Glossary
C
- cannabidiol , said can-uh-bih-DYE-awl n.
- A cannabinoid made by the cannabis plant, abbreviated CBD, that does not cause the high THC does.
- CBD (medicine) , said see bee dee abbr.
- In medical notes, CBD usually means the common bile duct, the tube that carries bile into the small intestine.
- CBD, effects of n. phr.
- The FDA has approved CBD for one use, Epidiolex for seizures in three rare conditions; every other use is unproven.
- CBDA , said see bee dee ay abbr.
- Cannabidiolic acid, the raw form of CBD that the plant makes; heat turns it into CBD.
- CBDV , said see bee dee vee abbr.
- Cannabidivarin, a minor cannabinoid built like CBD but with a three-carbon side chain instead of a five-carbon one.
- CBG , said see bee jee abbr.
- Cannabigerol, a minor cannabinoid whose acid form, CBGA, is the starting point for THCA and CBDA in the plant.
- CBN , said see bee en abbr.
- Cannabinol, the cannabinoid that forms when THC breaks down with age, heat, light and air.
- COA , said see oh ay abbr.
- Certificate of analysis: a lab's report of what one batch contains.
D
- decarboxylation , said dee-car-box-ih-LAY-shun n.
- The change heat causes in an acid cannabinoid: THCA becomes THC, and CBDA becomes CBD.
- delta-9 THC n.
- The usual form of THC, and the one US hemp law has long measured: 0.3% or less by dry weight.
F
- full spectrum , said full SPEK-trum adj.
- Of a CBD extract: keeping the plant's other cannabinoids and terpenes, including some THC.
H
- hemp , said hemp n.
- Cannabis sativa L. with no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight; from Dec. 11, 2026, the federal limit counts THCA too.
T
- terpene , said TUR-peen n.
- One of the aromatic compounds that give a plant its smell, such as myrcene or limonene.
- THC , said tee aitch see abbr.
- Tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound in cannabis that causes a high.
- THCA , said tee aitch see ay abbr.
- Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, the raw form of THC in the plant. Heat turns it into THC.
- total THC n.
- Delta-9 THC plus 0.877 × THCA: the THC a sample would hold once all of its THCA is heated.