Understanding What Cannabinoids Are
Don’t worry, The Hemp Haus has your back. We’ve created this Haus Academy list of words and phrases for quick reference. We didn’t get all scientific with the definitions. Just straight-forward, what it means when we’re talking about it.
Also, if it’s a mouthful to pronounce, we’ve hooked you up on how to say it with confidence.
Don’t be intimidated. We had to learn all this, too! Which is why we want to make it as easy and accessible as possible for you. Don’t be left out of the loop when it comes to the wonderful therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids.
Anandamide: A cannabinoid your body makes. Responsible for regulating movement control, brain cell growth, mood, sleep, appetite, and more.
Broad spectrum: CBD that includes the whole plant, but without the THC.
Bioavailability: Refers to how efficiently CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Cannabinoid: (Kuh–nab–uh-noid) A chemical compound that is believed to have health benefits.
- Regulates numerous functions in your body, (e.g., immunes system, nervous system, etc.).
- Works with the ECS to balance wellbeing.
- Found in plants (phytocannabinoids), made in mammal brains (endocannabinoid) or created in labs (synthetic cannabinoids).
Want to say it?
Cannabinoid Science: Yup. It’s an official (and now very popular) field of study. Our friend at Ananda Hemp, Dr. Capano, is the first doctoral candidate of any discipline to focus on cannabinoid science.
Cannabis: A plant that produces over 113 know cannabinoids, such as CBD, THC, CBG, etc. Industrial hemp and marijuana are different types of cannabis plants (with very different characteristics).
CB1 and CB2 Receptors: The two main cannabinoid receptors located in the brain and throughout the body.
CBD: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid with many therapeutic benefits that are most beneficial in full or broad spectrum CBD.
COA: Certificate of analysis to show what’s in your cannabinoid product and the cannabinoid potency, i.e., it’s a quality control thing.
ECS: Short for endocannabinoid system. A system of receptors (CB1 and CB2) that exist throughout the body in all humans. Cannabinoids (endo- and phyto-) act on these receptors to maintain inner balance (homeostasis).
Endocannabinoid: “Endo” is Greek for “within”. A cannabinoid that is produced inside the body, specifically the brain. Hear how to pronounce it here.
Endogenous: Originating from within. Used to describe endocannabinoids. Hear it pronounced here.
Entourage Effect: Describes how cannabinoids and plant-nutrients work more effectively when taken together.
Exogenous: Originating externally. Used to describe phytocannabinoids. Learn to pronounce it.
FAAH: The enzyme in our brains that breaks down anandamide.
Flavonoid: A compound that affects how plants are perceived: in color, flavor, aroma, etc. In cannabis, cannaflavins also have therapeutic qualities that help contribute to the entourage effect of full spectrum CBD. Want to say it?
Full spectrum: The type of CBD extracted with whole plant parts: cannabinoids, flavonoids, terpenes, etc.
Gels (or Softgels): One format in which CBD is available, entering the bloodstream through digestion.
Homeostasis: Achieved when your inner environment and wellbeing are balanced.
Industrial Hemp (or Hemp): A cannabis plant that does not get you high, i.e., not marijuana. By law, hemp contains 0.3% or less THC.
Isolate: CBD processed to remove all other cannabinoids, oils, plant materials, waxes, and chlorophyll.
Liposomal Carrier: A CBD delivery format that can get CBD in you more effectively. Liposomes bind easily with cell membranes to get CBD right into the bloodstream. You can hear it pronounced here (surprise, there’s two ways!).
Marijuana: A type of cannabis plant that will get you high, unlike industrial hemp.
Micro-dosing: Taking a small amount of CBD or cannabinoids, several times a day.
Neurogenesis: Growth and development of nervous tissue; a suspected benefit of several cannabinoids.
Your Quick and Dirty Guide to a Cannabinoid Vocabulary
Been faking it through some cannabinoid conversations? Are people throwing around words and phrases like “entourage effect” and “homeostasis” like you’re supposed to know what they mean? Do you ask yourself every time you see the word “cannabinoid”, How the f— am I supposed to pronounce that?!
Neurotransmitter: Chemical agents released by neurons (nerve cells) to stimulate other neurons or muscle or gland cells, allowing messages to be passed through the nervous system, e.g., anandamide, dopamine, GABA, serotonin, etc.
Non-Psychoactive: Non-intoxicating, i.e., will not get you high.
Phytocannabinoid: “Phyto” is Greek for “plant”. Refers to cannabinoids derived from plants, such as cannabis.
Standard-dosing: Taking a single amount of CBD, once per day.
Sublingual: CBD delivery format that gets into your bloodstream quickly through glands beneath the tongue.
Synthetic Cannabinoids: Cannabinoids created in pharmaceutical labs.
Terpenes: Aromatic oils that give cannabis its distinctive flavors, but also believed to help facilitate the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids.
Topicals: CBD that is absorbed into the skin, but not the bloodstream.
Transdermals: CBD delivery format that enters through the skin and gets into the bloodstream.
Vape: Delivery format in which CBD is inhaled.