Why this matters
When you read about medical cannabis online, you will come across unfamiliar terms. Words like “cannabinoid,” “terpene,” “titration,” or “CBPM” appear often, but their meanings are not always clear. The MCPH glossary is a reference tool designed to help you look up these terms quickly, without needing to search through product forums or social media groups.
The glossary does not give medical advice. It explains what a word means in the context of UK medical cannabis. This can help you follow a patient guide, a strain page, or a clinician’s written instructions more confidently. It can also help you ask better questions during your clinic appointments.
What is the MCPH glossary and how does it work?
The MCPH glossary is a growing list of terms and phrases used in medical cannabis prescribing, dispensing, and patient care. Each entry gives a plain-language definition, and where relevant, notes the term’s source (for example, NHS guidance or NICE recommendations). You can find it at /glossary/.
To use it while reading other pages on this site, keep the glossary open in a separate tab or window. When you see a term you do not recognise, check the glossary first. This can save time and reduce confusion, especially when comparing information from different clinics or product descriptions.
The glossary is not a substitute for speaking with your prescriber or pharmacist. If a term relates to your treatment plan, ask your clinical team to explain how it applies to you.
How to avoid overreading marketing language
Some online sources use clinical-sounding terms to describe products. For example, a phrase like “high terpene profile” might appear in a product description. The glossary can tell you what terpenes are, but it cannot tell you whether a specific product is right for your condition. That decision belongs to your clinician.
If you are reading a strain page or product listing, use the glossary to understand the ingredients or effects being described. Then take that understanding to your next appointment. Do not change your product, dose, or timing based on a glossary definition alone.
What to ask your clinic or pharmacy
- Can you explain how the term “titration” applies to my current prescription?
- I read about “entourage effect” in the glossary. Does this affect how my medication is chosen?
- What does “CBPM” mean on my prescription label, and is it the same as what I am taking now?
- Are there any terms in my treatment plan that I should look up before our next review?
What this guide cannot decide for you
This guide does not tell you which products to choose, how to take them, or whether medical cannabis is suitable for you. It does not replace advice from your prescriber, pharmacist, or specialist. The glossary is a reference tool, not a treatment plan. Always follow the instructions given by your clinical team.
Read next
- MCPH glossary – browse all terms
- Patient guide – step-by-step overview of the UK medical cannabis pathway
- How to read an MCPH strain page – understand product information without overinterpreting it
Sources
- NHS medical cannabis overview: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/medical-cannabis/
- NICE guideline NG144: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng144
- NHS England long read on CBPMs: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/cannabis-based-products-for-medicinal-use-cbpms/
- GMC learning materials for doctors: https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/learning-materials/information-for-doctors-on-cannabis-based-products-for-medicinal-use
- CQC guidance for providers: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/healthcare/cannabis-based-medicinal-products-what-cqc-expects-providers
