Medical cannabis glossary

Terms A–Z

Bioavailability

The proportion of an administered substance that reaches systemic circulation. Route and formulation can change it.

Cannabinoid

A class of chemical compounds that includes plant cannabinoids such as THC and CBD.

CBD

Cannabidiol. A cannabinoid that is distinct from THC; its presence does not establish that a product is THC-free.

CBPM

Cannabis-based product for medicinal use in humans—the defined UK controlled-drug category introduced in 2018.

Chemovar

A grouping based on measured chemical characteristics rather than a popular plant name alone.

Cultivar

A cultivated plant variety or selected genetic line. It does not guarantee identical chemistry in every batch.

Entourage effect

A hypothesis that cannabis constituents may interact. The term is not proof that a particular combination has a clinical benefit.

Flos

A term used for dried cannabis flower. The dispensing label and exact product record remain the authoritative identity.

Oromucosal

Applied for absorption through the lining of the mouth, such as a licensed spray. This is not automatically equivalent to swallowing an oil.

Pharmacokinetics

What the body does to a substance over time: absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination.

Strain

An informal or commercial name commonly used for cannabis. Naming is not a standardised chemical analysis.

Terpene

A volatile plant compound associated with aroma and other biological roles. A name-level expectation is not batch-specific evidence.

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol. A cannabinoid controlled under UK law and prohibited in competition under anti-doping rules.

Titration

A clinician-directed process of adjusting treatment gradually. It is not permission to create a personal dosing schedule.

TUE

Therapeutic Use Exemption—the anti-doping process that may permit therapeutic use of an otherwise prohibited substance or method.

Unlicensed medicine

A medicine without a UK marketing authorisation for that particular product/use. Prescribing can still occur under professional and legal controls.

Words are not interchangeable evidence.

“Strain”, “cultivar”, “chemovar”, brand, medicine product and batch describe different layers. GreenGuruAI keeps those layers separate so a familiar word does not silently become a product, chemistry or suitability claim.