Marijuana, globally celebrated and embraced by enthusiasts, is accompanied by an abundance of slang terms. Mastery of these terms is essential for navigating the intricacies of cannabis culture. This guide aims to clarify marijuana slang, ensuring you're not puzzled.
The History of Marijuana Rasicm and Stigma
The emergence of marijuana slang can be mainly attributed to prohibition. Despite progress in legalization, the stigma and racism associated with cannabis persist, leading to the continued use of marijuana slang for discreet communication.
Cannabis has a troubling history of being linked with racism, particularly in the United States. In the early 20th century, as Mexican immigrants fled social and political turmoil and settled in the U.S., they brought with them the use of cannabis, known as "marihuana" in Mexico. This influx of immigrants sparked negative attitudes and xenophobia, leading to the association of cannabis with Mexican immigrants. The term "marihuana" was intentionally used to sound foreign and sinister, fueling racial fears and stereotypes.
During the era of cannabis prohibition, laws and enforcement disproportionately targeted minority communities, including African American and Latino populations. Propaganda against cannabis further marginalized these communities, contributing to their criminalization. For instance, President Nixon's administration strategically used anti-drug campaigns to target political opponents and minority groups, as admitted by Nixon's senior advisor, John Ehrlichman.
These historical injustices have left a lasting impact, perpetuating racial disparities in drug enforcement and the criminal justice system. Today, advocates work to address these issues by pushing for reforms in drug policies to address the disproportionate impact on minority communities.
List of Marijuana and Cannabis Slang Terms
Assassin of Youth: A term from a 1937 film used negatively to refer to marijuana.
Aunt Mary: Refers to stale weed, akin to old kush.
Bash: Cannabis sprayed with a substance to increase its weight.
Bazooka: A popular strain of cannabis.
Blunt: Cannabis rolled in a cigar wrapper, popularized in New York.
Burning bush: A biblical reference, also a top-quality slang for smoking cannabis.
Chronic: – Snoop Dogg's term for top-quality cannabis was originally a misunderstanding of 'hydroponic.'
Cabbage: Refers to the buds of the cannabis plant.
Dank: A term for high-quality cannabis, also used to describe something excellent.
Dope: A versatile term used differently across regions and generations.
Doobie: Possibly derived from 'Scooby-Doo,' it refers to a cannabis joint.
Fatty: A large joint or blunt.
Flower: The bud of the cannabis plant, useful for discreet conversations.
Ganja: A term with origins in India, synonymous with cannabis.
Grass: Popular in the '60s and '70s, often referred to as lower-quality cannabis.
Herb: A term emphasizing the natural aspects of cannabis.
Joint: Ground cannabis rolled in paper, a global staple.
Kush: A strain of Indica cannabis from the Middle East.
Mary Jane: A universally recognized term for marijuana.
Pot: Derived from Spanish potiguaya, meaning 'the drink of grief.'
Reefer: A term with origins in the nautical language.
Spliff: A roll containing both tobacco and cannabis.
Stash: A hidden supply of pot.
Sticky Icky: A term for high-quality, resinous weed.
Weed: A term for cannabis, emphasizing its undesired status in the past.
420: A code for cannabis use originating from a group of high school students in 1971.
710: A code celebrating cannabis concentrates and dabbing.
In summary, it's important to understand marijuana slang to fit in with stoner culture. Even though cannabis is becoming more accepted, using slang words shows there's still a stigma and racism around it. Learning these terms gives you helpful information and lets you see the different parts of cannabis culture.