Brush up on your cannabis terminology to avoid looking like an amateur with your friends or dispensary salespeople. Here are some useful and basic cannabis terminology.
Cannabis terminology is constantly changing each generation. Here’s a list of important terminology and slang for beginners and advanced cannabis users.
420 (4/20 and 4:20)
420 is slang for weed. The term is derived from five California high school students in 1971. They were known as the Waldos. They would meet at 4:20 P.M. to smoke weed. Lagunitas Brewery created a beer in honor of them. The beer is named Waldos. Learn more at Time.com. April 20th is also the unofficial worldwide cannabis holiday.
Bowl
A bowl is a weed pipe. Bowls are typically made from glass, aluminum, wood, or ceramic. The bowl is specifically the part that holds the cannabis. Bowls come in a variety of designs. Some of the designs include chillums, Sherlocks, bubblers, spoons, steamrollers, and novelty shapes such as avocado, pickles, and animals.
Blunt
A blunt is a hollowed-out cigar. The cigar is cut open with a razor, the tobacco is removed, then it is re-roll with cannabis. A blunt gives you the typical weed high in addition to a buzz from the tobacco wrapper.
Bud
A slang term for the flower of the cannabis plant. The bud is part of the cannabis plant that is consumed and has psychoactive qualities. The term bud has recently been replaced by Flower.
Bong
A bong is a water pipe for smoking cannabis or other dry herbs. The base of the bong holds water. The water gives the smoke a cooling effect. It makes the smoke feel less harsh. Bongs are typically tall and made out of glass, plastic, ceramic, or silicon.
Cannabinoid (CBD)
Cannabinoid, CBD for short, is the second most active ingredient found in cannabis. CBD has minimal psychoactive properties. CBD is used to help treat epilepsy, anxiety, inflammation, insomnia, and pain.
Cannabis
Is short for the scientific name cannabis sativa, cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis. Cannabis originated in Central Asia. Cannabis replaced the outdated term, marijuana.
Chillum
A chillum or chilam is a straight, cone-like pipe. Chillums are made out of glass, wood, clay, and stone. Chillums are traced back to ancient South America. The chillum evolved into an elbow pipe or glass bowl.
Cherry
Cherry is slang for a burning ember of cannabis in a bowl, joint, bong, or chillum.
Chronic
Chronic is a strain of cannabis popularized by Dr. Dre’s 1992 album, The Chronic. Chronic is an Indica-heavy (about 80/20) strain. Chronic is a general term used to describe good and strong weed.
Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates are a gooey, highly potent substance that is made by removing non-psychotropic ingredients. Concentrates have high THC levels. They should not be smoked by beginners. Concentrates are smoked with a dab.
Cones
Cones are pre-made rolling papers. A typical cone has a narrow end with a crutch or filter. The opposite end of the cone is wide to easily fill with weed. Cones are not the traditional cylindrical rolling paper shape. They have a cone-like shape, therefore, they are called cones.
Cottonmouth
Cottonmouth is slang for the side effect of dry mouth from using cannabis.
Dab
Dab or Dabbing is inhaling vaporized cannabis concentrates with a rig. Dab is also referred to as shatter, wax, amber, budder, or honeycomb.
Dab Rig
A dab rig is a glass pipe that resembles a complex bong. A rig is used to smoke concentrates. A dab has a nail instead of a bowl. Nails are typically made out of quartz. Smoking out a dab is different than a bong or bowl. First, you heat up the nail with a torch. Secondly, you apply a small amount of concentrate to the hot nail with a dabber. The concentrate will vaporize then inhale.
Dank Weed
Dank weed is a term used to describe highly potent and stinky cannabis flowers.
Ditch Weed
Ditch weed is a low-quality, low-potency cannabis flower that may might you cough.
Edible
An edible is a food product containing THC. Typical edibles are gummies, mints, chocolate, and lozenges.
Flower
The flower is the active, smokeable part of the cannabis plant. The flower is only present in female cannabis plants. The flower is also referred to as the bud.
Ganja
Ganja is a nickname for cannabis. Ganja is borrowed from Hindi gāñjā.
Grass
Grass is slang for cannabis.
Grinder
A grinder is a tool used to break up cannabis flowers.
Hit
A hit is a single puff or inhalation of cannabis smoke.
Head Shop
A head shop is an online or brick-and-mortar retail store that sells cannabis and tobacco paraphenalia.
Hemp
Hemp, also known as industrial hemp, is a cannabis sativa species that lacks high enough levels of THC to create intoxicating effects. The hemp stocks are used for its durable fibers to create clothing, rope, sails, and more. Hemp oil is used for cosmetics, lotion, and detergent. America’s first president, George Washington grew hemp.
Herb
Herb is slang for cannabis flower or bud.
Hybrid
A cannabis strain has a 50/50 combination of indica and sativa.
Marijuana
Marijuana is slang for cannabis. The nickname originated in Mexico. Cannabis users in Mexico began using slang names for secrecy. The nicknames they used for cannabis were women’s names like Rosa Marie, Maria Rosa, Maria Juana. The theory is marijuana came from a combination of Maria (Spanish for Mary) and Juana (Spanish for Jane). Furthermore, this is where the nickname Mary Jane is translated from.
Munchies
Munchies is an increase in appetite for food and drink. Munchies are a side effect of cannabis. According to Nature.com, THC, the active chemical in cannabis, produces neurons that signal hunger, even if you’re not hungry.
Indica
Indica is a cannabis strain. The indica strain has opposite characteristics as the sativa strain. While sativa will energize you, indica is known for its mellow, sedating qualities. Indica has higher levels of cannabidiol (CBD) and lower levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which means you get a greater body high.
Popcorn
Cannabis flower or bud harvested from lower stalks of a cannabis branch. Popcorn typically has smaller, less premium cuts of cannabis. As a result, popcorn is less expensive.
Pre-rolls
Pre-rolls are pre-rolled, cannabis cigarettes or joints that are made for retail stores.
Regs
Regs is slang for mediocre, low-potency cannabis flower.
Recreational Use
Recreational use is consuming cannabis for pleasure, or recreation and not for medical purposes. Currently, 18 US states have legalized cannabis for recreational use.
Sativa
Sativa is a cannabis strain. The sativa strain is believed to be uplifting and energizing versus sedating. Sativa is good for socializing, and activities. Sativa has more levels of THC and less CBD, leaving you with a greater head high and less sedating qualities.
Spliff
A spliff is a joint that is rolled with a combination of tobacco and cannabis.
N.O.R.M.L.
N.O.R.M.L. stands for The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. It is a non-profit organization that advocates for the reform of cannabis laws in the United States regarding both medical and non-medical use. Keith Stroup foundedN.O.R.M.L. in 1970.
