Federal update: DOJ partially rescheduled medical cannabis to Schedule III (April 28, 2026 final order). State-licensed medical operators may apply for expedited DEA registration through June 27, 2026; DEA hearing on full rescheduling set for June 29, 2026.
The cannabis dictionary — 470+ terms defined Encyclopedic · Sourced · Free

Industry & Commerce

45 terms in this category

280E
IRC section denying tax deductions to businesses trafficking Schedule I/II substances
Aspergillus
A mold genus that can contaminate cannabis and cause serious lung infections in vulnerable users
Banking (industry)
Cannabis businesses lack reliable banking access due to federal illegality — a defining industry challenge
BioTrack
Cannabis tracking and compliance software — a METRC competitor in several states
Budtender
Dispensary retail employee who advises customers on products — the frontline of cannabis retail
Cannabis pharmacy (LA)
Louisiana's term for a medical cannabis dispensary — reflects pharmaceutical framing
Cannabis retailer
Generic term for any licensed business selling cannabis to consumers
Cashless ATM
Point-of-sale workaround disguising debit transactions as ATM withdrawals — regulatory gray area
COA (Certificate of Analysis)
Lab report documenting a cannabis product's potency, purity, and contaminant status
Compliance
Adherence to state cannabis regulations — testing, labeling, packaging, and inventory tracking
Consumption lounge
Full regulatory term for a cannabis lounge — distinct from a dispensary or delivery service
Cottage license
The smallest cultivation license tier — typically limited to a few hundred square feet
Craft cannabis
Small-batch, artisanal cannabis from independent cultivators — industry analog to craft beer
Craft cannabis license
Small-scale cultivation license modeled on craft brewing — caps canopy size to preserve space for independents
Cultivator (business)
A licensed business that grows cannabis — distinct from the botanical activity
Delivery
Licensed service bringing cannabis directly to consumers — available in some states
Dispensary
A licensed retail location where consumers purchase cannabis products
Distributor
Licensed middleman transporting cannabis from cultivator/processor to retail — required in CA
Extraction technician
Specialist operating extraction equipment to produce concentrates and extracts
Head grower
Lead cultivator responsible for day-to-day growing decisions and crop quality
Heavy metal testing
Lab screening for lead, cadmium, arsenic, and mercury in cannabis products
License
State-issued authorization to cultivate, process, test, distribute, or sell cannabis
Lounge
A licensed venue for on-site cannabis consumption — legal in a handful of jurisdictions
Manufacturer
License type for producing finished cannabis products — synonymous with processor in many states
Master grower
Senior cultivation specialist overseeing grow operations and plant health
METRC
The dominant seed-to-sale cannabis tracking system — used in 20+ states
Microbial testing
Screening cannabis for harmful bacteria, mold, and yeast — critical for immunocompromised patients
Microbusiness
A small-scale, combined cultivation-processing-retail license — designed for equity applicants
MMTC (FL)
Medical Marijuana Treatment Center — Florida's vertically integrated dispensary license
MSO
Multi-State Operator — a cannabis company holding licenses in multiple states
Mycotoxin
Toxic compounds produced by molds like Aspergillus — screened for in cannabis testing
Onsite consumption
Legal consumption of cannabis on the premises of a licensed venue
Patient consultant
Medical dispensary staff member focused on therapeutic guidance for patients
Pesticide testing
Lab analysis screening for banned or excess pesticide residues on cannabis products
Potency testing
Lab quantification of cannabinoid concentrations — the basis for product labeling
Processor
A licensee that transforms raw cannabis into concentrates, edibles, or other products
Reciprocity medical card
Recognition of out-of-state medical cards by host state — rules vary widely; Maine and Oklahoma are open, most are not
Residual solvent testing
Verifying that extraction solvents (butane, ethanol) are purged below safety thresholds
Seed-to-sale
Comprehensive tracking of every cannabis plant from cultivation through retail sale
Social equity license ⚠️
Cannabis licenses prioritized for people from communities disproportionately harmed by prohibition
Testing lab
An independent laboratory that analyzes cannabis for potency, contaminants, and compliance
Tracking
RFID tag and software systems monitoring cannabis inventory through the supply chain
Trim jockey
Seasonal worker who hand-trims harvested cannabis buds — common in harvest season
Vertical integration
A single company controlling cultivation, processing, and retail — required in some states
Vertically integrated dispensary
Cannabis business owning multiple supply-chain links — cultivation, processing, retail. Common in MSOs

Other Categories

Botany & Cultivation
67 terms
Chemistry, Cannabinoids & ECS
59 terms
Flower, Hash & Concentrates
41 terms
Edibles, Smokeware & Devices
53 terms
Consumption, Effects & Measurement
54 terms
Legal & Regulatory
53 terms
Slang, Culture & History
75 terms
Medical, Science & Research
52 terms