Cannabis 101: A Beginner's Guide from Pure Leaf Flower

This page is general information for adults 21+ about legal adult-use cannabis in New York. It is not medical advice and does not claim that cannabis treats, cures or prevents any condition. Talk to a licensed healthcare provider about your health.

The vocabulary can feel like a wall, but none of it is complicated once it is explained plainly. Our staff at 40-28 Murray Street in Flushing answer these questions in the shop; this is the written version of that conversation.

The plant

Cannabis is a flowering plant, and the species most people mean is Cannabis sativa L. Growers breed it for different traits, the way apple growers do, and each named variety is a cultivar (you will also hear "strain").

"Hemp" and "cannabis" come from the same species. The difference is a legal line, not a botanical one: hemp is grown to meet a legal definition of containing less than 0.3% THC. Plants above that line are regulated as adult-use cannabis in New York and may be sold only by licensed dispensaries. Everything on our menu is a New York licensed adult-use cannabis product, not a cannabinoid hemp product.

Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are compounds the plant produces, mostly in the resin glands (trichomes) on the flower. A New York lab report lists many of them. These are the ones you will see most often.

THCA — the form found in raw, unheated flower. It does not produce the intoxicating effects associated with THC until it is heated.
THC — the compound responsible for the intoxicating effects of cannabis. It forms when THCA is heated.
CBD — a cannabinoid that does not produce the intoxicating effects associated with THC. Some products are sold in THC:CBD ratios such as 1:1. An adult-use product that contains CBD still contains THC and is still intoxicating.
CBG — a minor cannabinoid, usually present in small amounts and listed on lab reports.
CBN — a minor cannabinoid that appears as THC ages and breaks down.

Decarboxylation is the chemistry behind that first entry: heat converts THCA into THC. That happens when you light a pre-roll, heat a vaporizer, or when a processor warms cannabis before infusing an edible. Because of that conversion, New York labs report total THC, calculated as THC + (THCA x 0.877). Total CBD is calculated the same way. Source: NY OCM Part 128 guidance.

Effects differ from person to person, and researchers are still studying what individual cannabinoids do. Bring health questions to a healthcare provider, not to a budtender.

Terpenes

Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in cannabis and in many other plants: pine needles, citrus peel, lavender, black pepper, hops. They are why two products with nearly identical THC numbers can smell and taste very different. Names you will see on New York labels include myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, linalool, pinene and terpinolene. Our Terpenes Guide goes deeper.

Product types at a glance

Flower — dried, cured buds, sold by weight.
Pre-rolls — flower already rolled; some are infused with concentrate.
Vaporizers — cartridges that attach to a battery, or all-in-one devices.
Concentrates — extracts such as live resin, rosin, hash and distillate.
Edibles, orals and tinctures — measured in milligrams of THC.
Topicals — balms, lotions and oils applied to the skin.
Seeds, clones, CBD products, accessories and apparel — other categories you may see at licensed dispensaries.

Consumption Methods compares onset, duration and dose control side by side, and you can browse the menu for what is in stock. Our menu currently lists flower and pre-rolls, with more categories added as they arrive.

Potency basics: percentages and milligrams

New York labels potency two ways. Inhalable products (flower, pre-rolls, vapes, concentrates) show THC and CBD as a percentage of weight, plus the total per package. Non-inhalable products (edibles, tinctures, capsules, beverages) show milligrams per serving and per package, with the serving size and the number of servings.

New York caps edible servings at 10 mg total THC per serving, and OCM suggests someone new to edibles start at 2.5 to 5 mg. A higher THC percentage does not automatically mean a better experience; product type, terpenes, your own tolerance and the setting all matter. Sources: NY OCM Part 128 guidance; NY OCM consumer guidance. See Edible Dosing and Reading Labels.

How products are made and tested in New York

Licensed New York cultivators grow the plants; licensed processors dry, cure, extract and manufacture them into finished products. Before any lot reaches a dispensary, a licensed laboratory must test it under 9 NYCRR Part 130 for its cannabinoid profile and terpenes, and for contaminants including microorganisms, heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, residual solvents and foreign material. Results go on a Certificate of Analysis (COA), and every package carries a QR code linking to it. Labeled potency must fall within 85 to 115% of the lab result for adult-use products. Source: NY OCM testing limits (Feb 9, 2026).

Packages also carry New York's universal symbol, the processor's name and license number, ingredients and allergens, a lot number, and the warnings required by law. This is testing and labeling required by New York State, not a guarantee; no cannabis use is risk-free. Source: NY OCM Part 128 guidance.

Common terms

Strain / cultivar — a named variety, such as Blue Dream or Sour Diesel. "Cultivar" is the accurate term.
Hybrid — bred from both indica- and sativa-leaning parents. See Indica vs Sativa.
Pre-roll — a ready-rolled cannabis cigarette.
Cart — short for cartridge: a sealed vape cartridge that attaches to a battery.
Dab — a small amount of concentrate vaporized on a heated surface.
Distillate — a refined extract that is mostly a single cannabinoid, with little native aroma.
Live resin — an extract made from fresh-frozen plant material, which preserves more aroma.
Rosin — an extract pressed with heat and pressure only, no solvents.
Tincture — a dropper-measured liquid, usually placed under the tongue.
COA — Certificate of Analysis: the lab report behind the QR code on the package.

Responsible use fundamentals

Start low and go slow. With edibles, OCM advises waiting at least two hours before consuming more, because peak effects can take up to four hours. When inhaling, OCM suggests waiting 5 to 10 minutes between inhales.
Do not drive. It is illegal to drive under the influence of cannabis in New York. Plan a sober ride before you consume, and do not ride with an impaired driver.
Lock it up. Keep products in their original child-resistant packaging, locked, out of sight and reach of children and pets.
Be careful mixing. Using cannabis and alcohol at the same time can make you more impaired than using either substance alone.
Know where you can use it. Not in motor vehicles, not inside dispensaries, and not where smoking tobacco is prohibited. See NY Cannabis Laws.
Keep it in New York. Cannabis cannot be taken across state lines, even to another state where adult-use cannabis is legal.
Cannabis can be addictive, and is not recommended for use by persons who are pregnant or nursing.
Accidental consumption or overconsumption: effects are temporary; hydrate and rest, contact the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222, and call 9-1-1 in a medical emergency. Contact your veterinarian immediately if a pet ingests cannabis.
Concerned about your cannabis use? Text HopeNY (467369), call the New York State HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369), or visit oasas.ny.gov/hopeline.

Adult-use, not medical

Pure Leaf Flower is an adult-use retail dispensary. We do not certify patients and we do not dispense medical cannabis. Products in the medical program may differ from the adult-use market in product form, serving size and pricing; to learn more, see cannabis.ny.gov/medical-cannabis.

Where to go next

Cannabis Learning Center — every guide in one place.
First-Time Visitors — what to bring and what happens in store.
OCM Resources — official state guides and help lines.
Browse the menu or contact us. Online ordering, pickup and delivery are shown as coming soon on the menu; call 646-889-4071 for current details.

Pure Leaf Flower is a New York State licensed adult-use retail dispensary operated by Mirae Corp, License No. OCM-RETL-25-000458. In-store shopping is open to adults 21+ with a valid government-issued photo ID.

For use only by persons 21 years of age and older. Keep out of reach of children and pets. If someone accidentally consumes cannabis, contact the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. Consume responsibly. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product.

For adults 21+. Pure Leaf Flower (Mirae Corp), License No. OCM-RETL-25-000458. Educational only; not medical or legal advice. Adult-use cannabis products are not approved to treat, cure or prevent any condition. Consult a healthcare provider about your health, and the New York State Office of Cannabis Management or an attorney about the law. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Last reviewed: September 29, 2026.