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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Slice
A common term for an eighth of an ounce, or 3.5 grams, of cannabis used predominantly in the sale of black-market street dealers to keep the subject of their conversation low-key. The term derives from the fact that a pizza is generally cut into eight slices. The origins of this slang are unknown.
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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Loud
Cannabis described as loud is especially potent and has an odor so strong that if it was a noise the only way to describe it would be ‘Loud’. Loud weed is said by many to be stronger and faster-acting than normal product, and while it can get users higher faster, it can often also cause negative side effects like anxiety.
Loud
Cannabis described as loud is especially potent and has an odor so strong that if it was a noise the only way to describe it would be ‘Loud’. Loud weed is said by many to be stronger and faster-acting than normal product, and while it can get users higher faster, it can often also cause negative side effects like anxiety.
Laughing Grass
A common slang term for cannabis. Refers specifically to the euphoric and energizing effects of THC consumption, and the use of “grass” as a slang term. While this term is losing popularity nowadays, it tends to be used in a more quirky, tongue-in-cheek way by some users.
L
An L-shaped joint or blunt, which is formed with two rolling papers in an L formation. This style of rolling creates a larger cone at the end, making an impressive look. It has no relation to the other slang use of “L,” which refers to a loss of some sort.
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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Cherried
A bowl that stays lit over time instead of needing to be reignited. This term derives from the warm red glow that burning cannabis takes on. Sometimes, having to relight the bowl over and over can be a bit tedious, so cherried bowls are the ideal for most situations. Inhaling keeps the cherry lit, so don’t be shy about sharing!
Cotton Mouth
Another way to describe dry mouth, an unpleasant side-effect of smoking cannabis. The term comes from the mouth becoming so dry it feels as though it is stuffed with cotton. While the term can be used in non-cannabis contexts, it’s most often associated with stoners. The best way to counteract cottonmouth is to keep some source of hydration nearby while seshing.
Chiefing
Hogging the weed in a group smoke session or taking huge rips. This term comes from the idea of a Native American chief smoking in large, deep hits off their pipe. It’s usually used to poke fun at someone who’s taking a bit too long to take their hit, or seems to think they’re more important and deserve more weed than everyone else–which is silly, of course!
Florist
Some growers and distributors like to refer to themselves as florists–an obvious tongue-in-cheek reference to their work with plants. Despite this usage, actual florists who work with cannabis do exist! They craft beautiful bouquets for weddings and other events that feature nugs of cannabis nestled artfully among their fellow flowers. While the reaction is mixed to this innovative idea, it’s safe to say that cannabis can be elevated to more than just a consumable.
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.
Diamonds
Diffuser
Dime Bag
Dispensary
Ditch Weed
Dome
Domeless Nail
Doobie
Down Smoke
Downstem
Dub Sack
Dugout
Dusties
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.