Learn · Cannabis glossary

The vocabulary, decoded.

Terpenes, cannabinoids, concentrate forms, and New York cannabis law, defined in plain English by the budtenders at The Highline. 54 terms and counting, written for adults 21 and over.

What is a cannabis glossary?

A cannabis glossary defines the terms you meet on a dispensary menu and a lab certificate: the cannabinoids like THC and CBD, the terpenes that shape aroma and feel, the concentrate forms like live rosin and distillate, and the New York rules that govern adult-use sales. Each entry below is a short, sourced explainer.

The lexicon

01

Cannabinoid

The active compounds, from THC and CBD to the minor cannabinoids.

12 terms

Cannabinoidcannabinoids: Cannabinoid is the family name for the active chemical compounds in cannabis that interact with your body's endocannabinoid system. The plant makes over 100 of them. THC and CBD are the two most abundant. Each one shapes the look, feel, and labeling of what you buy.Read
CBCCannabichromene: CBC is cannabichromene, a non-intoxicating minor cannabinoid found in cannabis. It is one of the more common cannabinoids the plant makes, but usually shows up in small amounts. CBC binds only weakly to the brain's CB1 receptor, so on its own it does not produce a high.Read
CBDCannabidiol: CBD is cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis. Unlike THC, it does not produce a high. It interacts with the body indirectly and is often paired with THC in labeled ratios. Shoppers commonly ask for it when they want cannabis effects with less intoxication.Read
CBDaCBDA: CBDa is cannabidiolic acid, the raw, acidic precursor to CBD found in fresh, unheated cannabis. The plant makes CBDa first, and heat, light, or aging convert it into CBD through decarboxylation. CBDa is non-intoxicating, so it will not get you high.Read
CBGCannabigerol: CBG is cannabigerol, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid in cannabis. It is called the "mother cannabinoid" because its acidic form, CBGA, is the precursor the plant converts into THCA, CBDA, and other cannabinoids. Most flower carries under 1% CBG, so it is considered a minor cannabinoid.Read
CBNCannabinol: CBN is cannabinol, a mildly intoxicating cannabinoid that forms when THC ages and oxidizes from exposure to heat, light, and oxygen. Fresh cannabis has very little of it. CBN often shows up in products marketed for nighttime and rest, though research on those effects is still limited.Read
Delta-8 THCDelta-8: Delta-8 THC is a minor cannabinoid and a chemical cousin of regular delta-9 THC. It shares the same molecular formula but has its double bond in a slightly different spot. It is mildly intoxicating, usually made by converting hemp-derived CBD, and is not permitted in New York's legal market.Read
Delta-9 THCDelta-9: Delta-9 THC is the main intoxicating compound in cannabis, the cannabinoid that produces the classic "high." Its molecular formula is C21H30O2, with a double bond on the ninth carbon. In New York, delta-9 THC content is the line that legally separates regulated cannabis from hemp.Read
HHCHexahydrocannabinol: HHC is hexahydrocannabinol, a cannabinoid made mostly in labs by adding hydrogen to THC, a process called hydrogenation. It occurs only in trace amounts naturally. Users often report a mild, THC-like effect. In New York it sits in a contested legal grey area. Effects may vary. Please consume responsibly.Read
THCTetrahydrocannabinol: THC is tetrahydrocannabinol, the main intoxicating compound in cannabis. In its common delta-9 form, it produces the euphoric "high" by acting on the body's endocannabinoid system. On a label, it appears as a percentage in flower or as milligrams in edibles, and it is what drives a product's potency.Read
THCaTHCA: THCa is tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, the raw, non-intoxicating compound found in living and freshly harvested cannabis. It is the acidic precursor to THC. Heat converts it through a process called decarboxylation, so when you smoke, vape, or cook the flower, THCa becomes the THC that gets you high.Read
THCVTetrahydrocannabivarin: THCV is tetrahydrocannabivarin, a minor cannabinoid found in cannabis. It looks like THC but has a shorter carbon side chain, so it behaves differently. Most flower carries only trace amounts. THCV is often associated with clear-headed, energetic feelings rather than the heavy, sleepy side of THC.Read

02

Terpene

The aromatic oils that shape how a strain smells and feels.

12 terms

Alpha-Pinenea-Pinene: Alpha-Pinene is a monoterpene found in cannabis and in pine trees, rosemary, and other conifers. It carries a sharp, fresh pine aroma. As one of the most common terpenes in nature, it is often associated with clear-headed, alert sensations when present in a strain.Read
Beta-CaryophylleneBCP: Beta-Caryophyllene is a spicy, peppery terpene found in cannabis as well as black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon. It is unusual among terpenes because it can interact directly with the body's CB2 receptors, which is why some people group it with cannabinoids even though it comes from plant aromatics.Read
BisabololAlpha-bisabolol: Bisabolol is a soft, floral sesquiterpene found in cannabis and best known as the main aromatic compound in chamomile. It carries a gentle, sweet, honey-like scent with faint spice. In cannabis it usually shows up as a minor or secondary terpene, adding a delicate floral note to a strain's profile.Read
HumuleneAlpha-humulene: Humulene is a sesquiterpene found in cannabis, hops, sage, clove, and black pepper. It carries an earthy, woody, hoppy scent with subtle spice. Named after the hops plant Humulus lupulus, it often appears alongside beta-caryophyllene and rounds out a strain's deeper, grounded aroma notes.Read
LimoneneD-limonene: Limonene is a terpene that gives cannabis a bright citrus aroma, like fresh orange or lemon peel. It is one of the most common terpenes in cannabis and in nature, found in the rinds of citrus fruit. Users often associate it with an uplifting, mood-brightening quality.Read
LinaloolLinalol: Linalool is a floral, lavender-scented terpene found in cannabis and more than 200 other plants, including lavender, basil, and coriander. It is a monoterpene alcohol that adds a soft, sweet, slightly spicy aroma. In cannabis it is often associated with calming, mellow effects.Read
Myrcenebeta-myrcene: Myrcene is the most common terpene in modern cannabis, a monoterpene with an earthy, musky, slightly sweet aroma. It also shows up in mangoes, hops, lemongrass, and thyme. Myrcene-heavy flower is often associated with relaxation and that classic mellow, heavy-bodied feeling.Read
Nerolidoltrans-Nerolidol: Nerolidol is a sesquiterpene found in cannabis and in plants like jasmine, neroli, tea tree, ginger, and lemongrass. It carries a soft woody aroma with floral and citrus notes. Usually a minor terpene in cannabis, it is often associated with calm, relaxed profiles. Effects may vary.Read
Ocimenebeta-ocimene: Ocimene is a monoterpene found in cannabis and many plants, known for a sweet, herbal scent with citrusy and woody undertones. It also turns up in mint, basil, parsley, mango, and orchids. In cannabis it is rarely dominant, often the second or third terpene in bright, uplifting cultivars.Read
Terpeneterpenes: Terpene is the name for the aromatic compounds that give cannabis its smell and flavor, from citrus to pine to fuel. Cannabis makes them in the same resin glands that produce cannabinoids. Terpenes are also found across many plants, and they may shape how a strain feels.Read
Terpinolenealpha-terpinolene: Terpinolene is a monoterpene aroma compound found in cannabis and in plants like nutmeg, apples, lilac, and tea tree. It carries a complex scent that blends piney, floral, herbal, and light citrus notes. It is dominant in only about one in ten cannabis cultivars, often sativa-leaning ones.Read
ValenceneValencene terpene: Valencene is a sesquiterpene that smells like sweet orange, named for the Valencia oranges it was first found in. In cannabis it adds a juicy, fresh-squeezed citrus note with hints of fresh herbs or cut wood. It often shows up in orange-forward strains.Read

03

Product & Form

Flower, concentrates, and the formats they arrive in.

14 terms

510 Cartridge510 cart: A 510 cartridge is a pre-filled cannabis oil cartridge that screws onto a separate rechargeable battery using the 510-thread standard, ten threads spaced 0.5mm apart. The battery heats a coil inside the cart to vaporize the oil. The cart and battery are bought separately.Read
BadderBatter: Badder is a soft, whipped cannabis concentrate with a texture like cake batter or frosting. Made by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes, then purging and whipping the oil to add air, it stays creamy and easy to scoop. It is potent and flavorful, usually dabbed or vaped. Effects may vary.Read
Disposable VapeDisposable: A disposable vape is an all-in-one cannabis vape pen with the battery, oil, and heating coil sealed in one device. You inhale to use it and toss the whole unit once the oil runs out. No separate battery or cartridge swapping needed. Effects may vary. Please consume responsibly.Read
DistillateDistill: Distillate is a highly refined cannabis oil made by purifying an extract until it is mostly a single cannabinoid, often 90 to 99 percent THC or CBD. The refining process strips out plant fats, waxes, and terpenes, so it is nearly flavorless and odorless. It powers many vapes and edibles.Read
HashHashish: Hash is one of the oldest cannabis concentrates, made by separating the resin-packed trichomes from the flower and pressing them together. Because it concentrates the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes without chemical solvents, hash is usually stronger than flower. It comes mainly as dry sift or bubble hash.Read
Infused Pre-RollInfused Joint: An infused pre-roll is a ready-to-smoke joint made with ground flower plus a cannabis concentrate, like kief, hash, live rosin, distillate, or diamonds. The added concentrate raises the cannabinoid content well above a standard pre-roll, so the same size joint carries more potency per puff.Read
KiefDry sift: Kief is the loose, powdery collection of trichomes sifted off cannabis flower. Those tiny resin glands hold most of the plant's cannabinoids and terpenes, so kief is far more potent than the bud it came from. It usually looks like fine gold-to-tan dust.Read
Live ResinLive resin concentrate: Live Resin is a cannabis concentrate made from fresh plant material that is flash-frozen right after harvest instead of dried and cured. Freezing locks in the plant's volatile terpenes before extraction, so the finished product is known for bright aroma and full flavor. Effects may vary. Please consume responsibly.Read
Live RosinSolventless rosin: Live Rosin is a solventless cannabis concentrate made from fresh-frozen flower. The plant is washed in ice water to collect trichomes (bubble hash), which is then pressed with heat and pressure to squeeze out a terpene-rich oil. No chemical solvents are used, which is why it is prized as premium.Read
RSORick Simpson Oil: RSO is a thick, near-black full-extract cannabis oil made by soaking whole plant material in alcohol, then cooking off the solvent. It is full-spectrum, decarboxylated (already activated), and very high in THC. It usually comes in a plastic syringe for measured dosing. Effects may vary. Please consume responsibly.Read
Shakeshake weed: Shake is the small, loose pieces of cannabis flower that break off larger buds during handling, packaging, and storage. It is the same flower material as whole buds, just in smaller fragments. Shops often sell it at a lower price, making it a budget-friendly flower option for 21+ shoppers.Read
ShatterBHO shatter: Shatter is a glassy, translucent cannabis concentrate that snaps like hard candy when broken. It is made by extracting cannabinoids and terpenes with a solvent, usually butane, then purging that solvent under low heat and vacuum. The cold, stable purge gives shatter its brittle, see-through texture.Read
THCa DiamondsTHCA diamonds: THCa Diamonds are a crystalline cannabis concentrate made of nearly pure tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, often 96 to 99 percent THCa. They look like clear or amber gem-like crystals and are usually sold in a terpene-rich liquid called sauce. They turn into active THC only when heated.Read
TinctureSublingual drops: A tincture is a liquid cannabis extract, usually in an alcohol or oil base, dosed by dropper. You hold the liquid under your tongue so cannabinoids absorb through the mouth's lining. This sublingual route often kicks in faster than an edible you swallow. Effects may vary. Please consume responsibly.Read

04

Science & Effect

How the plant works in the body, and the lab terms behind it.

8 terms

Certificate of AnalysisCOA: A Certificate of Analysis is a report from an independent, licensed lab that tests a cannabis batch for potency and contaminants. It confirms cannabinoid and terpene levels and screens for pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and solvents. In New York, every legal product must have one tied to its batch.Read
DecarboxylationDecarb: Decarboxylation is the heat-driven reaction that converts non-intoxicating THCA in raw cannabis into THC, the compound responsible for the high. Heat strips a carboxyl group (COOH) from the molecule and releases carbon dioxide. Smoking, vaping, and cooking all trigger it, which is why raw flower will not get you high.Read
Endocannabinoid SystemECS: The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is a signaling network in the human body made of cannabinoid receptors, the natural cannabinoids your body makes, and the enzymes that build and break them down. It helps regulate things like mood, appetite, sleep, and memory. Cannabis compounds like THC interact with this same system.Read
Entourage Effectcannabis synergy: The entourage effect is the theory that cannabis works better as a whole plant, where cannabinoids like THC and CBD plus aromatic terpenes interact and shape each other's effects, rather than acting in isolation. It is the main rationale behind full-spectrum products. Effects may vary. Please consume responsibly.Read
Full-Spectrumfull spectrum: Full-spectrum is a cannabis extract that keeps the plant's full chemical profile, including major and minor cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds, instead of refining down to one molecule. It contrasts with distillate or isolate, which strip almost everything except a single cannabinoid like THC.Read
Microdosingmicrodose: Microdosing is taking cannabis in very small amounts, usually around 1 to 2.5 mg of THC, to feel light effects without a strong high. The goal is a subtle shift while staying clear-headed and functional. It is a common starting point for beginners and low-tolerance shoppers.Read
Onset TimeOnset: Onset time is how long it takes to feel cannabis after you use it. It depends on the method. Inhaled products work within minutes. Tinctures held under the tongue often take 15 to 45 minutes. Edibles are the slowest, usually 30 minutes to 2 hours, because they pass through the liver first.Read
ToleranceTHC tolerance: Tolerance is the reduced response to cannabis that builds with regular use, so the same dose feels weaker over time. The body adjusts to steady THC by dialing down CB1 receptor signaling. Frequent, higher-dose use builds it fastest. A break can reset it. Effects may vary. Please consume responsibly.Read

05

Legal & NY

The New York rules that govern adult-use cannabis.

8 terms

Adult-Use CannabisRecreational cannabis: Adult-use cannabis is legal, non-medical cannabis that adults 21 and older can buy from licensed New York dispensaries without a doctor or medical card. It was legalized by the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act in 2021 and is regulated by the Office of Cannabis Management.Read
CAURDConditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary: CAURD is New York's Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary license, the first-wave retail license created under the MRTA. It prioritized justice-involved individuals and nonprofits to open the state's earliest legal adult-use stores, starting in late 2022, before the standard retail license replaced it.Read
Lab TestingThird-party testing: Lab testing is the mandatory third-party analysis every legal New York cannabis product passes before it can reach a dispensary shelf. An independent, OCM-permitted laboratory checks potency (THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids) and screens for contaminants like pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and residual solvents.Read
MRTAMarijuana Regulation and Taxation Act: MRTA is the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act, the New York law signed March 31, 2021 that legalized adult-use cannabis for adults 21 and over. It created the Office of Cannabis Management, set possession rules, and started automatic expungement of many past marijuana convictions.Read
New York Possession LimitsNY possession limits: New York Possession Limits are the legal caps on how much cannabis an adult 21 or older may carry under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. Outside the home you may hold up to 3 ounces of flower and 24 grams of concentrate, with separate, higher amounts allowed at your residence.Read
NY Universal SymbolNY Cannabis Universal Symbol: The NY Universal Symbol is the warning mark the Office of Cannabis Management requires on every legal adult-use cannabis product. It combines a yellow "THC!" triangle, a red 21+ circle, and the New York State logo, signaling at a glance that a package holds a regulated, age-restricted cannabis product.Read
Office of Cannabis ManagementOCM: Office of Cannabis Management is the New York State agency that regulates legal cannabis. Created by the 2021 MRTA law and governed by the Cannabis Control Board, OCM handles licensing, compliance, lab-testing oversight, and enforcement for adult-use, medical, and hemp cannabis statewide. Its site is cannabis.ny.gov.Read
Seed-to-Sale TrackingSeed-to-sale: Seed-to-Sale Tracking is the state-mandated system that follows every cannabis plant and product from cultivation through harvest, processing, lab testing, and the final retail sale. In New York it runs on Metrc, giving regulators an unbroken record of where each gram came from and where it went.Read