Label Vocabulary: Cannabis Product Terms Explained¶
Cannabis labels carry a lot of numbers and words that can be hard to parse. Here is what each term means, grounded in what regulators and researchers actually say.
Cannabis and Marijuana as Legal Terms¶
Federal law treated cannabis and its derivatives as marijuana, regulated as Schedule I controlled substances, from 1970 until the 2018 Farm Bill 1. That bill amended the federal definition of marijuana to exclude hemp, as defined in the legislation, allowing hemp cultivation and sale by authorized growers 1. In Virginia, the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) is the official body responsible for regulating cannabis across the Commonwealth, covering the medical cannabis program, the adult-use retail market, and regulated hemp products 2.
Cannabinoids¶
Cannabinoids are the chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. Labels most commonly report two of them: THC and CBD. Jargon and terminology used to describe cannabis products vary greatly depending on the region and regulations in place, which adds to consumer confusion 3.
THC¶
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the intoxicating compound in cannabis 4. It is the figure most prominently reported on regulated product labels.
THCA¶
THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) is the acid form of THC as it exists in the raw plant. Hemp plants produce a much greater amount of THCA than THC 4. THCA converts into THC when exposed to heat, which is why it matters for calculating how much THC a product can actually deliver.
Total THC and How Labs Calculate It¶
Total THC combines the amount of THC already present in a product with the THC that THCA could become. Most states with cannabis programs combine the amount of THC with the potential of THCA that can convert into THC to capture intoxication potential, defined as "total THC" 4. Virginia's hemp compliance rules require that edible hemp products contain a total THC concentration of no more than 0.3% 5 and no more than 2 mg of total THC per package 5.
Many hemp businesses have sold THCA hemp flower labeled without total THC. These products often have a total THC concentration of 15% to 20% when smoked or vaped 4.
CBD¶
CBD (cannabidiol) is another cannabinoid reported on labels. Virginia previously allowed a hemp product to exceed 2 mg of total THC per package if it contained 25 parts CBD for every one part THC, a rule known as the "25:1 ratio" 6. That allowance has been eliminated 7.
Hemp: Federal and Virginia Definitions¶
Federally, hemp was defined under the 2018 Farm Bill as the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, with a delta-9 THC concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis 1. A newer federal statutory definition, enacted but not yet in effect as of October 2026, shifts the limit to a total THC concentration, including THCA, of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis 1. That change also covers hemp-derived cannabinoid products, with final retail products limited to no more than 0.4 milligrams of combined total THC and other cannabinoids with similar effects per container 1. The federal definition now reflects the fact that delta-9 THC is not the only potentially intoxicating THC in the cannabis plant 1. How exactly total THC must be calculated under the new federal definition has not yet been confirmed 8.
In Virginia, beginning August 15, 2026, a product with more than 2 milligrams of total THC per package cannot be produced or sold as a hemp product 6 7. Following the passage of House Bill 30 in June 2026, oversight of the retail sale of edible hemp products and inhalable hemp products transferred from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) to the CCA 9.
Serving Size¶
Virginia requires that if an edible hemp product contains THC, the label must state the number of milligrams of THC in each serving, the total milligrams of THC in the package, and the total percentage of THC in the package 5. A label that says only "less than 0.3% THC" does not meet this requirement 5.
Strain Names and Indica/Sativa Labels¶
Strain names such as "Haze" and category labels such as indica, sativa, or hybrid appear on many cannabis products. Botanists have grouped cannabis into two species, sativa and indica, but plants can be crossbred to carry characteristics of both, producing hybrids, which calls that grouping into question 10. A study of nearly 90,000 samples across six states found that labels like indica, sativa and hybrid tell consumers little about what is in their product and could be confusing or misleading 13. A strain name or an indica or sativa label is not a reliable guide to strength; total THC is the number to read 4.
Batch or Lot Numbers¶
Regulated cannabis labels include a lot number 3. Virginia hemp rules require that edible hemp products be accompanied by a valid certificate of analysis (COA) from an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory 5. The lot number on a product label links that product to its COA, allowing the test results for that specific batch to be verified.
Virginia's Retail Marijuana Market¶
Action by the 2026 General Assembly and Governor Abigail Spanberger established a framework for a retail marijuana market in Virginia, to be administered by the CCA 11. Retail marijuana sales are not scheduled to begin until July 1, 2027 12.
Which Numbers to Read First¶
On any cannabis product label, look first at the total THC figure, because it captures both the THC already present and the THC that THCA can become, giving the most complete picture of the product's intoxicating potential 4. On hemp products sold in Virginia, also check that the total THC per package does not exceed 2 milligrams, the limit in effect as of August 15, 2026 7.