Medical Terminology for Cannabis
The medical term for "weed" is cannabis, which refers to the Cannabis sativa plant and its derivatives. 1
Official Medical Nomenclature
Cannabis is the scientifically accepted medical term that encompasses the Cannabis sativa plant, its chemical compounds, synthetic counterparts, and all derived products 1
The term marijuana is also used medically and legally, though it is increasingly considered by some communities to be a racialized term associated with prohibition 1
Under U.S. federal law, the Cannabis sativa plant and all parts containing more than 0.3% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are officially defined as marijuana, while plant material with ≤0.3% THC is classified as hemp 1
Key Chemical Components
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC or THC) is the primary psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for the mind-altering effects 1
Cannabidiol (CBD) is another major cannabinoid that produces psychoactive effects but does not induce euphoria 1
The cannabis plant contains hundreds of bioactive compounds including dozens of phytocannabinoids, phenols, and terpenes 1
Clinical Context
In medical documentation and patient communication, clinicians should use the language preferred by the patient, whether that is "cannabis," "marijuana," or colloquial terms, while maintaining a nonjudgmental approach 1
The American College of Physicians and ASCO guidelines consistently use "cannabis" as the primary medical terminology in their 2024 position papers 1
Medical cannabis specifically refers to non-pharmaceutical, herbal cannabinoid products used with therapeutic intent, sometimes following clinician recommendation 1