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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Ounce
A standard measurement of cannabis sale and purchase, equivalent to one ounce (oz). The price of an ounce varies depending on legality and location, but consumers should expect to pay at least $150 to $200 USD in a storefront setting. One ounce of weed equates to about 28 grams, which means that it’s an investment that should last even an avid smoker a good while.
QP
Quarter pound, a standard measurement of cannabis purchasing. Approximately 113 grams or four ounces, this constitutes a large bulk purchase of cannabis. QPs are usually purchased by sellers in black market settings, and the quality of weed can vary anywhere from dank to ditch weed. Consumers in legal states cannot purchase this amount in dispensaries, as most laws allow up to an ounce at a time.
Matchbox
The traditional measurement of cannabis in edible products, such as chews, tinctures, and drinks. It’s usually shortened to mg. Most edibles contain about 5-10mg of THC, CBD or both. The near-universal metric system is used for the sale and dispense of medication so that physicians and patients alike, regardless of their backgrounds, understand how much product is being discussed. Using the metric system for cannabis emphasizes its medicinal benefits and allows for dosages to be adjusted accordingly.
Tinnie
In New Zealand, a tinnie refers to $20 worth of cannabis on the black market. The name comes from the fact that many Kiwi cannabis dealers would package a dub sack in tin foil. Not that we want to compare Aussies & Kiwis (because they hate that) but in Australia, the term used is foilie, which is different but has the same origin of the flower being packaged in foil.
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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Purps
Strains of cannabis that feature purple hues in their flower buds. The color comes from the flavonoid anthocyanin, which utilizes its color in nature to attract insects and increase pollination. Many consumers believe the purple color is a sign of quality or potency, though this is difficult to confirm.
Pakalolo
Pakalolo is the Hawaiian word for cannabis, which spread into English language usage during World War II. It gained a resurgence in popularity after its use in a biography on former president Barack Obama, where it’s revealed that he used to smoke pakalolo quite regularly. It tends to be used most often in beach settings, and the term itself can also be used to describe a person who smokes cannabis.
Nug Run
Hash oil extracted from cannabis that is made of all high quality nugs. Normally, hash oil would be derived from the smallest of nugs and other forms of marijuana trimmings, leaving the largest bits of flower to be smoked normally. Because of this distinction from other hash oils, nug run has a particularly strong effect and delicious flavor.
Nug
Derived from “nugget,” nug is a synonym for the dried bud of the cannabis plant. Most cannabis flower is sold in bud form, allowing users to choose based on trichomes and customize their own grind. Nugs can vary wildly in size depending on the plant, which is why selling by weight is so popular.
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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Blazed
The pleasant result of a cannabis high. The high itself varies depending on the strain, but it is generally positive and pleasurable. Sometimes being blazed is synonymous with the kinds of highs portrayed in media, where the stoner is slow, relaxed, and kind of dopey. However, “blazing” and “being blazed” often just refer to “getting high” and “being high” so it tends to depend on your region. The term appears to originate from the word “blaze,” which refers to something which burns brightly–in this case, the end of a joint or the bowl of a pipe as it’s being used.
Couchlock
The familiar, sedative feeling often associated with the body highs of heavy Indica strains. The term comes from the feeling of being “locked” in place to your seat and unable to move. Couchlock can happen accidentally or intentionally, but either way, you’ll be out of commission for at least a few hours.
Decriminalization
The action or process of loosening criminal penalties for certain illegal activities–in this case, the use of cannabis. This is not the same as legalization. Under decriminalization, cannabis is still illegal, but those caught with it only face fines instead of serious criminal charges. A few states have opted for decriminalization over legalization, and many see it as a stepping stone toward full legalization.
Distro
A corporate-owned dispensary or vertically integrated cannabis business model. These companies are often referred to as a ‘distro’ which is short for ‘distribution’. This moniker relates to the fact that the company distributes cannabis to the public, and is used more for corporate cannabis entities rather than small businesses.
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.
Chillum
Chop
Chronic
Clam baking
Closed-Loop Extraction
CO2
CO2 Extraction
Combustion
Concentrate
Cone
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.