Cannabis terms starting with B

Backcross

In cannabis breeding, a backcross is a plant that has been bred with itself or one of its parents; inbreeding, essentially. Backcrossing is done to bring out or strengthen certain genetic traits of a cannabis strain, such as flavors, aromas, effects, high yields, or resistance to mold, and is common in commercial cannabis breeding. Read more

Badder/Batter

Badder, also called batter, is a cannabis concentrate named for its malleable consistency that resembles frosting or a thick cake batter. High quality badder/batter is often golden or blond in color. Read more

Banger

A bucket-shaped attachment on a dab rig in which cannabis concentrates are dabbed. Bangers are made from a variety of materials: quartz, titanium, ceramic, or glass, and they come in a variety of sizes and designs. Read more

Banger beads

Small borosilicate or quartz beads used to aid in dabbing. Also called “terp pearls” or “dab beads,” banger beads are placed in the bottom of a banger and spin around to distribute concentrate and heat evenly, for consistent dabs. Read more

Baptize

To moisten a joint, blunt, spliff or other hand-rolled cannabis product with saliva before lighting it, to extend its burn time. The term is a play on the act of baptism, except saliva is used instead of water. Read more

Battery

A device used to power a vaporizer or other cannabis consumption device. Batteries are most often used to power vape pens—they are usually rechargeable, lithium ion batteries with a 510 thread; a cartridge filled with cannabis oil is screwed onto the battery, for easy, discreet use. Read more

Beaker base

A bong or rig with a flat, flared bottom, resembling a beaker used in scientific labs. Pieces with a beaker base are very stable and unlikely to tip over, compared to round-based bongs, which can get knocked over and break more easily if accidentally bumped. Read more

BHO (Butane hash oil)

Butane hash oil, or BHO for short, is a specific type of cannabis concentrate made using the chemical solvent butane. BHO extracts can be either hard and glass-like, soft and waxy, or a sticky, stretchy in-between. Read more

Bisabolol

Bisabolol, or alpha-bisabolol, is a terpene found in cannabis that produces a sweet, floral aroma. It is often used in cosmetic products because of its pleasant scent, and it is said to have skin-healing properties. Read more

Blasting

Blasting is a slang term for cannabis extraction that uses solvents. Within a closed-loop system, a solvent, such as butane, is forced through cannabis plant material to extract cannabinoid- and terpene-rich oils from the plant. Read more

Blunt

Cannabis that is rolled, wrapped, or stuffed into a paper made of tobacco. Blunts can be rolled from cigars emptied of tobacco or from blunt wraps, which are large, thick rolling papers made of tobacco. Read more

Bong

A bong is a water pipe that filters smoke from cannabis before you inhale it. It’s vertical, consisting of a base (where the water goes) and a chamber where you draw in smoke. Read more

Bongwater

The water inside the main chamber of a bong, usually water that has been used. “I spilled bongwater on my rug and it smelled for weeks. Read more

Boomers

Slang for psychedelic mushrooms. “I got some boomers for the weekend; I’m looking to go to outer space.” Read more

Borneol

A lesser-known terpene found in cannabis, this aromatic compound emits an herbal balsam scent often likened to camphor or menthol. Borneol offers a number of therapeutic benefits, including enhancing the therapeutic effects of certain drugs. Read more

Borosilicate

Borosilicate is a type of glass made from boron trioxide and silica, rather than just silica, quartz, which is often derived from sand, or soda-lime. It’s the leading material for making pipes, bongs, and adapters. Read more

Bowl

Bowls are the part of a pipe or bong that holds cannabis flower. In bongs, they are typically removable and these are also called a “slide,” because they slide out in order to clear the chamber and inhale smoke. Read more

Brand

A company or person with a distinctive cannabis product. A brand can include a name, logo, or specific style, and they appeal to customers with a unique vision for their products, typically making products accessible and easy to use. Read more

Breeding

The practice of pollinating a male and female cannabis plant to produce a new hybrid strain, or to strengthen certain genetic traits of a strain. Male cannabis plants have pollen sacs that will release pollen in the air once mature and then pollinate a female. Read more

Bubble hash

Bubble hash, named for the way it bubbles when smoked, refers to a specific type of hash made with ice water. To make bubble hash, cannabis flower is added to bags of ice water (called “bubble bags”) and agitated, which freezes and then breaks the resin glands from the flower. Read more

Bubbler

A small water pipe used to smoke cannabis flower. Like a bong, it has a water chamber for filtering and purifying smoke. Read more

Bud

A term used to refer to the petalless flowers of the cannabis plant. Buds, or “nugs,” contain trichomes which in turn have compounds such as cannabinoids and terpenes that can get you high or give medical benefits. Read more

Budtender

An employee at a cannabis store who is responsible for helping customers. Job duties include educating the public on cannabis products and helping customers navigate and purchase cannabis products. Read more

Butane

Butane is a highly volatile, colorless hydrocarbon gas with an odor similar to petroleum. Like propane, pentane, hexane, and other hydrocarbons, it is used to extract cannabinoids, terpenes, and other compounds from the cannabis plant to make concentrates, collectively called BHO, or butane hash oil, which can vary in consistencies and textures. Read more

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