There are over 1,000 weed slang words to describe cannabis and its effects. Why? Anything that has a stigma attached to it typically garners the need for alternate names.
Learning these slang terms can help you better understand stoner culture, expand your casual vocabulary, and join the cool kids for the next 420 session. This page has high-quality cannabis seeds if you really want to get into the spirit.
We’ve chosen the best slang words for cannabis based on popularity and interest. Let’s get started.
1. Herb
Herb is a word for weed commonly used by Rastafarians, as they believe cannabis is natural, like any other plant. It originates from a biblical text, “He causeth the grass for the cattle, and herb for the services of man… thou shalt eat the herb of the field.”
As famous Rastafarian Bob Marley revealed, smoking weed is a form of self-discovery. They believe that cannabis is a sacred herb.
2. Reefer
Nobody knows for sure where this pot slang originated, but it made its first appearance in the Don Redman song “Reefer Man”.
Many believe it comes from the Spanish word grifo, which is slang used to describe a person who is under the influence of weed. It also translates to “tangled or frizzy hair,” so it could refer to the cliché stoner persona or someone in a fuzzy mental state.
Others think it’s a reference to the Spanish reef, which translates to “to roll”. In this sense, it may refer to marijuana joints that are rolled.
3. Pot
The word pot is derived from the Spanish word potiguaya, also known as potacion de guaya, which translates to “the drink of grief”. This beverage was popular in the 1930s and came in the form of wine or brandy that included steeped cannabis leaves.
It’s now among the most commonly used names of weed. The term “pothead” also comes from this word and is used to describe someone who smokes a lot of weed.
4. Mary Jane
Mary Jane is a popular cannabis slang term used to describe weed. It’s also an exciting move for words ending in E when playing your next scrabble game.
It’s a pun on another common slang word, marijuana, which many believe comes from the Spanish names Maria or Mari and Juana.
These Spanish names roughly translate into Mary and Jane or Joan in English. The name “Mary Jane” first made a public appearance in 1943 when the renowned TIME magazine featured it in a piece.
It’s unique from the other weed slang because it doesn’t just describe it by appearance or effects. Mary Jane depicts marijuana as a feminine entity that many resonate with.
5. Dope
Historically, the word “dope” doesn’t have a good connotation. In the 19th century, people used it as a synonym for “fool”. It was also slang for opium due to its thick texture and the sedative nature of its effects.
People called opium addicts “dope fiends” because they appeared sluggish and foolish. Towards the 20th century, this word developed a broader use and described any smokable illegal substance as “dope”.
Fast forward to current times and the word has a positive connotation. If you ask most people, “What is another name for weed?” Dope will probably be one of their answers.
It’s not just used to describe drugs and cannabis, it can also be a compliment, e.g. “That’s dope”.
6. Grass
In the 1960s, when hippie culture was rife, the weed wasn’t always the best quality. It often resembled grass clippings due to poor drying and growing techniques.
Many hippies called it grass because it was light green and dry. Nowadays, it’s used to refer to weed and sometimes to describe low-quality buds.
7. Chronic
Dr. Dre fans will remember his iconic albums, The Chronic and 2001, where he made multiple references to weed as “dank chronic”. Turns out the nickname came about as a mistake. OG Snoop Dogg explained its origins in an interview with Seth Rogen in 1991.
Dr. Dre and Snoop were enjoying some fine weed and asked what it was. They misheard the word “hydroponic” as “hydrochronic” and shortened it to “chronic” which quickly became a popular slang for marijuana.
8. Dank
“Dank” originates from Middle English and has Scandinavian origins. It was used to refer to marsh lands or wet and musky places. Nobody knows for sure how it became a word to describe cannabis, but it’s now one of the most popular terms.
It’s commonly used as an adjective to describe weed that’s high-quality, sticky, and has a potent scent. You can also use it as a noun in place of cannabis.
9. Bhang
Bhang is one of the unique scrabble words ending in G, but its origins go deeper than any game. It’s a cannabis drink served during the Hindu festivals Holi, Janmashtami, and Shivratri. Weed has a rich history in India where it’s said to hold spiritual and medicinal benefits.
In Hinduism, the God Shiva is believed to have harnessed his divine powers when drinking bhang. In the ancient Atharva Veda texts, weed was mentioned as one of the five most sacred plants.
Final Thoughts
We hope you find these marijuana names as interesting as we did. They all have unique origins, and some are the product of negative words that have transformed into positive meanings.
Whether you choose to call it reefer, dope, or Mary Jane, you’ll be clued up for your next 420 celebration.
If we missed any cannabis slang words that you know of, let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
