MUSKOKA GROWN GLOSSARY OF TERMS
KEY CANNABIS DEFINITIONS
Ever wonder why 4:20 is such a popular term in cannabis culture? Why ‘bud’ doesn't just mean a good friend? Or why a grinder is a key cannabis accessory? With a lot of terms being new to most people, cannabis can be confusing at the simplest of times. Let us be your guide - browse our glossary below to find the most common cannabis term definitions and become more educated on industry terminology.
April 20th (420)
Recognized internationally as the official holiday to celebrate cannabis and protest its illegalization. The beginnings of 420 are said to have originated at California’s San Rafael High School In 1971.
Bud
The bud is commonly referred to as the dried, cured, and consumable flower portion of the cannabis plant.
Budtender
Playing an important role in the experience of cannabis, a budtender is an educated and often certified person who assists the sale and educates you on the various cannabis purchasing options available at the dispensary.
Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are the active chemical compounds that the cannabis plant produces. They are responsible for the different effects when consuming cannabis, and interact directly with the human body via our endocannabinoid system. To date, researchers have found over 120 different cannabinoids within various cannabis plants. With there being so many cannabinoids and research just beginning, they are still being fully understood.
CBD (Cannabidiol)
The second most prevalent and most known cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, CBD does not contain any psychoactive properties and therefore will not cause a "high", however research suggests that the level of CBD present in cannabis can counteract the effects of THC.
CBG (Cannabigerol)
One of the many cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, CBG is often found in only trace amounts. CBG is the parent molecule of other more prevalent cannabinoids, like THC and CBD. Therefore, during plant growth, most CBG is converted into other cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, leaving ~1% left in a mature plant.
CBN (Cannabinol)
The only cannabinoid that isn’t derived from the parent molecule CBG. Instead, CBN occurs as the cannabis plant ages and is exposed to air or sunlight (UV). Early research has reported that as the potency of this cannabinoid increases, the sedative effects increase.
Clone
A clone is a genetically identical "copy" of a mother plant, produced by clipping a small portion of the mother plant and allowing it to root itself. Cloning is the preferred method of cannabis propagation and growth because it eliminates the uncertainty of seeds, and ensures you are getting a consistent product every time.
Concentrates
Concentrates are processed forms of the cannabis plant that have removed excess plant material and other impurities. This results in a much higher or more concentrated form of the cannabinoids THC and CBD. Concentrates are found in oils, tinctures, and other highly potent forms of cannabis.
Curing
Curing is the process of controlled drying of fresh cannabis, an integral part of the growing process. In order to ensure each plant meets its full potential levels of terpenes and cannabinoid, temperature and humidity must be controlled precisely. If the plant is dried too quickly, the biosynthesis of THCA to THC happens too quickly and your flower is left less potent. If the cannabis is left too moist, mold may present inside the flower.
Decarboxylation
Decarboxylation is the necessary process that must occur for you to experience the desired psychoactive effects of cannabis. Simply put, decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that is catalyzed by the heating and drying of cannabis to remove a carbon atom. In cannabis, THCA needs to be decarboxylated in order to convert to THC and achieve the desired "high".
Dispensary
A physical retail location in which people of legal age can purchase cannabis and related products. Ontario dispensaries are staffed by licensed CannSell certified staff.
Edibles
Edibles are food and drink products that have been infused with cannabis extracts, including THC and CBD. Edibles became legal on October 17th, 2019 during the rollout of Cannabis 2.0 products in select Canadian markets.
Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is a system that maintains the homeostasis state, or balance, within our bodies. Cannabinoids such as THC and CBD can interact with our endocannabinoid system.
The ECS is comprised of receptors and endocannabinoids. The receptors are situated on the surface of the cells and await a chemical trigger to perform their function. Endocannabinoids are the signals that trigger an event in the receptors. The body uses these signals to send chemical messages in the body to help maintain body temperature, blood sugar levels, and other important regulators for survival. Cannabinoids, like THC can also bind to these receptors and trigger an event inside the cell, however the effects of THC induce a "high" rather than a regulator event.
Entourage Effect
The entourage effect is a proposed mechanism by which other aspects of cannabis, besides THC affect the psychoactive effects. CBD is the most researched contributor to the entourage effect, although terpenes are said to play a role as well.
Flavonoids
Flavonoids are compounds found in thousands of plants. They are important for giving flowers their colours and also secrete chemical messages in order to attract pollinators and other symbiotic organisms. In cannabis they are said to influence the entourage effect in a similar matter to terpenes.
Full Spectrum
Full spectrum or full spectrum extracts are concentrates that keep as many original properties of the cannabis plant during the concentration process. While many concentrates are only concerned with particular cannabinoids (like THC), a full spectrum extract preserves as many cannabinoids and terpenes from the cannabis plant as possible.
Genotype vs Phenotype
A genotype is the unique genetic makeup of an organism. It is the precursor for all the possibilities a plant can express during its life. The phenotype is the organism's actual observed characteristics. As an example, when you clone a cannabis plant, the propagated cuttings are genetically identical to the mother plant (the same genotype), however, some of the plants may look completely different (different phenotype) depending on the unique environmental factors it is subject to.
Grinder
A grinder is a common tool used to break the cannabis dried flower into smaller pieces, making it more easily manipulated for joint rolling, vapourizing, or bong/pipe smoking.
Hemp
Hemp is the male plant of C. sativa and must consist of no greater than 0.3% THC, effectively making the plant a non-psychoactive version of cannabis. This tough and fast growing plant is often used for industrial purposes, as it is more sustainable than cotton. To shop Muskoka Grown's hemp clothing line, click here.
Hybrid
Hybrid cannabis is the result of cross breeding two distinct species (C. sativa and C. indica), the result is an offspring that is a mixture between both. A hybrid strain features characteristics of both its parents, which could be a sativa and indica blend. To explore available Muskoka Grown hybrid strains, click here.
Hydroponics
Hydroponic growing methods do not use soil. Instead, hydroponic growers use mineral nutrient solutions in water. Hydroponic growing allows for more efficient water usage and allows for the grower to control the nutrient levels of each plant more granularly. Muskoka Grown grows hydroponically in our state of the art facility, to learn more about our growing process, click here.
Indica
Research has shown that indica strains tend to be sedative and relaxing, associated with more body-centric effects and is considered a nighttime strain. Indica leaves are typically broader and the plants shorter than sativa strains. To explore available Muskoka Grown Indica strains, click here.
Joint
Common name for milled cannabis rolled into a paper of some sort. While joins are often rolled by hand, our high-quality cannabis has already been tightly packed and pre-rolled for you.
Kief
Kief is the resinous trichomes of the cannabis plant that often accumulate in a grinder after the cannabis has been grinded down. Kief can be collected and used as a concentrate.
Pre-roll
A pre-roll is a joint that has been rolled and packaged for ease of consumption. Muskoka Grown pre-rolls are currently available for purchase in Ontario.
Ruderalis
The lesser cultivated of the three strains, C. ruderalis was originally considered a 'wild' variation of the cannabis plant, due to its hardiness and resilience to extreme environmental conditions. The main differentiator in ruderalis however, stems from the fact that it begins to flower at maturity, rather than being activated by a photoperiod like indicas or sativas. While indicas/sativas require shorter days to start their flowering process, ruderalis will begin to flower once it hits a certain age instead (usually between 21 and 30 days).
Sativa
Sativa strains are known to be categorized as energetic and uplifting strains, associated with cerebral effects, and often are considered to be daytime use strains. The plant itself is typically longer, with thin leaves and typically taller than indicas.
Strain
Cannabis strains are variations of either a pure sativa, pure indica or hybrids which have been selected over generations to produce desired characteristics. Strains are often named by their growers and represent a unique combination of colour, smell, cannabinoid concentrations, terpene profiles, and growing cycles. Many of the original strains are incredibly rare, and the majority of available strains on the market today are a result of crossbreeding several different strains. To learn more about Muskoka Grown strains click here.
Terpenes
Terpenes are compounds found in all plants, within the flower's resin gland, which provide particular aromas and tastes to the plants. For more information on Terpenes click here
THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)
THC is responsible for the psychoactive high usually associated with cannabis consumption. As a general rule, the greater the THC% the more potent the effects will be. However, other factors such as terpenes and other cannabinoids are said to also influence the experience (the entourage effect).
For more information on THC and the recommended dosage, please visit the Ontario Cannabis Store
THC-A (Tetrahydrocannabinol Acid)
THC-A is the non psychoactive precursor to THC. THC-A is a larger molecule that does not bind to our endocannabinoid receptors, which is why you wouldn’t feel any effects if you consumed raw cannabis flower. In order to gain psychoactive "high" inducing characteristics, THC-A needs to undergo a process called decarboxylation in order to shed a carbon molecule and take on a shape that binds to our endocannabinoid receptors.
Trichome
Trichomes are small hairlike structures that produce the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that make each cannabis strain unique. The main function of trichomes is to act as a defense mechanism for the female plant. Their strong aroma and unpleasant taste deter predators from consuming the plant. Typically plants with more trichomes produce more potent and flavourful dried flower products.
Trichome colouration is also an important factor for growers to consider, as the transition of colour in the plants trichomes often signals it's time for the plant to be harvested. If the trichomes are left to mature too long they will begin to denature. This is why it is important for plants to undergo proper trimming drying, and curing in their final stages. To learn more about our growing process, click here
Vaporizer
Rather than combustion, a vaporizer uses heat to release the active compounds in the cannabis plant through a process called decarboxylation. Vaporizing is suggested to be a safer consumption method as combustion can release harmful chemicals as a byproduct.