CANNABIS GLOSSARY

Loosely adapted from our friends at Leafly and our own experience.

BHO
BHO stands for butane hash oil and is a potent concentrate of cannabinoids made by dissolving marijuana in its plant form in a solvent (usually butane). The resulting product has very high THC levels (generally more than flowers or hashish) and is a thick, sticky oil. BHO is also referred to as honey oil, “dabs” or “dabbing,” earwax, or shatter, depending on the manufacturing method. 

BUD
Bud refers to the actual flower of the marijuana plant. These are the fluffy parts that are harvested and used for recreational or medicinal purposes as they contain the highest concentrations of active cannabinoids. 

CANNABINOIDS
Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds that are active in the marijuana plant. There are at least 85 different known cannabinoids isolated from cannabis, all exhibiting varied effects on the body. The two most people are concerned with are THC and CBD.

CANNABIS
Cannabis is a plant genus that produces three species of flowering plants: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica are used to produce recreational and medical marijuana. Cannabis ruderalis is rarely farmed due to its natural lower THC content and small stature, but there is some cross-breeding thanks to ruderalis’s unique ability to auto-flower rather than mature based on light, so there is potential for this variety to grow in popularity. Cannabis is native to Asia, but grows almost anywhere and has long been cultivated both for the production of hemp and various other uses.

CBD
Cannabidiol-an abundant cannabinoid of marijuana, CBD has wider scope of potential medical applications over THC. CBD is effective in treating neuropathic pain caused by MS, Diabetes, Lupus, cancer and other injuries. It is also used to combat anxiety, seizures, sleeplessness, and nausea. 

CROSS (GENETICS)
A cross (referring to crossbreeding) is the result when two different plant strains are bred together. For example, Blue Dream is a cross between Blueberry and Haze strains.

CONCENTRATES
The term concentrate refers to any wax, shatter, or oil that you vaporize or smoke or any tincture you used sublingually under the tongue. Concentrates are a potent consolidation of cannabinoids that are made by dissolving marijuana in its plant form into a solvent. The resulting product has very high THC levels (generally more than flowers or hashish) and can produce varying products that range from thick, sticky oils (BHO) to moldable goo (budder/wax) to resinous bits (shatter). At Island Herb, we have a wide variety of concentrates, and our budtenders would be happy to guide you in your choice on your next visit.

Dabs/Dabbing
A dab is a slang term used to refer to a dose of BHO received through butane combustion and inhalation. The act of “dabbing” refers to partaking in dabs.

EDIBLES
Edibles are cannabis-infused treats, beverages or tinctures containing up to 10mg of THC per serving.  Some edibles contain multiple servings & direct you to consume only a portion. They can take up to 2 hours to feel and can deliver a long lasting high. Start slowly with 5mg to see how it affects you. Our friendly weed shops carry everything from caramels from Magic Kitchen to Dank Chocolate Syrups from Craft Elixir.

FLOWERS
You probably know what flowers are; they’re often the “pretty” part of a plant, and the same is true for cannabis. While cannabis flowers don’t have traditional petals or look like daisies, they are still the reproductive organ of the female plants. Cannabis flowers are the hairy, sticky, crystal-covered bits that are harvested and dried to be used as medication. When they are allowed to be fertilized by male plants, these flowers will produce cannabis seeds. If not, they will continue to produce the resin that contains their active cannabinoids until they are harvested or begin to die.

HASH
Hash is probably the oldest marijuana concentrate around and is made from the collected and compressed resin or kief from the leaves and flowers. More potent than smoking bud, hash offers an elevated experience for any and all smokers. 

HEMP
Hemp is a fibrous product that can be produced from the male cannabis plant and can be used in the manufacture of rope, paper, beauty products, and a vast array of other products. Hemp plants have no value as a drug since they are males. Hemp is still Federally illegal to grow in the United States though some states have approved laws for commercial production.

HYBRID
Hybrid refers to a plant that is a genetic cross between one or more separate strains of cannabis. Hybrids can happen unintentionally, but they are usually bred specifically to combine desired traits of the original plants. Most marijuana on the market today is some form of hybrid.

HYDROPONICS
Hydroponics refers to a system of gardening that does not use soil. Plants are grown in water and receive their nutrients from the addition of solutions rather than soil. For growers, hydroponic advantages include more control over nutrient intake and stability. In terms of marijuana production, plants grown hydroponically are sometimes said to have cleaner, more distinct flavors.

INDICA
Indica is the less scientific name for the Cannabis indica species of cannabis. Generally, these plants originated in the Middle East and Asia and include both of the famous kush and Afghan lineages. Compared to their sativa counterparts, the plants are shorter, bushier and have more compact flower growth. This species tends to provide a nice body high that facilitates relaxation.

KIEF
Kief is a collected amount of trichomes that have been separated from the rest of the marijuana flower. Since trichomes are the sticky crystals that contain the vast majority of the plant’s cannabinoids, kief is known to be extremely potent. Kief is sometimes mistakenly referred to as pollen and is the primary ingredient in hashish production.

LANDRACE
A landrace refers to a local variety of cannabis that has adapted to the environment of its geographic location. This accounts for genetic variation between landrace strains, which have been crossbred to produce the cannabis variety we see today. Landrace strains are oftentimes named after their native region, like Afghani, Thai, and Hawaiian, and traces of landraces are sometimes detectable in the names of their crossbred descendants.

PHENOTYPE
Phenotype is a term that is heard most often in growing. It refers to the general physical characteristics of the plant such as height, color, branching, leaf configuration down to cell structure—any markers that can be used to identify and judge the healthiness of a plant.

POT
Pot is a slang term for cannabis.

PRE-ROLL
Pre-roll is a commonly used term that refers to a pre-rolled marijuana cigarette, commonly known as a joint.

SATIVA
Sativa is the less scientific name for the cannabis sativa species of cannabis plant. In general, these plants originated outside of the Middle East and Asia and include strains that are from areas such as South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Thailand. These strains tend to grow taller as plants (usually over 5 feet), are lighter in color and take longer to flower. When consumed, sativas tend to produce more cerebral effects as opposed to physical and sedative ones.

SHATTER
Shatter and ice are terms used to refer to BHO.

STRAIN
A strain is a specific variety of a plant species. Strains are developed to produce distinct desired traits in the plant and are usually named by their breeders (or by creative consumers). Strain names often reflect the plant’s appearance, its promised buzz, or its place of origin. They can also be named for their aroma or flavor. Although the medical marijuana industry strives for consistency, strains can easily be mistakenly or purposely misidentified.

THC
THC is an abbreviation of tetrahydrocannabidinol and is one of most abundant cannabinoids in marijuana. THC is responsible for weed’s psychoactive, “high” effects. Fun Fact: higher percentages of THC in bud, (24%-30%), make for a quicker onset, “higher” high. Lower percentages, (13%-23%) might take longer to take effect but will eventually get you there and often last a little longer.

TINCTURE
A tincture is a liquid concentrate, typically procured through alcohol extraction, which strips the plant of its beneficial cannabinoids. Usually carried in a coconut oil or glycerin, tinctures are available in a variety of flavors and dosages and are a great alternative for those not interested in smoking. Stop on by our friendly herb shop to try Fairwinds THC and CBD tinctures.

TOPICAL
Topicals are non-psychoactive balms, salves, and oils that users apply directly to the body instead of consuming. They can act as a muscle relaxant and as an antiseptic ointment.

TRICHOMES
Trichomes are the resin production glands of the cannabis plant. In Greek the word means “growth of hair,” and while these sticky little protrusions can make plants appear a little hairy, they are not hairs, nor are they “crystals,” which is how they are often described. THC, CBD and other cannabinoids are all produced in these glands.

VAPORIZER
A vaporizer is a device used to consume marijuana. It heats either flowers or marijuana-infused oils to a temperature that produces a cannabinoid-laced vapor to inhale. Vaporizing is healthier than smoking since there is no smoke to ingest, but this method still produces near instant effects. Come on in to learn more about Avitas cartridges today.

WAX
Wax is another form of concentrate.

WEED
Weed is a slang term for cannabis.