The words you'll see on labels, menus and budtender chats at any licensed NY dispensary — decoded.
Cultivar / strain
A specific genetic line of cannabis. 'Strain' is the casual word; 'cultivar' is the horticultural one.
Indica, sativa, hybrid
Rough categories. Indicas skew relaxing, sativas skew uplifting, hybrids are the middle. Terpene profiles are more predictive than the label.
Terpenes
Aromatic compounds in cannabis (and citrus, pine, lavender, hops). They shape how a strain feels and smells.
Live resin
A concentrate made from freshly frozen flower — preserves more terpenes than dried-flower extracts.
Distillate
Highly refined THC oil. Very potent, more neutral flavor. Common in vape carts.
COA
Certificate of Analysis — the lab test that shows cannabinoid content, terpenes, and safety screens. Required for every legal NY product.
OCM
New York State Office of Cannabis Management — the regulator that licenses dispensaries like Grams.
