• THCA

    Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, or THCA, is the non-active form of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, and it’s found in fresh cannabis plants. The THC becomes activated through decarboxylation when cannabis is heated, dried or cured. Unlike THC, THCA is not thought to produce psychoactive effects.

  • CBDA

    Cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA, is the non-active form of cannabidiol, or CBD, and it’s found in fresh cannabis plants. The CBD becomes activated through decarboxylation when cannabis is heated, dried or cured.

  • clone

    A clone is a plant that is an exact genetic copy of its original mother plant. Instead of being grown from seed, a clone is produced by taking a cutting from a healthy plant with desirable characteristics. The cutting is placed in a solution that helps it form roots so it can eventually be transplanted into soil.

  • carrier oil

    Carrier oils are used in beverages, edibles, cannabis oil, topicals and other products consumed through ingestion or topical application. In these products, cannabis extracts are blended with a neutral carrier oil that can bind with fat molecules in your body and help it process the cannabinoids. The most commonly used carrier oil is medium-chain triglyceride, or MCT. It’s a fat found in foods such as palm kernel oil, coconut oil and butter that is broken down and quickly absorbed into the body. Other types of carrier oils include grapeseed, sunflower, olive and hemp seed.

  • capsule

    A capsule, or cap, is a small sphere or cylinder often made of gelatin that’s filled with cannabis extract (often mixed with a carrier oil) and meant to be swallowed (a cannabis consumption method also referred to as ingestion). Capsules purchased through the OCS are sold in a fully active state, so the cannabinoid content level is the same in each one, as listed on the packaging.

  • cannabis oil

    Cannabis oil is a cannabis extract — a concentrated substance derived from the plant — that is mixed with a carrier oil, such as medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) or sunflower oil. It can be packaged in a bottle with a spray top or dropper and is taken orally. It can be used as an alternative to smoking or vaporizing dried cannabis. Learn more about cannabis oil.

  • endocannabinoid system

    The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a combination of endocannabinoids, enzymes and cannabinoid receptors that helps regulate several functions in the human body.  

    Research on the ECS is still fairly recent. We know cannabinoids are structurally similar to endocannabinoids and enter the body through ECS cannabinoid receptors, offering certain therapeutic and psychoactive effects. 

  • endocannabinoid

    Both cannabis plants and people have chemical compounds in our systems called cannabinoids. In humans, they’re called endocannabinoids (in plants, they’re phytocannabinoids). 

    Endocannabinoids interact with our     endocannabinoid system, binding to cannabinoid receptors all over our bodies to help regulate stress recovery, nervous system protection, immune system response and homeostatic balance (our overall condition of optimal health and stability). 

  • Cannabis Act

    The Cannabis Act is a federal law that came into force Oct. 17, 2018, legalizing access to recreational cannabis in Canada. The law governs the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis across Canada and protects public health and safety.  

    Each province and territory is responsible for setting its own rules around how cannabis can be sold and where stores may be located, among other regulations. In Ontario, recreational cannabis is available for purchase only by adults 19 years of age or older and only through Authorized Cannabis Stores and OCS.ca. It is illegal to purchase cannabis from non-licensed sources.  

    Learn more about who does what in the sale of legal cannabis. 

  • nanoemulsion

    Often used in the production of edibles and infused beverages, nanoemulsion refers to cannabinoids that are broken down into microscopic molecules that are suspended in a lipid, or fat, allowing them to travel to their desired destination in the body more quickly and in greater quantities. Instead of being gradually metabolized in the liver and stomach, these tiny cannabinoids move directly into the bloodstream, producing a faster onset of effects.  

    Products formulated with nanoemulsion may feature terms like “quick onset” or “fast-acting.” Research into the nanoemulsification of cannabinoids and the potential effects is ongoing. 

  • tolerance break

    A tolerance break, or T-break, is a self-determined period of eliminating or cutting back on cannabis to restore sensitivity to cannabinoid receptors. It can also help to reduce dependence and unwanted symptoms. 

  • phenotype

    The phenotype of a plant refers to the physical traits its growing environment pulls from its genetic makeup, or genotype. These characteristics include shape, size, smell, taste, colour and potency. Breeders search for the best traits in a plant, a process called “pheno-hunting.” 

  • pheno-hunting

    Short for “phenotype hunting,” pheno-hunting is the search for the best traits in a plant strain or cultivar. Breeders grow numerous plants, looking for specific characteristics in structure, flavour, aroma, cannabinoid content and more. The chosen phenotype becomes the seed source for commercial production, ensuring desirable and consistent qualities in future crops. 

  • cultivar

    Cultivar is a horticultural term that means “cultivated variety,” which refers to a plant that has been selected and improved on by humans. It is considered a more accurate term than strain when referring to plant varieties. 

  • gummy

    A gummy, also called a “soft chew,” is a sweet or tangy edible, often fruit-flavoured, that is made with ingredients such as gelatin, sweeteners, flavouring and colouring. Consumed through ingestion, gummies are infused with cannabis extracts that contain cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. 

  • dispensary

    A dispensary is a term used for a store that sells cannabis. Legal cannabis products are sold through Authorized Cannabis Stores, which are privately owned retail stores that have been licensed by the AGCO. A legal store can be identified by the Provincial Retail Seal, which must be displayed outside the entrance. Find your nearest Authorized Cannabis Store.  

  • flavonoid

    Flavonoids are natural compounds in cannabis and other plants, known for their vibrant colours and potential health benefits. In cannabis, flavonoids like cannflavin A and cannflavin B are thought to have anti-inflammatory properties and work with cannabinoids and terpenes to produce various effects. In plants, they attract pollinators and protect against UV rays, pests and diseases. 

  • psychoactive

    The terms “psychoactive” and “intoxicating” are sometimes used interchangeably to describe the effects of cannabis, but they have different meanings.  

    Psychoactive refers to something that affects the brain, causing changes in perception, cognition, mood and behaviour. It can be used to describe substances such as cannabis, medications and chemical compounds that alter your mental state but are not necessarily intoxicating. Intoxicating refers to something that causes impairment, temporarily affecting judgment, behaviour and the ability to think clearly.  

    Both CBD and THC are psychoactive, as they interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. However, only THC is considered intoxicating and produces the “high” associated with cannabis consumption.  

  • edible

    Edibles are cannabis products meant to be consumed in the same manner as food or drinks that have been infused with cannabis extracts or concentrates. Edibles include gummies, chocolates, soft chews, beverages, lozenges and baked goods. Health Canada currently limits the potency of edibles to 10 mg THC per package.  

     

  • Cannabis ruderalis

    Cannabis ruderalis is less common than Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa. This species is short and stalky, and shaggier than the others, with light green leaves. It tends to be rugged and autoflowering, which is ideal for breeding. It’s used mostly by breeders to enhance their hybrids. 

  • resin

    Resin is a high-THC cannabis concentrate made from dried flower. Licensed Producers use an approved solvent, such as ethanol, to extract and create resin from trichomes. Live resin also uses solvents; however, the cannabis it’s produced from is flash-frozen instead of dried to preserve terpenes and flavonoids.  

  • bud

    The consumable flower of the cannabis plant is called the bud. The quality of the bud is not determined by its size but by its aroma and flavour, and the density of its trichomes.

  • trichome

    Trichomes are sticky secretions that develop on many kinds of plants to deter pests as they grow and flower. Terms such as “frosted” and “sticky” are used to describe trichome-dense cannabis flower. Trichomes contain most of the plant’s cannabinoids and are extracted to make certain cannabis concentrates. 

  • pistil

    The pistil is the part of a female plant reproductive system that receives pollen to create flowers or fruit. Pistils appear early in the flowering stage and help growers determine when cannabis is ready for harvest. 

  • cola

    Cola is the botanical term for clusters of buds on a female cannabis plant. Colas are harvested, dried and packaged as whole flower or processed to make edibles, concentrates, beverages and other cannabis products. Colas can be all shapes and sizes, though the top cola is usually largest and forms at the apex of the plant.  

  • lot

    A set of plants of the same strain of cannabis that have been grown, harvested and processed together by the same Licensed Producer is called a lot. Health Canada mandates that each lot of cannabis be tested for potency and contaminants.  

  • curing

    Curing is the final step in the process of cannabis flower preparation. It involves storing dried buds in an airtight, controlled environment to allow the moisture to distribute evenly through them. Proper curing helps improve the flavour, aroma and overall quality of the cannabis. 

  • decarboxylation

    Decarboxylation, or decarbing, uses high temperatures to activate the psychoactive effects of cannabis. When you heat cannabis flower, through smoking, vaporizing or cooking, for example, it causes a chemical reaction that turns cannabinoid acids like CBDA and THCA into their active counterparts, CBD and THC.  

  • Licensed Producer

    A Licensed Producer, or LP, is a cannabis cultivator, processor or seller that holds a licence issued by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act. All federal licence holders can conduct related activities such as possession, transportation, storage, destruction, research and development and sale of bulk cannabis to other federal licence holders.

  • rolling papers

    Rolling papers are used to make pre-rolls, also known as joints. They are sold as sheets and are most commonly made from wood pulp, as well as hemp, rice, flax and other non-wood plant fibres. Some products are coloured or flavoured and may include pre-made filters. For those who prefer not to roll, cones are pre-rolled cylinders with filters that can be filled with ground dried flower.  

  • hemp

    Hemp and cannabis are the same plant with one key difference — the amount of THC. In Canada, hemp is defined as a cannabis plant containing less than 0.3% THC and typically has higher levels of CBD. Hemp oil and seeds are found in skincare, food and health products. 

  • flower

    Flower, also referred to as bud, is a term for the part of the cannabis plant that is harvested, trimmed, dried and cured for consumption. It’s sold as whole flower, milled or in pre-rolls, or used to make products such as edibles, concentrates and topicals. Only female cannabis plants form flowers. 
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