CBD glossary: the words on the can, explained

Quick answer

CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid from hemp that doesn’t cause a high. “Full-spectrum” means the extract keeps other cannabinoids such as CBG and CBC, terpenes and a trace of THC; “isolate” means purified CBD on its own. In the UK, CBD food and drink is a “novel food”, and a legal product can contain no more than 1mg of THC or another controlled cannabinoid per container. Every term below links to a longer guide.

Last reviewed 7 November 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.

A · B · C · D · E · F · H · K · M · N · R · S · T · V

A

Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
The most of a substance the FSA advises eating or drinking each day over a lifetime. For CBD from food it’s 10mg a day for healthy adults, a figure set in October 2023. Read more: How much CBD is in a can?
Alcohol-free
In England, a drink labelled “alcohol-free” should contain no more than 0.05% alcohol. “De-alcoholised” allows up to 0.5%. Read more: Alcohol-free drinks guide.

B

Broad-spectrum CBD
A hemp extract that keeps CBD and some other plant compounds but is processed again to remove THC. Read more: Full-spectrum vs isolate.

C

Cannabichromene (CBC)
A minor cannabinoid found in hemp. It’s part of the full-spectrum blend in Little Rick. Read more: CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC compared.
Cannabidiol (CBD)
A cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis. Pure CBD is not a controlled drug in the UK and doesn’t cause a high. In food and drink it is regulated as a novel food. Read more: What is a CBD drink?
Cannabigerol (CBG)
A minor cannabinoid found in hemp. Little Rick’s full-spectrum blend contains it. Read more: CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC compared.
Cannabinoids
The family of natural compounds in hemp and cannabis that includes CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN and THC. Read more: A guide to cannabinoids and terpenes.
Cannabinol (CBN)
A cannabinoid that forms as THC ages. In the UK, CBN is a controlled Class B drug, so it counts towards the 1mg limit. Read more: CBD, CBG, CBN and CBC compared.
CBD isolate
Highly purified CBD with the other plant compounds removed. The first CBD ingredients the FSA has recommended for authorisation are isolates and synthetic CBD. Read more: Full-spectrum vs isolate.
CBD oil
CBD extract dissolved in an oil and taken in drops. Drinks are a different format: the CBD is made water-compatible and spread through the drink. Read more: CBD drinks vs CBD oil.
Certificate of analysis (COA)
A lab report showing which cannabinoids were measured in a product, and how much. Look for one before you buy any CBD product. Read more: Little Rick lab results.
Controlled cannabinoid
A cannabinoid controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, such as THC, THCV and CBN. A legal CBD product may contain no more than 1mg of any of them per container. Read more: Is CBD legal in the UK?

D

Delta-8-THC
A form of THC. The Home Office expects CBD producers to be able to show compliant levels of delta-8-THC alongside delta-9-THC and CBN. Read more: Is CBD legal in the UK?
Delta-9-THC (THC)
The cannabinoid in cannabis that causes a high. It’s a Class B controlled drug in the UK. Full-spectrum CBD contains a trace. The FSA’s advisory committees set a safe upper limit of 70 micrograms a day. Read more: Will hemp get me high?

E

Endocannabinoid system
The network of receptors and messengers in the body that cannabinoids interact with. Read more: How Little Rick works.
Entourage effect
The idea that cannabinoids and terpenes work better together than alone. It was set out in a 2011 review in the British Journal of Pharmacology, and research is ongoing. Read more: What is full-spectrum CBD?
Exempt product
The legal test, in Regulation 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001, that a CBD product must pass. Among other things, no part of it may contain more than 1mg of a controlled drug. Read more: The UK’s 1mg THC rule.

F

FSA public list
The Food Standards Agency’s register of CBD food products linked to novel food applications. In England and Wales, CBD foods not on it, or marked “Removed”, should not be on sale. Read more: Is CBD legal in the UK?
Full-spectrum CBD
A hemp extract that keeps CBD with other cannabinoids, terpenes and a trace of THC. Little Rick uses full-spectrum CBD: 32mg per can, with CBG and CBC. Read more: What is full-spectrum CBD?

H

Hemp
Varieties of the Cannabis sativa plant grown for fibre, seed and extracts, low in THC. CBD in UK drinks comes from hemp. Read more: Will hemp get me high?

K

Kick-in time (onset)
How long after drinking you start to notice a CBD drink. It varies from person to person. Read more: How long does a CBD drink take to kick in?

M

mg per can
The total CBD in one can. It’s the number to compare between drinks; UK CBD drinks we checked range from 5mg to 32mg. Read more: How much CBD is in a can?

N

Novel food
A food without a significant history of consumption in the EU before 15 May 1997. CBD was confirmed as a novel food in January 2019, so it needs authorisation. Read more: How FSA guidance affects CBD.

R

RP number
The reference of a novel food application on the FSA register, such as RP-438, the application Little Rick’s drinks are linked to. Read more: Is CBD legal in the UK?

S

Shelf life
How long a drink keeps its quality. Check the best-before date on the can. Read more: Do CBD drinks expire?

T

Terpenes
Aromatic compounds in plants, including hemp, that shape smell and taste. Full-spectrum extracts keep more of them. Read more: A guide to cannabinoids and terpenes.
THC drug test
Tests look for THC and its by-products. Because full-spectrum CBD contains a trace of THC, a full-spectrum CBD drink could cause a positive result. Read more: Does CBD show up on drug tests?

V

Validated
An FSA register status meaning the novel food application behind a product has met the FSA’s standard to be assessed. It is not an authorisation. Read more: Is CBD legal in the UK?

Keep reading

Browse all our cannabinoid articles, or start with Is CBD legal in the UK?

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between CBD and THC?

Both are cannabinoids. THC causes a high and is a controlled drug in the UK; pure CBD doesn’t cause a high and isn’t controlled.

What does full-spectrum mean on a CBD drink?

That the CBD extract keeps other natural hemp compounds, such as CBG, CBC, terpenes and a trace of THC, rather than being purified to CBD alone.

What is a novel food?

A food without a significant history of consumption in the EU before 15 May 1997. CBD is one, so CBD foods need authorisation; until then, the FSA keeps a public list of products allowed to stay on sale.

Sources