Editor's note: This article has been reviewed and updated for accuracy in 2026. With the legalization of cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds around the world, the marijuana industry is blossoming into a broad and multi-faceted industry. What was once a largely plant-based industry, including flowers for vaporizing, oils for eating, and hemp fibers for manufacturing, is now a global phenomenon. With the rise in medical prominence of cannabinoids and other non-psychoactive marijuana derivatives, the acronym field is getting quite cluttered. CBD, CBG, THC, CBC, CBN, what does it all mean? What's the difference? What are the best applications for each? How are they used? We break down each acronym into a simple-to-understand definition and compare and contrast them. By the end of this article, you can confidently claim to be the king of cannabis acronyms. If you have trouble with memorization or just want a hip piece of canna art to hang on your wall, our friends at Gold Leaf have an excellent cannabinoid impact matrix chart that lays things out in a beautiful visual manner. What Does CBD Stand For? Cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, is one of over 100 naturally occurring c