Medical Cannabis Glossary

With this glossary, you’ll be able to understand common terms and concepts concerning medicinal cannabis.

ADR: Adverse Drug Reactions
Alcohol extraction
2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)
Adult-use cannabis
Anandamide
Cannabinol (CBN)
Cannabidiol (CBD)
Cannabinoid profile
Cannabis
Cannabinoid 1 (CB1) and cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptors

As part of the endocannabinoid system, CB1 and CB2 are receptors that bind with endocannabinoids. CB1 receptors are known to mediate physical and psychoactive effects. On the other hand, CB2 receptors regulate immune response and inflammation

throughout the immune and peripheral nervous systems (including the gut, liver, hear, spleen, kidneys, bones, blood vessels, lymph cells, reproductive organs, and endocrine glands).
CB1 present in
CNS + PNS
Lungs
Vascular system
Muscles
Gastrointestinal tract
Gonads

CB1 + CB2 contained in
Immune system
Liver
Pancreas
Kidneys
Bone Marrow

CB2 present in
Spleen
Bones
Skin
CNS + PNS (upregulated
with inflammation)

Distribution of CB1- and CB2-receptors in the body. CB = cannabinoid receptors.

PNS = peripheral nervous system. CNS = central nervous system.
Chemovar

It refers to the categorization based on biochemical/pharmacological characteristics of a medicinal cannabis product. These characteristics depend on the extract concentration after extraction of cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and other active ingredients. The chemovar can vary from batch to batch and, to limit this variability, the content of crucial ingredients (such as CBD and THC) can be standardized. The chemovar of a full-spectrum extract could provide a specific therapeutic activity, due to the synergistic interaction of components (known also as the entourage effect).
Concentration
Cultivar
Dosage/dosing

The dose or dosage refers to the amount (in mg or ml) of a medicinal cannabis product, and/or the standardized active ingredients CBD and THC, taken per administration. It is meant to be determined by a prescribing physician. Please note that for cannabis-naive patients, the dosage shoud be increased slowly and carefull over a period of time (also known as “titration”). Please consider the difference between the terms concentration and dosage.
Dronabinol
Dried Cannabis Flower
Edible
Electronic smoking device (vaporizer or e-cigarette)
Endocannabinoid system (ECS)

The ECS is a physiological system that comprises neurotransmitters (also known as endocannabinoids), and their receptors (EC1 and EC2). They make up a complex regulatory system that is present throughout the human brain and body, in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The ECS creates and maintains the stability of the organism, by adjusting the flow of many important neurotransmitters, and by regulating many body functions (e.g. appetite, sleep, emotion, and movement).
Endocannabinoids
Entourage effect
Extract

It is a process to obtain a substance from something else, usually using industrial or chemical processes. In medicinal cannabis, the term refers to the preparation and refinement of cannabis flowers. Pure concentrates or extracts have much higher potency than diluted oils or cannabis flowers. The parameters and outcomes of the extraction process are defined by the European pharmacopeia.

Extraction

Please, see extract. The extraction for medicinal use is usually done with organic solvents (e.g. ethanol) or with carbon dioxide.
Finished pharmaceutical cannabis products
Flavonoid
Flower
Full spectrum
Hybrid/Hybridisation
Indica
Hemp
Marijuana
Medical use of cannabis/ medicinal cannabis
Minor Cannabinoids
Pharmaceutical cannabis
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacokinetics
Oil (Cannabis oil)
Phytocannabinoids
Potential Total THC
Processing
Psychoactive drug
Recreational cannabis use
Route of administration
Sativa
Seed-to-sale
Sprays (Oral sprays)
Standardization
Strain
Synthetic Cannabinoids (SCB)
Terpenes
Tetrahydrocannabinol (or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) (THC)
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA)
Topical medication
Transdermal
Trichome
Vape cartridge
Vaping
Vaporizer

Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of medication information. It does not include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient.

All content on this glossary is created for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal guidance.