A popular number in the cannabis history. It originated in 1971 by a group of teenagers in San Rafael, California. They would meet at their local smoke spot at 4:20 pm to smoke marijuana together. This practice of smoking at 4:20 is still done today by stoners all around the world. April 20th (4/20), Earth Day, is considered a Stoner Holiday.  There are many myths regarding the origin of the “holiday,” including the misnomer that “420” is the police code for a marijuana bust.

A chemical compound naturally produced in the brain and present in certain foods, such as chocolate. Anandamide is a cannabinoid neurotransmitter that binds to the CB1 neural receptors located in the central nervous system and the CB2 receptors located elsewhere in the body. It “activates” the effects of THC and other cannabinoids.

A slang term meaning a person is high.

BHO stands for Butane Hash Oil, a type of cannabis concentrate made using butane as the main solvent. Under this form of cannabis extraction, THC content can be as high as 80-90%. This makes BHO a popular choice for many medical marijuana patients suffering from chronic pain, sleep disorders, and other intractable symptoms. BHO comes in a variety of forms such as shatter, wax, budder, crumble or sap.

A cigar that has been hollowed out and filled with marijuana.

A bong, also known as a water pipe, is a cannabis smoking apparatus that filters the smoke through water before reaching the lungs.

The bowl shaped area of the pipe or bong where you load the marijuana in a pipe or bong.

A handheld pipe (normally made of glass) that has a water reservoir that helps to cool the smoke and allows for a smoother “hit” that a dry pipe. Smaller than a bong.

Buds or Nugs are the fluffy flower that is harvested from a marijuana plant. This part of the plant is very psychoactive and rich in cannabinoid concentration. It is not uncommon for buds to be resinous and have red, orange or other colored hairs on them.

Another term for the opaque form of hash oil. The difference between wax and budder is subtle, but generally, budder is a softer, pliable product (like softened butter at room temperature) while wax trends more towards the crumbly side.

The chemical compounds found within the cannabis plant, cannabinoids come in both psychoactive and non-psychoactive varieties, but all of them act upon the human body’s built-in cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids can be absorbed via inhalation or ingestion as well as transdermally.  Learn more here.

The plant from which all marijuana, hemp and cannabinoid related products originate.

CBD is an abbreviation for Cannabidiol — a cannabis compound that has medicinal benefits without making a person feeling “stoned,” because it is non-psychoactive.  Patients often turn to strains or products rich in CBDs for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-psychotic properties.

A common hip hop term to describe high quality, very potent marijuana.

A clipping from a cannabis plant, which can then be rooted and grown. Like many plants, cannabis can be asexually propagated via cloning, which creates an exact genetic copy of the “mother plant.”

Chemical extraction (whether using a hydrocarbon solvent or CO2) using a closed system, which means that the machine recycles the solvent rather than dispersing it in the air. Most commonly this is referring to a butane or propane extraction, but technically CO2 extraction machines are also closed-loop. A closed-loop system is much safer than traditional “open blasting” methods.

When high pressure is applied to CO2, it becomes a liquid that is capable of working as a solvent, stripping away cannabinoids and essential oils from plant material.

Concentrates are a potent form of marijuana. They are created by dissolving marijuana in a solvent like Butane or Carbon Dioxide which consolidates the cannabinoids into a potent mixture. Depending on the manufacturing method the final product can be an oil (wax) or resinous flakes (shatter). Concentrates tend to be very potent and usually have a higher THC concentration than hash.

When you are to high to get off the couch. A common side effect reported of some indica strains.

A marijuana strain whose effects have a delayed reaction, slowly building over time getting a person high.

A cross is when two different types of plants are bred to create another type of plant. This is common in marijuana cultivation to produce new strains.

A “dab” refers to a highly concentrated or extracted dose of cannabis which is heated on an extremely hot surface (typically a nail) and then inhaled through a dab rig or modified bong. The extracts used in dabbing are usually referred to as wax, shatter, rosin, budder or BHO (butane hash oil). With the advent of advanced extraction methods for cannabis concentrates, the practice of dabbing has become very popular as a fast and efficient way to medicate with high levels of THC or other cannabinoids, such as CBD. In addition, dabbing is vaporizing, not smoking, which permits the release of the activated cannabinoids without the negative aspects of combustion. For more information about dabbing, see our tutorial.

A popular marijuana slang term to refer to high quality strains.

Slang term for a marijuana joint.

A downstem is an essential glass piece that fits into a water pipe joint. Downstems function to carry smoke from the slide (or bowl piece) into the water chamber of your glass pipe to filter and cool each hit.

Baked goods such as cookies and brownies, gummy bears, jolly ranchers and drinks that are infused with cannabis oils. Consuming edibles takes longer for the psychoactive components to kick in, as it must be absorbed in the digestive track. Because the effect can also last longer compared to smoking or vaping, edibles are often a good night time method for treating insomnia.

One eighth of an ounce of Marijuana, which measures 3.5 grams. It’s common for dispensaries to run special deals for “4 gram Eighths.”

Flower is the overall term to refer to the harvested, dried, useable marijuana that is smoked. Flowers are the reproductive organ for the cannabis plant producing the highest concentration of cannabinoids in the plant. They are visually stunning and vary in color and size by strain. Flowers are usually covered in a sticky resin and crystals known as trichomes.

Ganja typically refers to the flower of the marijuana plant when smoking. The word originated from the Hindi, Urdu and Sanskrit languages, and its first known use was in 1689.

Hash or Hashish is a potent mix of cannabinoids produced by removing trichomes from the plant by means of sieving or filtering. Hash is more potent than flowers, but less potent than BHO.

Hemp comes from the cannabis sativa L. plant species, like marijuana, but is more fibrous making it a sustainable alternative resource for industrial and commercial purposes.  Like marijuana, hemp is still classified as a Schedule 1 Drug with the US Federal Government.  However, the THC level in hemp is typically below 1% and is now legal to cultivate in ‘select states’ due to the US Farm Bill in 2014.  Hemp can also be imported from other countries (for instance to make CBD tinctures and topicals) as long as the THC level is below .3%.  A person can not get “high” from  hemp-derived products.

Smoking marijuana in a closed area, in hopes of having the air saturate with cannabis smoke. This gets the smokers high from the original hit and the second hand smoke.

A hybrid is a cross between two genetically different strains of cannabis. Hybrids typically cultivated to mix two or more preferred traits of a plant to product a new powerful combination. Most strains found in dispensaries are usually hybrids which helps create a diverse menu for the cannabis consumer.

A slang term for shatter or BHO

The Indica Cannabis plant is a short, bushy plant that’s suitable for growing indoors. Great for nighttime, it provides the body with overall relaxation.

The most common term referring to a marijuana cigarette.

Kief is a potent collection of trichomes from the marijuana plant. Resembling a cluster of pollen, it’s actually a cluster of cannabinoids in concentrated amounts. Kief is usually packed on top of bowls to increase the potency of the flower being smoked.

Kush plants are cannabis that originated from the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kush strains are indica dominant and very potent.

A landrace variety of cannabis is a strain that has adapted to thrive in the environment of its current geographic location. Landrace strains commonly have their location in their name. Example: Afghan Kush

Marijuana is the broad term for a cannabis plant and its flowers that contain several psychoactive ingredients like the popular tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Marijuana can be found in many forms including dried flower, concentrates, hashish, tinctures, topicals, and extracts.

Slang term for marijuana

A common side effect of marijuana where the user becomes very hungry. Strains that induce this sensation can be effective in treating patients that have a lost of appetite.

A titanium nail used when dabbing to collect wax and press it against the heat source. For more information about dabbing, see our tutorial.

An organization that advocates for the rights of cannabis users. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NORML’s mission is to move public opinion sufficiently to legalize the responsible use of marijuana by adults, and to serve as an advocate for consumers to assure they have access to high quality marijuana that is safe, convenient and affordable.

A phenotype describes the general physical characteristics of a plant. This can include color, leaf configuration, height and a multitude of other characteristics that can be used to establish a plants health.

Pistils are the female part of a cannabis plant. They appear as little hairs on the flowers, that are a whitish color early in flowering and turn to a red or dark orange color as the plant matures. Pistils are a great indication for a plants readiness to harvest. When a female plant is going to be fertilized by a male plant her pistils collect male pollen.

A slang term for marijuana.

A pre-roll is a joint rolled by the dispensary, not yourself. At Foster Buds, we take great pride in offering unique blends of strains in our pre-rolls, perfect for the discriminating cannabis connoiseur.

RSO stands for Rick Simpson Oil.  Rick Simpson is a medical marijuana activist who has been sharing his technique to make cannabis oil by reducing the plant matter in a solvent solution (such as alcohol) resulting in a concentration of medically beneficial cannabinoids.  There are many commercially produced RSOs on the market today to help treat a variety of medical conditions.

Ruderalis is an autoflowering cannabis variety. It is often rich in CBD’s which are great for treating various ailments. The Ruderalis is a very hardy plant and not commonly grown.

The Sativa Cannabis plant is a thin, tall plant that’s best suited for growing outdoors. Great for daytime, it has uplifting effects that can boost creativity and cerebral focus.

Shatter is a type of cannabis concentrate that is believed to be the purest and most potent type of marijuana product. Shatter, or butane hash oil (BHO), is created through an extraction process to eliminate fats and lipids. It’s typically transparent and breaks easily into fragments. Users can add shatter to a bowl of flower for smoking or use it for dabbing.

A term used to describe seedless marijuana

A slang term used to describe someone high off marijuana.

A strain is a specific variety of a cannabis plant species.

Terpenes are chemical compounds found in cannabis that produce the distinct flavor and smell of the various strains. Scientific communities are currently studying the terpenes found in cannabis to determine how they may aid in the treatment of particular medical ailments.

THC also known as delta-9-tetracannabinol is the most prevalent psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana. THC is the main cannabinoid that gets you high when smoking cannabis. It was first isolated in 1964 and has been used for various medical and recreational reasons ever since.

A tincture is a cannabis extract made with alcohol or glycerol that is in liquid form. Many medical marijuana patients use tinctures in a dropper. They drop the liquid under their tongue for quick absorption or add it to a drink for a more delayed effect. Tinctures are popular because they can be flavored and don’t produce an odor. This allows a person to medicate rather discretely if necessary.

Slang for a person who smokes Marijuana.

Cannabis extracts can be added to a lotion, crème or balm that is applied to the skin called a topical. Most commonly used for achey muscles and soreness, topicals can be added to the desired area of the body and absorbed through the skin.

Trichomes are crystallized glands that produce resin on a marijuana plant. Often referred to as “sticky little hairs”, these glands are the specific parts of the plant that carry the majority of cannabinoids. Under a microscope, trichomes look like translucent mini mushrooms.

A vaporizer is a device used to efficiently consume marijuana without smoking. A vaporizer has a heat source that increases the temperature to a level that vaporizes cannabinoids, but not the flower material. This gives the user a clean tasting, highly potent hit that does not have butane from lighters. Vaporizers have become hugely popular in the last few years due to their reduced size and increased safety.

A vaporizer pen (or vape pen) is a smaller version of a regular vaporizer. It’s portable and typically uses pre-filled cartridges available in 1/2 – 1 gram sizes. Some Vape pens are disposable, while some allow the user to replace or refill the cartridge. Vape pens are battery operated and usually include a USB attachment to recharge the battery.

A device used for smoking marijuana that filters the smoke through water before it is inhaled.

Wax is a concentrated form of marijuana that’s created when the plant is dissolved into a solvent. It’s considered to be more potent than smoking regular flower because it delivers a high level of THC each time it’s consumed. Wax is often opaque and is popular with many cannabis consumers because it’s easy to handle and can be used with a dab rig or on top of a bowl for smoking.

Weed is the most commonly used slang term for marijuana.