Cannabis Terminology Explained: A Beginner’s Guide

Reading a cannabis menu can feel like learning a new language. Between cannabinoids, terpenes, flower, and concentrates, there’s plenty of terminology to unpack.

This guide explains the words you’re most likely to encounter so you can understand product descriptions and ask more informed questions.

Cannabis, Flower, and Bud

Cannabis is the name of the plant. It’s also used as a general term for products made from it.

Flower refers to the dried flowering parts of the cannabis plant. You’ll also hear it called bud. When a menu lists dried flower, it usually means loose cannabis rather than an edible, oil, or other processed product.

A pre-roll is a cannabis joint that has already been rolled. An infused pre-roll includes an additional cannabis ingredient, such as a concentrate, so it’s important to check the product description.

Cannabinoids: THC and CBD

Cannabinoids are chemical compounds found in cannabis. Two of the best-known are THC and CBD.

THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main compound responsible for the intoxicating “high” associated with cannabis.

CBD, short for cannabidiol, doesn’t produce the same high. However, that doesn’t make it risk-free: CBD can cause side effects and interact with medications. Learn more from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Terpenes and Trichomes

Terpenes are aromatic compounds that contribute to cannabis’s smell and flavour. They help explain why one product may smell citrusy while another smells earthy or piney.

Trichomes are the tiny, resin-producing structures on the plant. They often look like a frosty coating on cannabis flower and contain cannabinoids and terpenes. Health Canada explains cannabis’s plant compounds.

Strain and Cannabinoid Profile

A strain is a commonly used name for a cannabis variety. You may also see the word cultivar, meaning a cultivated variety.

A cannabinoid profile describes which cannabinoids a product contains and in what amounts. Terms such as THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, and balanced describe the relationship between those compounds.

A ratio expresses that relationship numerically. For example, a product labelled 1:1 THC contains equal amounts of THC and CBD. Always check which cannabinoid is listed first.

Concentrates and Extracts

Concentrate is a broad term for products in which cannabis compounds have been concentrated. Extract generally refers to a product made by separating compounds from the plant.

Names such as hash, wax, and shatter describe different concentrate types or forms. These products can contain much higher THC concentrations than dried flower, making the label especially important. See Health Canada’s overview of cannabis product forms.

Edibles, Oils, and Topicals

Edibles are foods or drinks containing cannabis, such as gummies, chocolates, or beverages.

Cannabis oil is a broad product term. Check its intended use carefully: an oil meant to be swallowed is not interchangeable with a vaping product.

Topicals are cannabis products designed for application to the skin, including creams and balms.

These terms describe product formats. They don’t tell you how much THC or CBD a product contains.

Potency, Percentage, and Milligrams

Potency generally refers to the concentration or amount of cannabinoids in a product.

A percentage (%) describes concentration. For example, 10% THC by weight equals 100 milligrams of THC per gram of product.

Milligrams (mg) measure an amount. When reading a label, check whether the amount applies to one piece, one serving, or the entire package.

Understanding that distinction helps you compare products accurately: a concentration and a per-serving amount are different measurements.



Putting the Terms Together

Imagine a description that reads: “Dried flower with a balanced THC profile and citrus-forward terpenes.”

You now know the format is dried cannabis flower, the product contains comparable amounts of THC and CBD, and “citrus-forward” describes its aroma.

You don’t need to memorize every cannabis term. Start with the product format, cannabinoid content, and label units—and ask for a plain-language explanation whenever something is unclear.