Deciphering Marijuana Slang and Nicknames

Marijuana has been a hot topic in the news lately, with stories about legalization making headlines in the U.S. and abroad. With recreational and medical use now becoming legal in more and more places, many people are using the drug for the first time, and getting familiar with the lingo used to describe it. There are literally hundreds of names used to describe marijuana and the ways to use it. This guide will introduce you to some of the ones that you are most likely to encounter, and to be able to talk and explain to your kids about this.

Common Nicknames for Pot

Some of the nicknames for marijuana simply refer to the drug in any form. These include

Cannabis
Giggle weed
Grass
Herb
Mary Jane
Pot
Reefer
Wacky tobaccy
Wacky weed
Weed

You may sometimes hear marijuana referred to as cannabis, particularly in political and scientific contexts. Cannabis is the scientific name for the marijuana plant and the drug’s proper name. You’ve probably heard of the world famous OG Kush, but do you know what exactly is OG Kush? Other terms associated with marijuana that have different meanings include dope, which is used as slang for many drugs, and chronic, which may refer to straight marijuana or marijuana combined with crack cocaine.

Nicknames for Inhaled Forms of Marijuana

Some nicknames for marijuana refer to different methods of inhaling the drug. While not a nickname, the term “vape pen” is often used when discussing marijuana. The phrase refers to a compact, pen-shaped device that is used to vaporize dry herbs or waxy marijuana concentrates. The action of drawing from a vape pen, see VaporPlants, may be referred to as “vaping.”

The following terms are all associated with smoking marijuana:

Blunt – A large marijuana cigarette that is produced with cigar rolling papers
Doobie – Any type of marijuana cigarette; may also be shortened to “doob”
Dutchie – Any type of marijuana cigarette
Fatty – Another name for a blunt or large marijuana cigarette
Joint – A small marijuana cigarette that is made with cigarette rolling papers
Roach – Small ends left over from blunts or joints; people typically smoke these using clips
Spliff – Any type of marijuana cigarette

Nicknames for Certain Types of Marijuana

There are many different strains and types of marijuana, and over the years, some varieties have earned their own nicknames, such as:

Dab – Waxy concentrates that may be used in a vape pen or smoked
Ganja – Marijuana that is grown in Jamaica
Hashish – Resin that is produced from marijuana
Indica – A commonly used strain of marijuana
Kief – Resin that is produced from marijuana; also called keef and kif
Sativa – A commonly used strain of marijuana
Thai Stick – A marijuana cigarette that is dipped, rolled, or soaked in hashish prior to smoking