in smaller quantities, specifically chlorine (Cl), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and boron (B).

Mycotoxins are naturally occurring fungi and molds. Most state mandated cannabis laboratory screening includes a mycotoxin test.

Phenotype refers to the physical expression of a plant’s genetic code, or genotype. (See also Genotype and Chemotype).

A pistil is the entire sex organ of the female plant. It is made up of two stigmas that catch male pollen and an ovule (bract), which contains a calyx that produces seeds when fertilized. The color and shape of the pistils on the final trimmed raw material reveals any stresses and other environmental factors that influenced the plant’s life cycle.

Photoperiod refers to the patterns of light and darkness that control the plant’s flowering cycles. Flowering is induced when the period of uninterrupted darkness is longer than 12 hours. 

(See B-Flower)

The key quality attributes used to grade finished raw cannabis flowers are smell, color, structure and trichome density. Each attribute is ranked on a scale of 0-100.

Color refers to the vibrancy and variety of colors in the final dried flowers, which are a result of both genetics and growing and processing methods. 

Smell refers to the flowers’ aroma and the pungency and quality of the terpenes after the drying and curing.

Structure refers to the shape and density of the final dried flowers, which are a result of both genetics and growing and processing methods. 

Trichomes are the glands that grow on the surface of the plant, in the highest concentration in the flowers, and contain the sought after phytochemicals; cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids.

Quality-verified refers to raw materials and their byproducts that have been graded using the International Cannabis and Hemp Standards (ICHS) Fair Market Certification. (See Graded)

Relative humidity refers to the measure of the amount of water evaporated and held in the air. 

Residual solvents refers to solvents used to extract cannabis that may still remain after the solvent purging process. 

A retailer, or dispensary, is a legal and licensed storefront for the purposes of distributing cannabis.

(See Full Extract Cannabis Oil)

Rooting is the process of allowing clones or seeds to establish firm roots to feed the mainstem before the vegetative growth phase.

Ruderalis refers to autoflowering varieties of the cannabis plant that switch from the vegetative to the flowering growth stage based on their maturity, rather than photoperiod like an Indica or Sativa. They grow faster than varieties that rely on photoperiod to induce flowering. (See Autoflowering)

Sativa refers to varieties of cannabis originating from equatorial regions that are known for being taller and thinner-leafed than varieties referred to as Indica. Indica and Sativa are also used colloquially (though not scientifically) to refer to the effects of a variety, generally that Indicas are sedative while Sativas are energetic. (See also Indica). 

Seed-to-sale refers to software programs mandated by most state cannabis regulatory schemes that track and report cannabis inventories from the moment they are planted to the point of final sale.

Shake refers to the remaining small leaves and crumbled flowers found at the bottom of a container of cannabis flowers. 

(See Butane Hash Oil)

Soil is a natural growing medium that provides a stable base for the root system and a means of providing nutrients to the plants.

The stamen is the exposed sex organ of the male flower.

Stigmas are the stringy hairs that grow from the female flower bracts. Their color is used as an indicator of maturity. 

The stem is the main body of the plant that connects the roots to the branches that support the flowers. The term can also refer to the leftover bases of the sugar leaves in a hasty trim job.

(See Cultivar)

Sugar leaves look similar to fan leaves but are smaller, envelop the flowers and have dense concentrations of potent trichomes. Sugar leaves are usually removed in the trimming process and used to create extracts, edibles and other byprodroducts.

Synthetic and/or supplemental nutrients are liquids, powders or other products use to fertilize plants.

Terpenes are odor molecules, or essential oils, found in a wide variety of plants. In cannabis and hemp, the blend of terpenes, or the terpene profile, is responsible for the cultivar’s unique aroma and contributes strongly to its effects.

“Raw” THC, or THC that has not undergone a chemical transformation through heating, is THC-acid (THCa). THCa is non-intoxicating and is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It can be obtained through juicing raw leaves and flowers or a tincture made from fresh ground flowers. 

Once heated, THCa loses a carboxyl group and becomes the infamous Δ9 THC, which along with being the principal psychotropic compound and the subject of a century’s worth of Reefer Madness, also has vast medicinal properties. THC is being studied for its role as the driver of apoptosis, or programmed cell death, of cancerous tumors. It is used as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-bacterial, neuroprotective and appetite stimulator.

Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) is a lesser known cannabinoid starting to make its way onto dispensary shelves in some states, thanks to early studies showing promise in regulating blood sugar and assisting in managing weight. THCv is rare, but starting to emerge from African landrace varieties and dedicated breeding programs. Unlike Δ9, THCv is used as an appetite suppressant and anti-anxiety agent. 

Tinctures are cannabis infused liquids, usually alcohol or glycerin, and are utilized for more precise dosing and quicker bioavailability. 

A topical is a preparation of cannabis or hemp, usually an ointment or salve, applied directly to the skin for cosmetic use, pain, rash and/or inflammation relief.

Trichomes are resin glands produced in the densest quantities on cannabis flowers. They contain the most sought after elements of cannabis and hemp flowers; cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. There are three main types of trichomes found on cannabis; bulbous, capitate sessile and capitate stalked. Capitate stalked trichomes are the largest and most sought after, followed by capitate sessile and bulbous trichomes.

Trimming is the process of sculpting flowers before sale as raw material. This process removes fan leaves, stems and sometimes the sugar leaf. Various methods are used to trim flowers by hand or machine for a variety of purposes.

Flowers categorized as “drum trimmed, dry” are trimmed using machines that tumble dried flowers in a drum over blades and suction fans that strip the sugar leaves from the flower. These are sold as both whole flowers and extraction material. 

Flowers categorized as “machine trimmed, wet” are stripped of their sugar leaves using a variety of machines immediately after harvesting. 

Cannabis flowers categorized as “scissor trimmed, dry” are dried with sugar leaves on and sculpted manually, usually before sale as whole flowers.

A vaporizer is a device used to heat cannabis extracts, concentrates or raw flowers in order to force the evaporation of terpenes and cannabinoids for inhalation. 

Vegetative growth is the stage between the plant’s germination and when it begins to flower and ripen. During the vegetative growth stage the plants grow up to two-thirds of their height and develop fan leaves that harvest light to use in the process of photosynthesis. 

(See Butane Hash Oil)