A working glossary of hemp terminology, focused on terms a Canadian buyer or hemp-curious reader actually encounters on packaging, in regulations, and in industry conversation.
Botany and chemistry
- Cannabis sativa L.
- The botanical species that includes both industrial hemp and marijuana. The "L." attribution credits Carl Linnaeus, who classified the species in 1753.
- Cannabinoid
- A class of chemical compounds produced primarily in the resinous glands of cannabis flowers. THC and CBD are the best-known of more than 100 identified cannabinoids.
- THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol)
- The principal intoxicating cannabinoid in cannabis. Industrial hemp is defined by containing no more than 0.3 percent THC by weight in flowering heads and leaves.
- CBD (cannabidiol)
- A non-intoxicating cannabinoid, the second most abundant in cannabis. Biologically active; regulated in Canada under the Cannabis Act, not as a hemp product.
- Bast fibre
- The long fibre cells in the outer layer of the hemp stalk. Used for textiles, rope, and paper.
- Hurd (or shiv)
- The woody, lignified inner core of the hemp stalk. Used for hempcrete, animal bedding, mulch, and biocomposites.
- Edestin
- The primary storage protein in hemp seed, accounting for roughly two-thirds of total protein. Water-soluble and well-digested.
- Albumin
- The secondary storage protein in hemp seed, complementing edestin. Also water-soluble.
Products and forms
- Whole hemp seed
- The intact hemp seed with its outer shell. Contains more fibre than hulled seed.
- Hulled hemp seed / hemp hearts / shelled hemp seed
- The soft inner kernel after mechanical removal of the outer shell. The three terms describe the same product.
- Hemp seed oil
- Oil mechanically pressed from hemp seeds. Cold-pressed oil is unrefined, green, with a low smoke point. Refined hemp oil is processed for higher heat tolerance and longer shelf life.
- Hemp protein powder
- Milled, partially defatted hemp seed cake, typically 50 to 65 percent protein by weight.
- Hemp flour
- Milled defatted hemp seed cake retaining more fibre than protein powder. Used as a partial substitute for wheat flour in baking.
- Hempcrete
- A biocomposite building material made from hemp hurd, lime-based binder, and water. Used for insulation and infill walls in low-rise construction.
Cultivation
- Cultivar
- A specific cultivated variety of hemp, bred for particular characteristics (grain yield, fibre quality, oil content, or low THC). Canadian growers must use cultivars from Health Canada's List of Approved Cultivars.
- List of Approved Cultivars (LOAC)
- Health Canada's official list of hemp cultivars permitted for commercial cultivation in Canada. Contains 93 cultivars for the 2026 growing season.
- Pedigreed seed
- Seed certified by the Canadian Seed Growers Association as meeting purity and quality standards. Canadian hemp growers must use pedigreed seed of approved cultivars.
- Retting
- The controlled microbial decomposition of hemp stalks to separate fibre from the woody core. Can be field-based (dew retting) or water-based.
- Decortication
- The mechanical process of separating bast fibre from hurd after retting. The capacity constraint that currently limits Canadian hemp fibre output.
- Dual-purpose cultivar
- A hemp cultivar bred for both grain and fibre production from the same crop.
Nutrition and food
- Complete protein
- A protein source containing all nine essential amino acids in adequate proportions. Hemp protein is complete.
- PDCAAS
- Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score. The standard method for evaluating protein quality. Hemp protein scores below dairy but above many other plant proteins.
- ALA (alpha-linolenic acid)
- An omega-3 fatty acid, present in hemp seed at 15 to 20 percent of total fat.
- LA (linoleic acid)
- An omega-6 fatty acid, present in hemp seed at 50 to 60 percent of total fat.
- GLA (gamma-linolenic acid)
- A minor omega-6 fatty acid present in hemp seed at 2 to 4 percent, unusual among common foods.
- Smoke point
- The temperature at which an oil begins to smoke and break down. Cold-pressed hemp seed oil's smoke point is approximately 165 degrees Celsius.
Certifications and regulation
- Industrial Hemp Regulations
- The Canadian regulations made under the Cannabis Act governing industrial hemp cultivation, processing, and trade.
- Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC)
- A third-party certification covering soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness, applied on top of standard organic certification.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA)
- A laboratory report verifying a product's composition, contaminants, and cannabinoid content. Issued by accredited third-party labs.
- CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
- The federal agency overseeing food safety, labelling, and food-related regulatory compliance in Canada. Regulates hemp foods alongside other foods.