ICHS Official Glossary
The International Cannabis and Hemp Standards glossary contains industry-wide common acronyms and terms.
Utilizing a standardized, common language is essential to communicating effectively across diverse global markets.
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Glossary Of Terms
A
A-Flower
A-Flower refers to the flowers from the top colas of the plants. These are usually sold as whole raw flowers or used to produce top-shelf solventless extracts. A-Flowers are larger than 0.75 inches (19.05 mm). (See also Product Type).
A/B Flower Mix
An unsorted mix of A and B flowers. (See also Product Type).
A/B/C Flower Mix
An unsorted mix of A, B, and C-Flowers. (See also Product Type).
Aeroponics
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
Appraisal refers to the process of grading and quality-verifying raw materials and byproducts. (See Graded, Quality-Verified).
Aquaponics
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)
Aroma
Aroma refers to the flowers’ smell and the pungency and quality of the terpenes after the drying and curing. It is an attribute scored in quality grading. (See also Quality Attributes).
Autoflower
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
B-Flower
B-Flowers, also known as “smalls” or “popcorn buds,” develop beneath the plant’s canopy and are smaller than A-Flower due to a lack of exposure to full light. B-Flowers are smaller than 0.75 inches (19.05 mm) and larger than 0.25 inches (6.35mm). (See also Product Type).
B/C Flower Mix
An unsorted mix of B and C flowers. (See also Product Type).
Backcross
​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.
Bananas
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)
Bucked, Untrimmed
Flowers categorized as “bucked, untrimmed” are untrimmed and have been removed (bucked) from the branches. (See also Process).
Buds
​Bud is a slang term that refers to the dense nugget-shaped cannabis and hemp flowers.
Budtender
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.
Bract
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)
Bract-to-leaf ratio
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
Branch refers to the stalks that grow off the mainstem to support the flowers.
Bubble Hash
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
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.
Butane Hash Oil (BHO)
A category of extracts produced through butane extraction (See Extraction: Butane)
C
C-Flower
C-Flowers, also known as “Bb’s” or “larf”, either develop beneath the plant’s canopy and are smaller than B-Flower, and/or are a result of processing and breaking down and handling flowers. C-Flowers are 0.25 inches (approx. 7mm) or smaller and are pure cannabis flowers. (See also Product Type).
Cannabichromene (CBC)
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)
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)
Cannabigerol (CBG)
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.
Cannabinoid
​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)
Cannabinoid: Endogenous
An endogenous cannabinoid is a naturally occurring cannabinoid produced within the body. (See Cannabinoid, Endocannabinoid System)
Cannabinoid: Pharmaceutical
​A pharmaceutical cannabinoid is a legal FDA-approved medicine containing or consisting of either a plant-sourced or synthetic cannabinoid. (See Cannabinoid, Endocannabinoid System)
Cannabinoid: Phyto
A phytocannabinoid is a naturally occurring cannabinoid produced by cannabis and hemp plants. (See Cannabinoid, Endocannabinoid System)
Cannabinoid Profile
Cannabinoid profile refers to the specific and varying ratios of the full spectrum of cannabinoids found in a particular cultivar.
Cannabinoid: Synthetic
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)
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)
Cannabis
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.
Certificate of Grade
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
Chemotype refers to the chemical profile of a cannabis cultivar, including cannabinoids, terpenes and flavonoids. (See also Genotype and Phenotype).
Clone
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
Closed loop extraction is an industrial method that recaptures and recycles solvent without releasing it into the open air, which is dangerous. (See Extraction)
Cross
​A cross, in genetics, refers to a hybrid plant that is the result of breeding two distinct varieties.
CO2 Oil
CO2 oil refers to cannabis extracts made with carbon dioxide as a solvent.
Cola
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”.
Color
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. It is an attribute scored in quality grading. (See also Quality Attributes).
Concentrate
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).
Cultivar
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)
Curing
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.
D
Dab/Dabbing
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
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.
Doctor’s Recommendations
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 (Marinol)
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).
Drum Trimmed, Dry
Flowers categorized as “drum trimmed, dry” are trimmed using machines that tumble-dried flowers in a rotating drum over blades that separate the sugar leaves from the flowers. (See also Process).
Drum Trimmed, Wet
Flowers categorized as “drum trimmed, wet” are trimmed using machines that tumble freshly cut flowers before they are dried in a rotating drum over blades that separate the sugar leaves from the flowers. (See also Process).
Drying
Drying is the process of removing water from the flowers by storing them in controlled environments.
E
Edible
Foods infused with cannabis or hemp are referred to as “edibles."
Endocannabinoid System
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a network of receptors found in 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).
Entourage Effect
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
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. (See also Greenhouse, Hoop House, Indoor, and Outdoor).
Exit Bag
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.
Extract
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).
Extract Material
While both A and B Flowers can become extract material, this refers to trim, shake, and other material that is suitable only for extraction.
Extraction: Alcohol
​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))
Extraction: Butane
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.
Extraction: Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
​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 is usually consumed through vaporization or dabbing or further refined through distillation. (See Distillate)
Extraction: 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)
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)
Extraction: Propane
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 is usually consumed through vaporization or dabbing or further refined through distillation.
F
Fan Leaf
​The fan leaves are the signature five-fingered serrated leaves that represent the plant in popular culture and are utilized by the plant to access light energy to power 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. (See also Product Type).
Fanning
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
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.
Flavonoids
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).
Flower
​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
​Flowering is the final stage of cannabis growth. During flowering the plant either produces seed or dense trichome-rich flower.
Flushing
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.
Fresh Frozen
A “fresh frozen” crop is flash-frozen immediately after harvesting for use in the preparation of concentrates and extracts. (See also Product Type).
Full Extract Cannabis Oil (FECO)
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
​Full-spectrum refers to concentrates where all the cultivar’s phytocompounds have been preserved. (See Concentrate)
G
Genotype
Genotype refers to the genome, or genetic roadmap, of the plant. (See also Chemotype, Phenotype).
Germination
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.
Graded
​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)
Greenhouse
Greenhouses are enclosed structures that utilize the sun as a light source but are contained environments that allow for many of the same controls as an indoor garden. (See also Environment).
Grow
Grow refers to the garden operation, or “grow-op."
H
Hash
Hash refers to all concentrates and extractions of cannabis. (See also Concentrate, Extraction and Hash Oil)
Hash Oil
Hash oil is hash extracted or concentrated for viscosity, usually for dabbing or vaporizing. (See Hash)
Heirloom
An heirloom plant is a cultivar bred and handed down from grower to grower over time.
Hermaphrodite
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.
Hemp
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.
Hoop House
Hoop houses are outdoor-grown plants covered with hoops that support a layer of plastic sheeting that diffuses or blocks light. Hoop houses are often utilized for light deprivation, a technique that allows cultivators to manipulate light patterns and harvest multiple crops a year outside the typical growing season. (See also Environment).
Hybrid
Hybrid refers to a genetic cross between two distinct cannabis varieties or cultivars. (See also Species Type).
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is a method of plant cultivation that utilizes a soilless medium and delivers essential nutrients to the plants through water.
I
Indica
​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 Species Type).
Indoor
Indoor facilities are highly controlled and customizable growing environments that rely on artificial lighting for plant growth. (See also Environment).
K
Kief
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).
L
Landrace
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.
Larf
​(See B-Flower)
Light Deprivation
Light deprivation is the process of using blackout curtains in outdoor or greenhouse gardens to control the photoperiod and induce early flowering.
Live Resin
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.
M
Machine Trimmed, Dry
Flowers categorized as “machine trimmed, dry” are stripped of their sugar leaves using a variety of machines sometimes utilizing suction fans, which can separate trim from keif, after plants have been harvested and dried. (See also Process).
Machine Trimmed, Wet
Flowers categorized as “machine trimmed, wet” are stripped of their sugar leaves using a variety of machines after harvesting, before the product is dried. (See also Process).
Macronutrients
Macronutrients are the nutrients used in the largest quantities for plant growth; Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K).
Manicuring
Manicuring refers to the final stage of hand-trimming cannabis flowers, where the sugar leaves and stems are removed and the flower is shaped.
Manufacturer
A manufacturer is a cannabis operator who purchases raw cannabis to convert and sell as a finished byproduct.
Marijuana
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.
Methods of Ingestion
​Method of ingestion refers to how cannabinoids are delivered to the human endocannabinoid system and includes smoking, vaporizing, oral consumption, and topical application.
Micronutrients
​Micronutrients are the nutrients required for plant growth but are used in smaller quantities, specifically chlorine (Cl), molybdenum (Mo), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and boron (B).
Mixed Material
Mixed material lots consist of varying ratios of A-Flower, B-Flower, C-Flower, and Trim material. Each product can still be sorted into individual product types with further processing and used for multiple purposes. (See also Product Type).
Mycotoxin
Mycotoxins are naturally occurring fungi and molds. Most state-mandated cannabis laboratory screening includes a mycotoxin test.
N
Natural Nutrients
Natural nutrients are those that are obtained through organic processes in soil or compost.
O
Outdoor
Outdoor refers to plants grown under the full sun in the traditional growing season. Outdoor plants are grown directly in the ground or in raised beds or pots. (See also Environment).
P
Partial Trim
Flowers categorized as “partial trim” (sometimes referred to colloquially as “farm cut”) are separated from their stems and loosely manicured so that most sugar leaves remain. (See also Process).
Phenotype
Phenotype refers to the physical expression of a plant’s genetic code, or genotype. (See also Genotype and Chemotype).
Pistils
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 reveal any stresses and other environmental factors that influenced the plant’s life cycle.
Photoperiod
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.
Popcorn Buds
(See B-Flower)
Process
One of the three core characteristics used in product classification to create a product code, process refers to the post-harvest processing method used to finish a product. (See also Drum Trimmed Dry, Drum Trimmed Wet, Machine Trimmed Dry, Machine Trimmed Wet, Partial Trim, Scissor Trimmed Dry, Scissor Trimmed Wet, and Bucked Untrimmed).
Product Code
This is the final code given to a product based on the environment, product, and process. There are 252 unique product codes. (See also Environment, Product Type, Process).
Product Group
Product group refers to the group a material belongs to, either cannabis or hemp.
Product Type
One of the three core characteristics used in product classification to create a product code, product type refers to the type of product that a material is. (See also A-Flower, B-Flower, C-flower, A/B Flower Mix, B/C Flower Mix, A/B/C Flower Mix, Fan Leaf, Fresh Frozen, Mixed Material, and Trim).
Q
Quality Attributes
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. (See also Aroma, Color, Structure, and Trichomes).
Quality-Verified
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)
R
Relative Humidity (RH)
Relative humidity refers to the measure of the amount of water evaporated and held in the air.
Residual Solvent
Residual solvents refer to solvents used to extract cannabis that may still remain after the solvent-purging process.
Retailer
A retailer, or dispensary, is a legal and licensed storefront for the purposes of distributing cannabis.
Rick Simpson Oil (RSO)
(See Full Extract Cannabis Oil)
Rooting
Rooting is the process of allowing clones or seeds to establish firm roots to feed the mainstem before the vegetative growth phase.
Ruderalis
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 and Species Type).
S
Sativa
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 Species Type).
Scissor Trimmed, Dry
Flowers categorized as “scissor trimmed, dry” are dried with sugar leaves on and manicured by hand. (See also Process).
Scissor Trimmed, Wet
Flowers categorized as “scissor trimmed, wet” are manicured by hand after harvesting. before the product is dried. (See also Process).
Seed-to-Sale
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
Shake refers to the remaining small leaves and crumbled flowers found at the bottom of a container of cannabis flowers.
Shatter
(See Butane Hash Oil)
Soil
Soil is a natural growing medium that provides a stable base for the root system and a means of providing nutrients to the plants.
Species Type
The species type of the cannabis plant refers to the plant's species, either indica, sativa, ruderalis, or a hyrbid.
Stamen
The stamen is the exposed sex organ of the male flower.
Stigma
Stigmas are the stringy hairs that grow from the female flower bracts. Their color is used as an indicator of maturity.
Stem
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.
Strain
(See Cultivar)
Structure
Structure refers to the shape and density of the final dried flowers, which are a result of both genetics and growing and processing methods. It is an attribute scored in quality grading. (See also Quality Attributes).
Sugar Leaf
​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 byproducts.
Synthetic/Supplemental Nutrients
​Synthetic and/or supplemental nutrients are liquids, powders, or other products used to fertilize plants.
T
Terpenes
​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.
Tetrahydrocannabinolic-acid (THCa)
“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.
Δ-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
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)
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.
Tincture
Tinctures are cannabis-infused liquids, usually alcohol or glycerin, and are utilized for more precise dosing and quicker bioavailability.
Topical
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
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. Trichome density is an attribute scored in quality grading. (See also Quality Attributes).
Trim
Trim is sugar leaves that have been trimmed off flowers during the manicuring process. (See also Product Type).
V
Vaporizer
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
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.
W
Wax
(See Butane Hash Oil)