Dispensaries are stores that sell cannabis products. Each dispensary is unique and will offer different products and discounts, and even stores that belong to the same brand can have different inventory.
To legally shop at a dispensary, you first need to be diagnosed with a qualifying condition for medical cannabis in West Virginia and obtain your medical marijuana certification.
Once you’re a legal card-carrying medical marijuana patient, you’re free to shop at any of the dispensaries open in West Virginia, though you might want to brush up on your cannabis lingo before you make your first trip.
In this article, we’ll cover some common terms, names, and concepts in cannabis that can help make your dispensary trip a little easier. We’ll list some of the most common things you’ll run into and help with cannabis terminology so you can make the best choices when buying cannabis!
Cannabis Terminology Part 1: The Cannabis Plant & Cannabis Products
Cannabis Plant Terminology
Cannabis – Cannabis, marijuana, and bud all refer to the cannabis plant. Cannabis usually refers to marijuana that contains THC, while cannabis that does not contain THC is typically called hemp.
Hemp – Hemp refers to cannabis plants that do not contain THC and contain minimal or no psychoactive effects. Many CBD products are made from hemp plants and offer therapeutic benefits for patients.
THC – THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is a cannabinoid in the cannabis plant that provides many perceived psychoactive effects from consuming cannabis. THC is a naturally occurring compound that is known to have medicinal properties as well as strong psychoactive effects.
CBD – Cannabidiol, is a naturally occurring compound in the cannabis plant with limited or no psychoactive effects that is known to have medicinal and therapeutic value. Often used to calm anxiety and help with reducing seizures, CBD is commonly available and can help offset the psychoactive potency of THC.
Cannabinoid – Cannabinoids are the the naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant that produce various effects. Currently, there are approximately 70 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, the most well-known being THC and CBD.
Terpene – Terpenes are aromatic compounds that naturally occur in the cannabis plant. Terpenes give cannabis its smell, taste, and can change the perceivable effects of consuming cannabis. Terpenes work alongside other cannabinoids in the cannabis plant to provide the overall experience of consuming cannabis.
Sativa – Sativas are a type of cannabis plants that grow taller and slimmer and offer more perceivable mental effects and less physical effects. Often known for high THC contents, sativas provide the strong “mind high” and are most often used in the daytime due to their energetic effects.
Indica – Indica is a type of cannabis plant that grow shorter and fatter known for its perceivable physical effects. Indicas are favored for their lack of mental high and heavy physical high that can provide relief for patients with chronic physical illnesses. Typically used in the nighttime, indicas are anecdotally known as “in-da-couch” because of their intense effects on the body as opposed to the mind.
Cannabis Product Terminology
Flower – Cannabis flower is a form of cannabis plant that has been dried and cured to be consumed as-is. Cannabis flower can be smoked, vaporized, or baked into edibles and iis one of the most versatile product types in the cannabis industry.
Edible – An edible is cannabis that has been manufactured to be consumed as food items, such as gummies or chocolates. Edibles produce significantly stronger effects because of how the cannabis is processed in your liver, and they offer longer, more potent relief for patients.
Concentrate – Concentrates are a hash product made by isolating certain compounds from the cannabis plant. Concentrates can come in a variety of product types, such as distillate, BHO, budder, and many more, and they are all essentially isolated compounds, like THC and terpenes. Concentrates are extremely potent and offer some of the highest THC percentages across all cannabis products.
Topical – Topicals are cannabis products that are designed to be applied to your skin and offer incredible localized pain relief. Topicals don’t create psychoactive effects, so patients can use as much or as little product as they want without any negative mental side effects.
Vape Cartridge – Vape cartridges, or vape carts, are cannabis concentrates installed into a cartridge, allowing them to be consumed with a battery or device attached to the cartridge. Vape carts offer a very convenient way to consume cannabis, and they are probably the best portable option for vaporizing.
Tincture – Tinctures are cannabis products designed to be taken orally, such as through a dropper or syringe. Tinctures can be added to food or drinks, and they offer fast relief without smoking or inhaling vapor through your lungs.
RSO – RSO, or Rick Simpson Oil, is a cannabis concentrate extract that is taken orally for potent and fast results. Patients who suffer from seizures, cancers, or HIV often use RSO to treat their symptoms, as RSO is one of the most used cannabis medicines for children and adults suffering from severe seizures.
Capsules – Capsules are typically cannabis concentrates produced in pill form and designed to be taken orally. Capsules are one of the more familiar ways to take cannabis as a medicine, and they offer a simple and easy way to take cannabis compounds on a regulated schedule.
Get Your Medical Marijuana Certification in West Virginia
Dispensaries offer a variety of medical marijuana products for patients with a medical marijuana certification. Having a certification for medical marijuana in West Virginia legally allows you to purchase and possess cannabis from dispensaries, and getting a certification can be done online from the safety of your own home!
Schedule your medical marijuana evaluation appointment today and get access to all the legal marijuana products available at dispensaries!
Being a West Virginia medical marijuana patient allows you to take your medication whichever way is right for you. We’re dedicated to helping patients every step of the way! Feel free to give us a call at 877-303-8424, and we can answer your questions about getting a medical marijuana card in West Virginia.
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If you have any questions, call us at 877-303-8424, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
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