The cannabis glossaryshould actually teach you.

Also called: Recreational cannabis

Cannabis activity governed by Maine’s adult-use laws and rules. It is a separate regulatory system from the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Program.

Also called: Side effect

An unwanted health occurrence associated in time with a product or exposure. Association alone does not prove the product caused it.

A cultivation method in which roots are suspended and supplied with a nutrient mist rather than planted in soil or another solid medium.

One version of a gene at a particular location in the genome. Different alleles can contribute to different inherited traits.

Also called: AEA

An endocannabinoid produced by the body. Its name is often abbreviated AEA.

Also called: Testimonial

A personal account or isolated observation. It can generate a useful question but cannot establish a general effect or medical benefit.

The tendency of a plant’s main growing tip to suppress some side growth through hormonal signaling.

Also called: Nose

The smell perceived from volatile compounds released by a product. Aroma is sensory evidence, not a potency or effect measurement.

Also called: Day-neutral

A plant that begins flowering largely according to age rather than requiring a particular light-dark schedule.

Also called: BX

A cross between offspring and one of its parents, or a genetically similar parent, used to reinforce selected inherited traits.

Also called: Lot

A defined quantity produced under similar conditions and identified as one unit. Test results and observations belong to that batch, not every item sharing its name.

Also called: Batch ID · Lot number

A code that connects a product to its production, packaging, and testing records. The identifier on a COA should match the product being evaluated.

The proportion of a substance that reaches systemic circulation, together with how quickly it becomes available. Route and formulation can change it.

Also called: Biocontrol

Use of living organisms, such as certain beneficial insects or microbes, to help manage a pest or pathogen.

Also called: Gray mold · Bud rot

A fungal plant disease that can damage dense flowers, especially under favorable moisture conditions. Identification and remediation require careful sanitation and crop-management decisions.

A small leaflike floral structure. In cannabis, resinous bracts surround reproductive structures and are often casually—but imprecisely—called calyxes.

A marketing and formulation term generally used for an extract containing multiple plant compounds while intentionally excluding or reducing THC. The label requires verification.

An informal term for harvested cannabis flower. It does not describe potency, quality, safety, or genetic identity.

Also called: Badder · Batter

A concentrate texture with a soft, whipped, or butter-like consistency. Texture does not determine chemical composition or safety.

The ability of a growing medium or solution to resist rapid changes in pH.

Also called: CBC

CBC, a phytocannabinoid found in cannabis, usually at lower concentrations than THC or CBD. Product-specific amounts require laboratory measurement.

Also called: CBD

CBD, a cannabinoid found in cannabis. CBD is not considered impairing, but products containing it are not risk-free and can interact with medications.

Also called: CBDA

CBDA, the acidic precursor from which CBD can form through decarboxylation.

Also called: CBG

CBG, a phytocannabinoid that may be present in cannabis at varying concentrations. A strain name cannot establish its amount.

Also called: CBGA

CBGA, an acidic cannabinoid involved in plant biosynthetic pathways that can lead to THCA, CBDA, and other cannabinoids.

A class of compounds that can interact with cannabinoid-related biological pathways. Cannabinoids may be plant-derived, produced by the body, or synthesized.

Also called: Potency panel

A laboratory-reported set of measured cannabinoids and their concentrations for a particular sample and method.

Also called: CBN

CBN, a cannabinoid that can appear as THC changes through oxidation and other degradation processes. Its presence alone does not predict an effect.

A broad term for plants and products associated with the genus Cannabis. Legal definitions vary by jurisdiction and program.

Also called: CUD

A diagnosable pattern of cannabis use that causes clinically significant impairment or distress. It is not the same thing as occasional use or tolerance alone.

Also called: Beta-caryophyllene · β-caryophyllene

A terpene found in cannabis and many other plants, often described with peppery or spicy sensory language. Aroma does not prove a clinical effect.

A relationship in which one factor produces a change in another. Stronger evidence is required than simply observing that two things occurred together.

Also called: Cannabinoid receptor type 1

A cannabinoid receptor found widely in the nervous system and other tissues. THC’s interaction with CB1 contributes to impairment and other effects.

Also called: Cannabinoid receptor type 2

A cannabinoid receptor associated with immune and other tissues, though its distribution and signaling are complex.

Also called: COA · Lab report

A laboratory document reporting results for an identified sample. Useful review checks the batch ID, dates, methods, units, analytes, limits, and laboratory identity.

A way of grouping plants by chemical characteristics, such as relative THC- and CBD-associated compounds, rather than relying only on a commercial name.

Also called: Yellowing

Loss or reduction of green color in plant tissue. It is a symptom with multiple possible causes, not a diagnosis by itself.

Also called: Cutting

A plant propagated vegetatively from another plant. Clones share a genetic source, but environment, health, and handling can still change expression.

An informal cultivation term for a cluster of flowers, often at the end of a branch or main stem.

Also called: Smoking

Burning material to create smoke for inhalation. Smoke can contain harmful chemicals regardless of the plant source.

Also called: Extract

A product in which selected cannabis constituents are concentrated relative to the starting material. Composition and strength vary widely.

A controlled period used to equalize moisture within dried flower before or during curing. It must not be confused with hiding unsafe moisture levels.

Also called: Confounding variable

A factor related to both an exposure and an outcome that can distort the apparent relationship between them.

An unwanted biological, chemical, or physical substance in a product. Testing scope and action limits depend on the program and jurisdiction.

Also called: Association

A statistical or observed relationship between variables. Correlation does not by itself establish that one variable caused the other.

A dry, breakable concentrate texture. The name describes consistency, not a standardized cannabinoid profile.

A cultivated plant variety selected and maintained for particular traits. In cannabis, cultivar identity can be poorly documented or inconsistently named.

Also called: Curing

Controlled post-drying storage intended to stabilize flower and develop its sensory qualities. Time, temperature, container, and moisture management matter.

Also called: Dabbing

An informal term for a small amount of cannabis concentrate used with a device designed to heat and aerosolize it.

Also called: DLI

The total photosynthetically active light delivered to a square meter over a day, usually expressed as moles per square meter per day.

Also called: Decarb

A chemical reaction in which heat or time converts acidic cannabinoids such as THCA or CBDA into neutral forms such as THC or CBD.

Also called: Nutrient deficiency

Insufficient availability or uptake of an essential plant nutrient. Similar symptoms can have different causes, so visual diagnosis alone is unreliable.

Chemical or physical change over time that can alter cannabinoids, terpenes, aroma, color, or product performance. Heat, light, oxygen, and storage matter.

A lag between using a product and noticing effects. Edible products may have a slower and less predictable onset than inhaled products.

Adaptation in which stopping repeated use can produce withdrawal symptoms. Dependence and cannabis use disorder overlap but are not identical concepts.

Also called: THCA diamonds

Crystalline cannabinoid-rich material, often THCA, sold alone or with a terpene-rich fraction. The informal name does not establish purity.

Also called: Medical dispensary

An entity registered within Maine’s medical cannabis program to provide medical cannabis and products to qualifying patients under applicable rules.

A highly refined extract produced using distillation to concentrate selected volatile compounds, often cannabinoids. It is not automatically pure or full-spectrum.

The amount of a substance used at one time or over a stated interval. Product concentration, route, and serving size all affect dose interpretation.

A pattern describing how an outcome changes as exposure or dose changes. The pattern may be linear, curved, thresholded, or inconsistent.

Also called: Sift · Kief

A solventless process that mechanically separates trichome-rich material from dried cannabis using screens.

Post-harvest moisture removal under controlled conditions. Drying choices can affect aroma, texture, microbial risk, and subsequent curing.

A food or beverage containing cannabis-derived ingredients. Effects can be delayed and longer-lasting, increasing the risk of accidental overconsumption.

Also called: EC

A measure related to the dissolved ionic content of a nutrient solution. EC does not identify which nutrients are present or whether roots can use them.

A cannabinoid-like signaling molecule produced within the body, such as anandamide or 2-AG.

Also called: ECS

A biological signaling network involving endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. It participates in many processes and should not be reduced to one promised outcome.

A hypothesis that cannabis constituents may interact in ways that change an overall effect. It remains an active research question, not a settled retail prediction.

A framework for comparing study designs by how well they can answer a question and limit bias. The best design depends on the question being asked.

A process used to separate selected compounds from plant material. Methods differ in solvent, temperature, pressure, selectivity, and required safety controls.

Also called: F1

The first filial generation produced by crossing two parental lines. An F1 label alone does not prove uniformity or stability.

Also called: F2

Offspring produced by crossing or selfing members of an F1 generation. Trait variation may become more visible in this generation.

Seed produced through breeding methods intended to yield predominantly female plants. The label does not guarantee every seed’s sex or eliminate intersex risk.

Also called: Filial

A generation of offspring in a breeding sequence, commonly labeled F1, F2, and so forth.

Also called: Bud

The harvested reproductive structure commonly sold as dried cannabis flower. Its name and appearance do not establish chemistry or contaminant status.

Also called: Bloom

The developmental period in which a cannabis plant produces flowers. Genetics and environment influence timing and expression.

A loosely used term for reducing or changing nutrient inputs before harvest or for rinsing a growing medium. Claimed benefits should be separated from measured evidence.

A non-uniform marketing term suggesting that an extract retains a broad range of plant constituents. It does not specify exact compounds or concentrations.

The inherited genetic makeup of an organism. Observable expression still depends on development and environment.

The process by which a viable seed resumes growth and develops into a seedling under suitable conditions.

A trichome with secretory structures where many cannabis cannabinoids and terpenes are produced and stored.

Also called: Substrate · Medium

The material or environment supporting roots, such as soil, coco coir, rockwool, or a water-based system.

The period in which a cultivator decides a crop has reached a desired stage for harvest. It is a production judgment, not a universal calendar date.

Also called: Hashish

A trichome-rich cannabis concentrate produced by mechanical or related separation methods. Forms and composition vary.

Also called: Toxic element

A category of elemental contaminants that may be included in safety testing, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, or mercury, depending on the program.

Also called: Industrial hemp

A legal classification for Cannabis sativa and its derivatives that meet the applicable delta-9 THC threshold and other requirements. It is a legal category, not a guarantee of safety.

Also called: Hermie

An informal and often imprecise term for a plant expressing both male and female reproductive structures. ‘Intersex expression’ is usually clearer.

Having different alleles at a genetic location.

Also called: Uniformity

How evenly a target constituent is distributed through a batch or product. It is especially important when interpreting servings in infused products.

Having matching alleles at a genetic location.

A terpene found in hops, cannabis, and other plants, often described with earthy or herbal sensory language.

A plant produced from genetically distinct parents. In retail cannabis, ‘hybrid’ is broad and does not reliably predict chemistry or experience.

Cultivation in which roots receive nutrients from a water-based solution, with or without an inert support medium.

A reduction in abilities such as attention, coordination, judgment, or reaction time. THC-containing products can impair regardless of route.

Research performed outside a living organism, such as in cells or isolated receptors. It cannot establish the same outcome in people.

Research conducted in a living organism. Animal findings still may not translate directly to humans.

A product made by transferring or incorporating cannabis-derived constituents into another material, such as oil, butter, food, or a topical base.

Also called: IPM

A prevention-focused system combining monitoring, sanitation, cultural practices, biological controls, and other targeted responses to manage pests responsibly.

Expression of male and female reproductive structures on the same plant. Genetics and environmental stress can both contribute.

A highly purified preparation intended to contain one principal compound, such as CBD isolate. Purity and identity require analytical verification.

Also called: Dry sift

Loose trichome-rich material separated from cannabis flower, often collected through screening or grinding.

A locally adapted plant population shaped over generations in a region. Commercial use of the term is often difficult to verify.

Plant stress associated with excessive intensity, heat, duration, or an abrupt change in light exposure.

Also called: LOD

The lowest amount an analytical method can reliably distinguish from background under stated conditions. It is not necessarily quantifiable with acceptable precision.

Also called: LOQ

The lowest amount an analytical method can report quantitatively with stated performance under the method’s conditions.

A citrus-associated terpene found in cannabis and many other plants. Its presence does not guarantee a mood or medical outcome.

A floral-associated terpene found in lavender, cannabis, and other plants. Sensory presence is not proof of sedation or therapeutic benefit.

Also called: Genetics

The reported parentage or ancestry of a cultivar. Conflicting breeder, producer, and commercial records should remain visible.

An extract generally made from plant material preserved soon after harvest rather than conventionally dried and cured. The term does not specify one extraction method.

A solventless concentrate generally pressed from hash made with freshly frozen plant material.

Also called: LST

Plant-shaping techniques that bend or position branches without intentionally removing the main growing tip.

A plant category defined by applicable Maine law and rules. Regulatory definitions—not visual guesswork—control plant-count questions.

Within Maine’s medical program, an authorized physician, certified nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who may provide written certification within a qualifying provider-patient relationship.

Also called: Medical cannabis

Use and related activity governed by the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act and program rules. It is distinct from the adult-use system.

Documented evidence that an analytical method is fit for its intended purpose, including characteristics such as accuracy, precision, selectivity, and reporting range.

Laboratory analysis for specified microorganisms or indicators. The organisms, methods, and action limits depend on the testing program.

Also called: mg

A unit of mass equal to one-thousandth of a gram. On labels, confirm whether milligrams describe one serving, the entire package, or concentration.

Also called: mg/g

A concentration unit expressing milligrams of an analyte per gram of material. Ten milligrams per gram equals one percent by mass.

Also called: Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Program

The Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Program, administered by the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy.

The amount of water in a material, usually reported as a percentage under a stated method. It is related to—but not interchangeable with—water activity.

Also called: Mother

A plant maintained as a source of vegetative cuttings for clones.

Also called: Local authorization

Local approval that may be required for certain cannabis businesses or activities. State credentials do not automatically replace local requirements.

A toxic compound produced by certain fungi. A mycotoxin panel is distinct from a general microbial or total yeast-and-mold test.

A terpene found in cannabis, hops, and other plants, often described with earthy, herbal, or musky sensory language. It does not guarantee sedation.

A formulation using very small dispersed droplets to change mixing and absorption characteristics. ‘Nano’ does not by itself establish faster onset, safety, or effectiveness.

Death of plant tissue. It is a symptom that can result from disease, injury, environmental stress, or nutrient problems.

A point on a stem where leaves, branches, or flowers can develop.

Also called: ND

A result indicating the analyte was not detected under the method’s conditions. It does not necessarily mean absolute zero is present.

Informal language for plant injury associated with excessive nutrient concentration or salt accumulation. Similar symptoms can have other causes.

Also called: Lockout

Reduced nutrient uptake despite nutrients being present, often associated with root-zone conditions such as unsuitable pH or salt imbalance.

Water containing dissolved mineral nutrients supplied to plants. Its concentration and pH require context from the crop, medium, and water source.

A volatile terpene found in cannabis and other plants, often described with sweet, green, or floral sensory language.

Also called: OCP

The Maine state office responsible for administering the state’s adult-use and medical cannabis regulatory programs.

The time between using a product and first noticing effects. It varies with route, formulation, amount, food, and individual context.

Chemical change involving electron loss, often accelerated by oxygen, light, or heat. Oxidation can alter cannabinoids, terpenes, aroma, and color.

Also called: Photosynthetically active radiation

Photosynthetically active radiation, the wavelength range of light commonly considered usable for photosynthesis. PAR is a range, not a measurement of intensity by itself.

An organism or agent capable of causing plant disease under suitable conditions.

Evaluation of scholarly work by other qualified reviewers before publication. It is a quality-control step, not proof that every conclusion is correct.

Also called: Weight percent · % w/w

A concentration expressed as mass of analyte per mass of material multiplied by 100. Label calculations must specify basis and method.

An organism that damages plants or interferes with cultivation goals. Management begins with correct identification and monitoring.

A substance intended to prevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate a pest. Legal use and testing requirements depend on product, crop, label, and jurisdiction.

A logarithmic measure of acidity or alkalinity. In cultivation it influences nutrient availability and root-zone chemistry.

Also called: Pheno

Observable traits produced through interaction between genotype, development, and environment.

Also called: Pheno hunt

A selection process in which a grower evaluates multiple plants from seed or breeding work to identify individuals with desired traits.

The duration and pattern of light and darkness in a day. Photoperiod-sensitive cannabis uses this signal in developmental transitions.

A cannabinoid produced by a plant, especially Cannabis, as distinct from an endocannabinoid made by the body or a synthetic cannabinoid.

Also called: Alpha-pinene · Beta-pinene

A pine-associated terpene found in cannabis and many other plants. A sensory or lab result does not establish a cognitive or medical outcome.

The female reproductive organ of a flower. The hairlike structures commonly noticed on cannabis flowers are stigmas, parts of the pistil.

An inactive or comparison intervention used in some studies to help distinguish treatment effects from expectations and other influences.

A regulatory count governed by current law and program definitions, including plant-development categories. Verify current OCP rules before relying on a number.

A male reproductive structure that can release pollen.

Also called: Co-use

Use of cannabis with alcohol, medications, or other substances. Combined use can change impairment and risk.

The amount or concentration of specified active constituents in a product. Potency is not synonymous with quality, safety, or therapeutic value.

Also called: PM

A group of fungal diseases producing characteristic surface growth on plants. Management requires identification, sanitation, environmental control, and lawful interventions.

Also called: Photosynthetic photon flux density

Photosynthetic photon flux density, the number of photons in the PAR range reaching a square meter each second.

Also called: Joint

A ready-made cannabis cigarette containing ground flower or another labeled cannabis mixture. Contents, paper, weight, and batch should be identified.

Research conducted before or outside human clinical trials, including laboratory and animal studies. It cannot by itself establish a human treatment benefit.

The original record closest to a claim, such as a statute, laboratory report, breeder statement, dataset, or research paper—not a page repeating it.

The documented origin and chain of a claim, plant, product, sample, image, or record.

Also called: Patient

A person who meets Maine medical-program requirements and receives written certification from an authorized medical provider.

Also called: RCT

A clinical study that randomly assigns participants to interventions or comparisons to reduce selection bias and support causal inference.

Also called: RM

A material with established properties used to calibrate, validate, or check analytical measurements.

Also called: Caregiver

A caregiver registered by OCP under Maine’s medical cannabis program and authorized to conduct specified activities subject to current law and rules.

An OCP-issued credential identifying an entity registered in a specified medical-program role, such as a dispensary or certain facilities.

Also called: RIC

An OCP-issued credential identifying a person registered in an authorized medical-program role and the conduct that registration permits.

Also called: RH

The amount of water vapor in air relative to the maximum it could hold at the same temperature.

A sample collected to reflect the batch or population being evaluated. Poor sampling can undermine an otherwise accurate laboratory method.

Solvent remaining after extraction or processing. Safety panels may test specified solvents against program limits.

A broad term for sticky secretions associated with glandular trichomes and, in product language, for various extracts. Context matters.

Also called: Rhizosphere

The environment immediately surrounding and supporting roots, including moisture, oxygen, temperature, pH, nutrients, and biology.

A solventless concentrate produced by applying heat and pressure to flower, sift, or hash.

Also called: Route

How a substance enters the body, such as inhalation, ingestion, or application to tissue. Route changes onset, duration, and exposure.

An informal concentrate term often describing a liquid or semi-liquid terpene-rich fraction, sometimes containing cannabinoid crystals.

A reproductive structure containing an embryo and stored resources. Seed-grown siblings can differ genetically and phenotypically.

A young plant in the early stage after germination.

Information a person provides about their own experience. It captures lived experience but is vulnerable to expectation, recall, dose, and context differences.

The labeled amount intended as one serving. It is not automatically a safe or appropriate dose for every person.

The person’s expectations, mood, physical state, and environment surrounding an experience. These factors can affect subjective response.

A brittle, glasslike concentrate texture. Appearance does not establish purity, potency, or contaminant status.

The period during which a properly stored product is expected to remain within stated quality or performance specifications.

A processing category that uses mechanical separation, water, heat, or pressure rather than an extraction solvent. It does not mean risk-free or contaminant-free.

Breeding work intended to make selected traits more consistently inherited. The term has no single universal completion threshold.

Also called: Pistil hair

A pollen-receiving part of a flower, often seen as hairlike structures on cannabis flowers.

Also called: Safe storage

Conditions used to protect a product from unauthorized access, contamination, light, heat, moisture, and mix-ups. Cannabis should be secured from children and animals.

A widely used cannabis marketplace term for a named plant line or product identity. Names are not standardized and do not guarantee genetics or chemistry.

A manufactured compound that interacts with cannabinoid pathways. Illicit products sold as K2 or Spice are not the same as cannabis and can carry severe risks.

A structured synthesis that searches for, evaluates, and combines relevant studies using predefined methods.

A volatile aromatic compound found throughout nature, including cannabis. A terpene result can describe chemistry or aroma but does not guarantee an effect.

Also called: Terpene profile

A laboratory report listing measured terpenes and concentrations for a particular sample and method.

A terpene-related compound modified by oxidation or other chemical change. In casual cannabis language, terpene and terpenoid are often used interchangeably.

A terpene found in cannabis and other plants, often described with herbal, floral, pine, or citrus sensory language.

Also called: THC · Delta-9 THC · Δ9-THC

THC, usually referring to delta-9 THC, an impairing cannabinoid. Product effects vary with dose, route, formulation, and individual context.

Also called: THCA

THCA, the acidic precursor from which delta-9 THC can form through decarboxylation.

Also called: THCV

THCV, a phytocannabinoid found in some cannabis samples. Its presence and amount require laboratory confirmation.

A liquid preparation containing cannabis-derived constituents, often in alcohol or oil. Labels should state concentration, serving information, and intended route.

Reduced response after repeated exposure, sometimes leading a person to use more for a similar subjective effect.

A product applied to skin. Formulation and labeling determine whether it is intended for local use, transdermal delivery, or another purpose.

Removing the main growing tip to alter apical dominance and encourage a different branching structure.

A calculated estimate combining measured CBD with a converted contribution from CBDA. The exact formula and reporting basis should be stated.

A calculated estimate combining measured delta-9 THC with a converted contribution from THCA. It is not simply the two reported percentages added together.

Also called: TYM · TYMC

A broad microbial indicator reported by some laboratory methods. It does not identify every organism or mycotoxin.

A formulation designed to move constituents across skin into systemic circulation. It differs from a topical product intended to remain local.

Also called: SCROG

Using a net, screen, or support structure to position and support branches and flowers.

A small plant surface structure. Glandular cannabis trichomes can produce and store cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds.

A transport record used within Maine’s medical program for certain movements of cannabis or cannabis products. Current OCP instructions control required details.

A standardized cannabis symbol required in Maine’s adult-use program and encouraged by OCP in medical settings. It supports recognition but does not replace secure storage.

Also called: VPD

The difference between the moisture-holding capacity of air and its actual vapor pressure, influenced by temperature and humidity.

Also called: Vaping

Heating a material or liquid to create an inhaled aerosol without intentionally burning the plant material. It is not risk-free.

Also called: Cloning

Producing a new plant from non-seed tissue, commonly a cutting, rather than sexual reproduction.

Also called: Veg

A growth period focused primarily on roots, stems, and leaves before flowering.

Also called: Visiting patient

A qualifying medical cannabis patient from an approved jurisdiction who meets Maine’s current visiting-patient requirements.

Also called: VOC

A compound that readily enters the gas phase. Many aroma compounds are volatile and can diminish or change with heat, air, and storage.

Also called: aw

A measure of available water that can support chemical reactions or microbial growth. It is not the same as total moisture content.

A broad concentrate term describing an opaque, soft, or waxlike consistency. Texture does not establish method, purity, or potency.

Symptoms that can occur after reducing or stopping repeated cannabis use, potentially including irritability, sleep difficulty, mood changes, or appetite changes.

Also called: Medical certification

Documentation from an authorized Maine medical provider certifying a patient for medical cannabis access within the program’s current requirements.