A quick Google search will show you that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of names associated with Cannabis or more popularly known as weed in the United States. There are scientific names, street names, strain names, slang, and other terms associated with this psychoactive drug. In this article, we will not attempt to list down all those names, instead, we will look at some of the most popular names and terms associated with the drug. This guide could help people who are trying to stay away from this substance, as well as parents who want to understand what the different names mean.
1. Cannabis
Cannabis is the name of the plant where weed comes from, making it the most accurate term when referring to the drug. The word is said to be derived from the Thracian or Scythian word which loaned into Persian “kanab”, then into Greek “κάνναβις” (kánnavis), and later into Latin as “cannabis”. The English equivalent of the word is “hemp”.
Before other terms like weed or pot became popular, the term “cannabis” was used throughout the 19th century. It has also been used in scientific journals when the plant was used as an ingredient in medicines. The Cannabis plant has three recognized varieties: Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Ruderalis, and Cannabis Indica.
2. Weed
Weed is a popular all-American slang term for Cannabis. The Oxford Dictionary states that the term first appeared in print as a way to refer to Cannabis in 1932 on The Chicago Defender. The use of weed spread out to the UK and other parts of the world. Until now, weed is still commonly used as a nickname for cannabis.
3. Marijuana
Marijuana is one of the more widespread terms used to refer to Cannabis. The term, also spelled as “marihuana” and “mariguana”, originated from Mexican Spanish. In the United States, the use of the term dramatically increased in the 1930s when the use of the drug was being heavily debated. Some opponents of the drug used the term Maijuana to stigmatize the drug and associate it negatively with the Mexican community who immigrated to the United States after the Mexican Revolution. Up until now, the term Marijuana is used all around the world to refer to Cannabis.
4. Pot
Using pot to refer to Cannabis started in the late 1930s. The term was said to be derived from the Spanish term “potaguaya” or “potacion de guaya, which is a wine or brandy steeped with cannabis buds. The term potacion de guaya literally means “drink of grief”. From this, the term pot has evolved in popular culture to refer to Cannabis in general. A person who habitually uses Cannabis is often referred to as a “pothead”.
5. Grass
Aside from calling it weed, Cannabis is also called “grass” and this is not just in America. In India, the Cannabis plant has a more cultural and religious role. It was mentioned in the Atharvaveda Hindu sacred text as one of the five sacred plants of India. It was referred to as “sacred grass”. The plant is being used in ritual offerings to the Hindu god Shiva.
In the United States, the term “grass” became popular in the 1960s and 1970s. During that time, lower quality cannabis resembled green lawn clippings and this was said to be the reason why the plant was called grass.
6. Dope
Dope is another term that could refer to Cannabis, The term dope was first used in the 1800s to refer to a semi-liquid preparation of opium and then later on cannabis. Nowadays, dope is still being used to refer to weed but it is also used to refer to other drugs such as heroin.
7. Joint
One of the common ways to use Cannabis is to roll it into a cigarette and smoke it. This cannabis preparation is often called a “joint”. The first usage of the term to refer to a cannabis cigarette was traced back to 1938.
8. Dab
The terms “dab” and “dabbing” are becoming increasingly popular nowadays. For people who are not familiar with what these terms mean, dab is a concentrated form of cannabis and dabbing is the term used to refer to the act of using dab weed. The difference between regular weed and dab weed is that dab weed is much more potent.
Dab weed contains up to 80% to 90% THC, which is the psychoactive compound in Cannabis. On the other hand, regular weed often contains only 25% of THC and even very potent strains only contain 30% to 50% of THC.
9. Edibles
The term “edibles” is used to refer to food and drinks that are infused with Cannabis. These are also called as marijuana edibles or cannabis edibles. Cannabis is often mixed with sweets to disguise its taste. Some popular cannabis edibles include brownies, candy, chocolates, gummy bears, butter, and oil. At present, many people are getting more creative with using cannabis by infusing them in different food and drink preparations.
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