Reference

The dispensary glossary.

44 words you will hear at the counter, from badder to temple ball, in plain English.

Updated October 2026

44 terms

A

Adult-use
Cannabis sold to adults 21 and older without a medical recommendation. Also called recreational.
All-in-one
A vape device with the battery and oil built in. You use it until it runs out.

B

Badder
A soft, whipped concentrate with a texture like cake frosting.
Budtender
The person behind the counter who helps you shop.

C

Cannabinoids
The compounds in cannabis, such as THC and CBD.
CBD
Cannabidiol, a cannabinoid that is not intoxicating the way THC is.
Concentrate
An extract that holds much more THC per gram than flower. The daily limit is 8 grams.
Cultivar
Another word for strain. Growers often prefer it.

D

Dab
A small amount of concentrate heated and inhaled, usually with a dab rig or e-rig.
Diamonds
Crystalline THC concentrate, often sold in a sauce of terpenes.
Distillate
A highly refined oil used in many vapes and edibles.

E

Eighth
An eighth of an ounce, or 3.5 grams. The most common flower size.
Excise tax
California's 15% tax on retail cannabis sales. Sales tax is charged on top of it.
Express pickup
Order online, then grab it at the shop without waiting in the main line.

F

Flower
The dried bud of the cannabis plant.

G

Gram
One gram. Concentrates and vape oil are usually sold by the gram or half gram.

H

Half
Half an ounce, or 14 grams.
Hash
Concentrated resin glands separated from the plant, one of the oldest forms of cannabis.
House flower
Flower a shop or its brand grows and sells under its own name.
Hybrid
A plant type label for strains with mixed genetics.

I

Ice water hash
Hash made by agitating the plant in ice water to separate the resin. Solventless.
Indica
A plant type label. Effects vary by person, so do not rely on it alone.
Infused pre-roll
A pre-roll with concentrate added. Much stronger than a regular joint.

L

Last call
The final time a shop rings up sales before closing, often 10 to 15 minutes early.
Live resin
Concentrate made from plants frozen right after harvest to keep more aroma.
Live rosin
Rosin pressed from hash made with fresh frozen plants. Solventless.
Lounge
A licensed consumption lounge where you can legally use cannabis on site.

M

Medical
Cannabis bought with a physician's recommendation. Adults 18 and older qualify.

O

Ounce
28 grams. The legal daily limit for flower is 28.5 grams.

P

Phenotype
One specific plant expression of a strain. Breeders hunt for the best ones.
Pre-roll
Flower already rolled into a joint.

Q

Quarter
A quarter ounce, or 7 grams.

R

Rosin
Concentrate pressed from flower or hash using heat and pressure. Solventless.

S

Sativa
A plant type label. Effects vary by person, so do not rely on it alone.
Shatter
A glassy, brittle concentrate.
Smalls
Smaller buds of the same flower, often sold for less.
Solventless
Concentrates made without chemical solvents, such as rosin and ice water hash.
Strain
A specific variety of cannabis with its own genetics and name.

T

Temple ball
Hash hand rolled into a ball, a traditional style some shops still carry.
Terpenes
Aroma compounds that give each strain its smell and flavor.
THC
Tetrahydrocannabinol, the main intoxicating cannabinoid. Edibles are capped at 10 mg per serving.
Tincture
Liquid cannabis extract, usually dosed with a dropper.
Topical
A lotion, balm or oil applied to the skin.

#

510 thread
The standard screw thread most vape cartridges use to connect to a battery.