The A to Z of the Cannabis Industry
The following are common dispensary glossary terms that you will see in the cannabis industry.
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289 E Tax
The law states that businesses selling controlled substances cannot deduct any expenses related to the production, distribution, and sale.
420
Used as a secret code in the 1970s by friends at San Rafael High School who met at 4:20 p.m. to consume cannabis. Since then, it is become synonymous with cannabis and has become an international marijuana holiday taking place on April 20th.
710
This refers to July 10th which has become a day to celebrate dabbing cannabis concentrates.
A
Adult Use
Refers to the recreational legal use of those over 21 years of age.
API
Application programming interface. Allows cannabis stores to integrate their technology across multiple platforms.
B
BOH
Back of House. This refers to areas in dispensaries not accessible to consumers.
Badder/Budder
Used to describe the appearance of cannabis extracts that have a similar consistency to butter only softer.
Brand Standards
The guidelines applied to every aspect of a cannabis company’s brand.
Budtender/Sales Associate
Someone who sells cannabis products to customers or patients at a dispensary.
Buy Online Pickup In-Store (BOPIS)
Refers to the dispensary workflow allowing customers to browse products online, and pick them up later in-store.
C
Cannabidiol (CBD)
The naturally occurring compound in the resinous flower of cannabis is found to have therapeutic properties.
Cannabinoid
A chemical compound found in cannabis is also produced in the human body.
Cannabinol (CBN)
A non-intoxicating compound created by aging THC.
Cannabis
A plant in the hemp family used for medicinal and recreational purposes throughout history.
Cannabis Banking
Although cannabis businesses are legal at the state level, they often face difficulties with regard to banking and processing payments. Because the cannabis industry is heavily regulated, total transparency is necessary for these startups and their financial transactions. Unfortunately, most traditional banking institutions don’t have the systems in place to meet such standards. Thanks to Paybotic’s cannabis bank compliance solutions, state-legal cannabis businesses can work with us to streamline their financial transactions and ensure compliance along the way.
Cannabis Dispensary POS Software
Software that enables dispensaries to automate the checkout process.
Cannabis Market
The areas that dispensaries operate in.
Cannabis Taxes
Vary from state to state and sometimes county.
Caregiver
Someone authorized to obtain medical cannabis on behalf of a medical patient.
Cash Management
The management of a cash-only marijuana business.
Certificate of Analysis
COAs are third-party documents that analyze the compounds found in any given strain.
Clone
A cannabis plant is an exact genetic copy of its mother plant.
Closed-Loop Extraction
Occurs when the raw flower is sprayed with a pressurized solvent that separates the cannabinoid and trichomes from the plant. This process creates concentrates like resin, wax, or shatter.
Compliance
Following rules and regulations.
Compliance Manager
Monitors the ever-changing local regulations and creates policies to keep staff accountable.
Concentrate
Product derived from cannabis flower that is processed into a concentrated form.
Consumer Demographics
Statistical data that outlines the unique characteristics of customers.
Cultivation
The process of growing cannabis.
Cumulative Taxes
Taxes calculated individually against the gross receipt plus applied taxes.
Curbside Pickup
Picking up an order in your car after placing an order online.
Customer Experience
The overall experience of a customer’s interaction with a dispensary.
Customer Retention
Allows customers to return to a dispensary for future purchases.
D
Debit Processing
Cannabis debit card processing permits a canna-business merchant to accept a consumer debit card linked to that consumer’s checking or savings account.
Decriminalization
Refers to cannabis no longer being a criminal offense.
Deli-Style
Refers to when a budtender brings the flower to a customer or patient weighing it in front of them.
Delivery Manifest
Requirements that mandate dispensaries to account for deliveries in their inventory report.
Discrepancy
Difference or inconsistency in an inventory report.
Dispensary
A legal establishment where patients and customers can access cannabis.
Distributor
Supplies cannabis products to dispensaries and consumers.
E
eCheck
Electronic Checks, also known as E-checks or ACH, are an easy way to accept payments online. All customers need are a bank account and routing number, which is actually less information than a customer would provide for a credit card order purchase.
Ecommerce
The process of conducting business online.
Edible
A food product that contains the cannabinoids of THC or CBD.
Employee Permissions
Access levels that are granted by dispensary managers to their employees.
Excise Tax
A tax imposed on cannabis products.
Expansion
Opening more dispensary locations.
Extended Plant Count (EPC)
The limit of plants allowed to individual consumers by state.
Extract
Concentrated produced with the use of a solvent.
F
File Naming Convention (FNC)
A standardized way of naming products.
First in First Out (FIFO)
An inventory management system that ensures that products are sold before they expire.
Flower
The smokable part of a female cannabis plant.
Franchising
Allows individuals to operate trademarked businesses in new locations.
Front of House
The customer-facing part of the business.
G
Ganja
Slang term for marijuana.
Ganjier
Slang for a certified cannabis professional.
H
Hardware
Computers, tablets, and mobile scanners in a dispensary.
Headless eCommerce
The separation of the front and back end of an application.
Hemp
Derived from non-intoxicating cannabis.
Hybrid
A strain containing both Indica and Sativa.
I
Illicit Market/ Black Market
The market where cannabis is sold illegally.
Indica
Subspecies of the cannabis plant that is associated with a more physical high good for relaxation, stress relief, and sleep.
Integration
Joins two technology solutions together.
Inventory Audit
The process of counting all inventory.
Inventory Intake
The process of taking in new products.
Inventory Manager
The person who oversees all inventory
Inventory Shrinkage
Revenue loss due to internal or external theft, vendor fraud, or damage to inventory.
K
Kief
The resin glands containing the terpenes and cannabinoids in the marijuana plant.
Kiosk
Technology that allows customers to browse the product catalog and place their orders.
L
Legal Markets
State-specific markets where cannabis is legal.
Legalization
Refers to legally being able to consume cannabis whether medical or recreational.
License
Required to legally operate a dispensary.
Limited Access Area
Anywhere marijuana is grown, cultivated, stored, weighed, packaged, sold, or processed.
Live Resin
A cannabis concentrate created by flash-freezing a plant immediately after harvesting. Extracted using a solvent like butane.
Living Soil
Planting material used to grow cannabis.
Loyalty Program
A program that rewards repeat customers.
M
Marijuana
A term that refers to smoked Cannabis.
Medical Marijuana Card
An I.D. for medical marijuana patients.
Merchant Cash Advance
A Merchant Cash Advance is an advance on debit sales receivables. If you sell cannabis and related products, and you accept credit and debit cards, you can qualify for a Merchant Cash Advance from Paybotic. Funds are disbursed in lump sums, and repayments are made at a fixed percentage of daily credit and debit card sales processed until repayment is completed. (Note: Merchant Cash Advances aren’t loans)
METRC
Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Compliance
MMJ
Short for medical marijuana, MMJ is cannabis (and cannabinoids) prescribed by physicians for their patients.
MMJ Delivery
MMJ Delivery, medical marijuana delivery, is a service provided for patients have cananbis prescriptions delivered in states where medical marijuana is legal.
MMJ Curbside
MMJ Curbside Pickup for Marijuana Retailers. Curbside pickup allows customers to shop online or call ahead to place their orders and pick up outside, which minimizes contact with staff and other customers.
Multi-Location Dispensary
Two or more stores that operate under the same ownership.
Multi-State Operator (MSO)
Cannabis companies with operations in multiple legal states.
N
Non-Compliance
Marijuana businesses not complying with specific local laws.
O
Onboarding
The process of bringing in new employees to the dispensary.
Online Menu
The catalog of available products online.
Order Ahead
The process of customers ordering online for pick-up.
P
Package Tag
Unique identifiers that indicate that products are ready for sale or transfer.
Par Level
The minimum amount of inventory necessary to meet customer demand.
Patient
Someone approved for medical marijuana use.
Payments
Refers to forms of payment that are allowed in a dispensary.
Payments Processing
A cannabis merchant account, also known as merchant services, allows your business accept payments in various ways, typically by accepting card payments. Paybotic’s cannabis card processing solutions offer a convenient way for customers to pay for their products while reducing the amount of physical cash that runs through your business.
Point of Sale (POS)
Relates to the moment a customer is making a purchase.
Post Tax Fees
A separate tax fee for a transaction.
Potency
The strength of the product is often indicated by its THC level.
Pre-Pack
Refers to Prepackaging.
Pre-Roll
A joint that has already been prepared by the vendor or dispensary.
Product Catalog
Shows both product sales and current inventory.
Propane Hash Oil (PHO)
Cannabis extract that is made with propane as the solvent.
Provisioning Center
The legal term used in Michigan to describe a medical cannabis dispensary.
Purchase Limits
The maximum amount of cannabis a consumer is allowed to buy.
R
Restricted Access Area
A secure area not accessible to consumers.
Retail Dispensary
Shops that provide cannabis to adults for legal recreational use. Retail Marijuana businesses do not have access to the traditional payment processing solutions employed by most establishments so canna-businesses must find payment systems designed for the complexities faced by dispensaries in legal states (E.g. – Paybotic).
Rick Simpson Oil
Concentrate created in 2003 by Rick Simpson used to treat his basal cell carcinoma.
Rosin
Cannabis Extract which is extracted through heat and pressure to the flower creating a resinous sap.
S
Sativa
Taller than Indica plants, Sativa strains have an energizing effect after being consumed.
Seed-to-Sale Software
Tracks every stage of the cannabis supply chain
Shake
Smaller marijuana buds that fall off larger nuggets.
Shatter
Cannabis extract that is made through butane extraction exhibiting a glassy appearance with high THC.
Specials
Deals or Discounts.
Standard Operating Procedure
A procedure that allows dispensaries to maintain efficiencies, compliance, transparency, and risk mitigation within the cannabis industry.
State Reporting
The process of sending the necessary data to the state’s track and trace program.
Store Layout
The floorplan of your dispensary.
Strain
The type of marijuana.
T
Tech Stack
All the technology and tools utilized by a dispensary.
Terpene
The substance that creates the flavor profile of a particular cannabis strain.
THC
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a cannabinoid found in cannabis. It is what creates the euphoric effects that cannabis is associated with.
Tincture
Cannabis-infused with alcohol meant to be taken by medical patients orally.
Top Shelf
Refers to the highest quality of cannabis.
Topical
Cannabis-infused lotions that are meant to be applied to your skin.
Track and Trace
The system used by state regulators to track all marijuana inventory.
V
Vape
A vape is a smoking device that heats the compounds in cannabis flower or concentrate into vapor.
Vertically Integrated
A cannabis business that manages all aspects of the supply chain.
Visual Merchandising
How a dispensary displays its products to appeal to its customers.
W
Wax
A cannabis concentrate that contains high levels of THC with a honey-like appearance.
Weed
A common slang term for cannabis.
Workflow
Processes that employees, managers, and owners use to fulfill day-to-day operations.
