Welcome to the ultimate weed slang guide, created to help you get familiar with all things related to cannabis. In the close-knit world of marijuana consumers, code words and inside jokes abound: if you’re new to the herb, a lot of these references might fly right over your head. The good news is, here at Ganjapreneur we are compiling an open source dictionary of every cannabis-related slang term and phrase in the world, and our list is constantly growing. From regional monikers to pop-culture phenomena, we provide a quick and easy reference to help you comprehend any and all dialects of herbal vernacular. If you know of a term that we missed, please let us know!
Cannabis Terminology 101
Marijuana, weed, ganja, grass, dope, dro, etc.: there is no shortage of names for everyone’s favorite plant. The prevalence of these different names may be due in part to the prohibition of cannabis in the U.S. and around the world, which was often a politically-motivated and racially-targeted decision to outlaw behaviors that were common among populations that the government wanted to control. Once it became illegal, people would have needed to obscure their references to cannabis in order to hide the fact that they consumed / grew / sold it, and these names would need to evolve over time as they became well-known by the authorities.
Another potential reason for why there are so many different words for “marijuana” is that smoking weed often leads to talking about weed, which often leads to coming up with unique nicknames and descriptions for how the weed makes you feel… in other words, it’s like a self-replicating fractal, man.
Weed Slang Categories
Weed Measurements
Whether you’re selling or buying, knowing the lingo for different quantities of cannabis is essential if you want to participate in the underground (or “traditional”) market. From a dub to a zip and beyond, we’ve summed up the most common denominations of cannabis you’re likely to encounter on your dealer’s coffee table.
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Milligrams
The universally understood metric system is used for measuring dosages of medication, so it makes sense for cannabis to be measured similarly for consumers’ convenience. Most cannabis products such as tinctures, edibles, and chews are measured in milligrams (mg). Most of these products contain 5-10mg of THC, CBD, or both, which allows for users to dose appropriately.
Can
A unit of measure for purchasing cannabis, originating from a 1950s term. During that time, cannabis was sold in tobacco tins, and people would purchase one can at a time. It’s roughly analogous to an eighth of an ounce, or 3.5 grams.
G
One gram of cannabis. Cannabis is measured in metric grams, and the symbol of this measurement (g) soon integrated into stoner slang. Usually, one gram is the smallest amount of flower available for purchase in a dispensary or adult-use storefront. While it may not seem like much, a gram is good for at least two or three decently sized joints–or, you can go all the way and put it all into one fatty.
Zip
A slang term for an ounce of marijuana flowers, approximately 28.5 grams. This code name is used by black market dealers on the phone or other communications to not get caught up by the police. The name got its origin because an ounce generally fills up a Ziplock baggie.
Synonyms for Weed
Mary Jane has many aliases, and much like Carmen San Diego, trying to find her when you’re traveling the world can be difficult if you don’t speak the local language. Luckily, we’ve compiled some of the most (and least) common nicknames that cannabis goes by. Some are regional, some are classical, but all of them mean the same thing.
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Sensimilla
This term refers to the unfertilized cannabis plant and directly translates to “seedless”. When a female cannabis plant is unfertilized it does not grow seeds and instead grows dense, sticky colas. This is the desired plant life cycle for cannabis growers, and the term is often used to describe quality, top-shelf buds.
Schwag
A word used to describe marijuana of poor quality often in the form of shake including seeds and/or stems. Due to the low-grade, schwag is most often used for extracting into butter for baking edibles, but it can be smoked when you’re on a budget. It is possible that since schwag is often shredded and not full nugs, the origins of the term relate to shag, a term for shredded tobacco.
Sativa
One of two popular species of cannabis plant, the other being Indica. Regarded as clear-headed, uplifting and energizing. Sativas are great for getting in the right headspace for creative work and physical activities such as hikes or workouts, but some especially potent strains can actually induce anxiety attacks instead of relieve them.
Reefer
A slang term for cannabis. While the exact etymology is uncertain, one potential origin is the Spanish word “grifa,” a term for cannabis. The word was popularized as slang by the film Reefer Madness (1936), an early anti-cannabis propaganda film that has gained cult status for its, frankly, ridiculous plot.
Stoner Terms & Phrases
The “stoner” stereotype has been aggressively pushed in mainstream media for decades, both by proponents and detractors of cannabis. In reality, the effects of cannabis use vary from person to person, but that fact didn’t stop legions of stonified slang terms and references from getting couch-locked in mainstream culture.
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Bake Sale
Deriving from the existing term “baked,” meaning high, a bake sale often refers to a smoke session. Some argue that a bake sale should involve cannabis-laden baked goods, but opinions vary from person to person. Regardless of the meaning, participating in a bake sale means you will likely end up very, very stoned.
Adult Use
Legal cannabis not designated for medical purposes is often called recreational or adult-use cannabis. Recreational users consume cannabis for a pleasurable altered state of consciousness, similar to the use of alcohol or tobacco. Laws for recreational and adult-use often vary from state to state, and in some cases, they can vary between cities. To enter a cannabis storefront for recreational products in the United States, you will need to be at least 21 years old and present a valid, unexpired state ID.
Amendment 64
The Colorado Marijuana Legalization Amendment, also known as Amendment 64, was on the November 2012 ballot in Colorado, and it successfully legalized cannabis from 2014 onward. The measure specifies that anyone over the age of 21 can possess up to one ounce of cannabis and that the state will regulate the industry by enacting taxes and legislation governing the cultivation and processing of cannabis manufacturing and retail facilities. Due to Amendment 64, Colorado became one of the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
Burnout
A term referring to both the feeling of being burnt and a person who regularly consumes so much cannabis that they’re in a perpetual state of unfocused dullness. While burnouts are either portrayed in media as loveable, goofy stoners or pitiable people who are throwing their lives away, the connotation is usually negative because of their overindulging habits. If you’re feeling burnt out from cannabis use, a T-break may be in order.
Browse all terms:
Below you will find our entire catalogue of weed slang definitions. 15 terms are displayed on each page: use the pagination links to browse more definitions in alphabetical order.
Budder
Can
Cannabidiol
Carb Cap
Carts
Cheeba
Submit Weed Slang
Do you know of a weed slang term that we missed? Please submit it below, and if we’ll consider adding it to our dictionary. Note: we don’t allow terms that are hateful, sexual, or gross.