Guide
Cannabis products, explained.
Flower, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates, edibles, drinks, tinctures and topicals. How each is sold and what to look for.
Updated October 2026
Pick a product type
Tap a type to see how it is sold, what to look for and the limits that apply.
Flower
The dried bud of the cannabis plant, the most traditional product on any menu.
- Sold as
- Grams, eighths (3.5 g), quarters (7 g), halves (14 g), ounces (28 g)
- Used with
- Rolling papers, pipes, bongs or a dry herb vaporizer
- Look for
- Harvest or pack date, THC percentage and terpene info
- Daily limit
- 28.5 grams
Pre-rolls
Flower already rolled into a joint. Sold single or in packs.
- Sold as
- Single joints, multipacks, mini joints
- Infused
- Some are infused with concentrate and are much stronger
- Look for
- Weight per joint and whether it is infused
- Good for
- No gear needed
Vapes
Cartridges or all-in-one devices that heat cannabis oil into vapor.
- Sold as
- Cartridges, all-in-one disposables, pods
- Hardware
- Most carts use a 510 thread battery
- Oil types
- Distillate, live resin, rosin
- Look for
- Oil type and size in grams
Concentrates
Extracts that pack far more THC per gram than flower.
- Types
- Rosin, live resin, hash, badder, shatter, diamonds
- Solventless
- Rosin and ice water hash use heat, pressure or water, no solvents
- Used with
- Dab rig, e-rig or added to flower
- Daily limit
- 8 grams
Edibles
Food and candy infused with cannabis.
- Sold as
- Gummies, chocolates, baked goods, mints
- Limits
- 10 mg THC per serving, 100 mg per package
- Timing
- Up to 2 hours to begin, up to 4 hours for full effects
- Read more
- Our edibles guide has a timing tool
Drinks
Cannabis infused sodas, seltzers, teas and shots.
- Sold as
- Cans, bottles, drink mixes
- Limits
- Treated like edibles: 10 mg per serving, 100 mg per package
- Good to know
- Count the whole can as servings if it lists more than one
- Storage
- Keep away from kids, it looks like a normal drink
Tinctures
Cannabis extract in a liquid, usually dosed with a dropper.
- Sold as
- Small dropper bottles
- Dosing
- Measured by the dropper or by marks on it
- Look for
- THC and CBD per milliliter
- Good to know
- Start with a small amount
Topicals
Lotions, balms and oils applied to the skin.
- Sold as
- Balms, lotions, roll-ons, bath products
- Look for
- Cannabinoid content and ingredients
- Good to know
- Read the label for directions
- Health questions
- Ask a doctor
Plant type labels
You will see indica, sativa and hybrid on most menus. Staff use them as shorthand, but effects vary by person and product. THC content and terpenes, the aroma compounds, tell you more than the label alone.
Lab testing
California requires cannabis sold in licensed shops to be tested before it reaches the shelf. Batch information on the package ties the product to its test results.
Products FAQ
What is the difference between flower and concentrates?
Flower is the dried bud. Concentrates are extracts that hold far more THC per gram. California's daily limits reflect that: 28.5 grams of flower but 8 grams of concentrate.
What does solventless mean?
Made without chemical solvents. Rosin and ice water hash use heat, pressure, water or ice to separate the resin.
What is an infused pre-roll?
A pre-roll with concentrate added to the flower, which makes it much stronger than a regular joint.
Are indica and sativa labels reliable?
They are common shorthand at the counter, but effects vary by person and product. Ask about terpenes and THC content too.
Keep going
Related guides
Dispensary glossary
Every word you will hear at the counter, from badder to temple ball.
Edibles guide
Read a label, split a package and see when effects can arrive.
Your first dispensary visit
What to bring, what happens at the door, how the menu works and how to pay.