Glossary
Medical cannabis terminology
Plain-language definitions for the regulatory, pharmacological, and clinical terms that come up around medical cannabis in South Africa. No advertising — just references you can trust.
37 entries · Last reviewed · Editorial standards in our editorial policy
- Anandamide (AEA)A primary endogenous cannabinoid produced by the body — modulates pain, mood, appetite, and the "bliss" response.
- Beta-caryophylleneA common terpene with selective CB2-receptor activity — bridging the terpene–cannabinoid distinction.
- CannabinoidA class of compounds that interact with the endocannabinoid system — includes plant-derived (THC, CBD), synthetic, and endogenous forms.
- CB1 receptorThe cannabinoid receptor concentrated in the central nervous system; primary mediator of THC psychoactive effects.
- CB2 receptorThe cannabinoid receptor concentrated peripherally on immune cells; mediates inflammatory and immune-modulatory effects.
- CBD (cannabidiol)Non-psychoactive cannabinoid with established use in some seizure disorders and emerging use in anxiety.
- CBG (cannabigerol)Precursor cannabinoid from which THC and CBD are biosynthesised; limited clinical evidence to date.
- CBN (cannabinol)Minor cannabinoid formed by oxidation of THC; mildly psychoactive, sometimes associated with sedation.
- CBT-ICognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia — the first-line evidence-based treatment for chronic insomnia.
- CYP2C9CYP450 isoform that metabolises warfarin and NSAIDs; inhibited by CBD and THC.
- CYP3A4Most abundant hepatic CYP450 isoform; affected by both THC and CBD.
- CYP450Family of liver enzymes that metabolise many drugs, including cannabinoids — source of many clinically relevant interactions.
- Dosage titrationGradual stepwise dose-adjustment to find the minimum effective dose with tolerable side effects.
- Drug–drug interaction (DDI)When one medication changes the effect, level, or safety profile of another — central to safe cannabinoid co-prescribing.
- Endocannabinoid systemThe network of receptors, endogenous ligands, and enzymes that cannabinoids act upon.
- First-line therapyThe treatment approach with the strongest evidence and lowest risk for a given condition — tried before alternatives.
- Full-spectrum vs isolateExtraction categories: full-spectrum contains the plant’s cannabinoids + terpenes; isolate is purified single-cannabinoid.
- Government Gazette 43347The 2020 SA Government Gazette that created the Schedule 0 carve-out for low-dose CBD.
- HPCSAThe Health Professions Council of South Africa — registration and professional-ethics regulator for medical practitioners.
- ICD-11The International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision — the diagnostic-code standard used in Section 21 applications.
- Indica vs SativaTraditional strain classification with limited clinical relevance — cannabinoid and terpene profile matter more.
- Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965The foundational SA statute governing all medicines, scheduling, and the Section 21 unregistered-medicines mechanism.
- Multiple Patient Application (MPA)A Section 21 application grouping several patients with the same indication and product.
- MyrceneThe most abundant terpene in many cannabis strains; associated with sedating, "couch-lock" effects in popular framing.
- Named Patient Application (NPA)A Section 21 application for a single, identified patient.
- OromucosalAbsorption via the lining of the mouth — faster onset than oral, slower than inhaled.
- SAHPRAThe South African Health Products Regulatory Authority — the regulator of medicines and medical devices.
- SANBSSouth African National Blood Service — tangentially relevant to cannabis therapy only via donor-eligibility rules.
- Schedule 0OTC category in South Africa; allows low-dose CBD under Gazette 43347 conditions.
- Schedule 4Prescription-only medicines; includes most THC:CBD combination oils.
- Schedule 6Higher-risk prescription medicines; includes THC-dominant cannabis products.
- Section 21SAHPRA authorisation for access to unregistered medicines — the primary legal pathway for medical cannabis in SA.
- Sublingual administrationAbsorption via the lining under the tongue — fast-onset, bypasses first-pass liver metabolism.
- TerpenesAromatic compounds in cannabis (and many other plants) that shape flavour and may modulate cannabinoid effects.
- THC (Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol)The principal psychoactive cannabinoid in the cannabis plant.
- THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid)The acid precursor of THC found in raw cannabis; non-psychoactive until heated (decarboxylated) to THC.
- THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin)A minor cannabinoid structurally related to THC; partial CB1 agonist with distinct dose-dependent effects.
Information only — not medical advice. This page is educational. It does not replace a consultation with a registered medical practitioner who knows your full clinical picture.
Medical cannabis in South Africa is accessed via SAHPRA Section 21 authorisation, prescribed by HPCSA-registered doctors after clinical evaluation. Docto24 does not advertise prescription medicines to the public (Medicines Act 101/1965 §18C) and does not make therapeutic claims for specific products. See our legal notices.