The Glossary of Green

1.Slang & Pop Culture

Everyday language from the cannabis community.

  • 420:

    A generalized slang term for marijuana consumption. Coined in the 1970s by a group of students at San Rafael (CA) High School who would regularly meet after school at 4:20 to partake in marijuana consumption. It has also evolved to include April 20 (4/20) as International Cannabis Pride Day.

  • 710:

    Slang for hash oil. Flipping the number upside down reveals its origins.

  • April 20 (4/20):

    International Cannabis Pride Day.


  • Chronic:

    Slang for high quality cannabis.

  • Dank:

    Slang for weed of the highest quality. Typically sticky, very potent and strong smelling.

  • Doobie:

    A classic term for a marijuana cigarette.

  • Ganja:

    Hindu word for cannabis.

  • Hot Box:

    Slang for smoking cannabis is a confined space to multiply the impact.

  • How Dank That Weed:

    A saying used when a person does a classic stoner move, like having food in both hands or buying a box of cookie brownie mix from the store.

  • Kind:

    Another slang term for high quality cannabis.


  • Lid:

    A measure of cannabis quantity that is rather imprecise. Generally between an ounce and an ounce and a half, it got its name from the amount that filled a shoe box lid.

  • Magic Brownie:

    Slang name for a brownie infused with cannabis.

  • Mary Jane:

    More slang for marijuana.

  • Mota:

    Spanish slang for cannabis.

  • Munchies:

    The increased appetite that comes with the consumption of some cannabis products.

  • Narc:

    Slang or an undercover narcotics agent or police informant.

  • Nixon:

    Slang for low quality cannabis products  that are sold as high quality. Also the president who launched the war on drugs.

  • Pakalolo:

    Hawaiian slang for cannabis.

  • Pot:

    Slang for cannabis.

  • Potiguaya:

    Spanish term for cannabis. Possible inspiration for the previous term.

  • Reefer:

    Slang for cannabis, possibly derived from the rolling of a canvas sail on a sailboat, which is called reefing.

  • Skunk:

    A cannabis hybrid known for its pungent odor when smoked.

  • Spliff:

    Slang for a marijuana cigarette.

  • Toke:

    Slang for taking a puff of cannabis.

  • Wake and Bake:

    The habit of making cannabis an early part  of one’s morning routine.

  • Weed:

    Slang for cannabis.

2. Consumption Methods & Tools

All the fun ways to enjoy the plant!

  • Blunt:

    A cigar where the tobacco is hollowed out and replaced with a mixture of marijuana.

  • Bong:

    A device used for smoking marijuana that generally includes a water-based filtration system.

  • Bowl:

    Literally, the part of a pipe or bong that holds the cannabis. More widely accepted as slang for any form of pipe used to smoke marijuana.

  • Budder:

    The slang for the concentrated paste that can be extracted from cannabis.

  • Wax:

    A form of extracted cannabis.

  • Shatter:

    A brittle extracted cannabis concentrate that breaks like glass.

  • Cannabutter:

    Butter that has been infused with marijuana. Can be used in cooking.

  • CBD Oil:

    An extract of cannabis that was originally used for medicinal purposes due to its lack of psychoactive properties. Currently it is included in any number of widely available  products that are mostly used for medicinal purposes to treat pain.

  • Dab:

    Slang for hash oil, a resin extracted from cannabis.

  • Distillate:

    An oil distilled from the cannabis plant, that is generally thick and amber in color. As it purifies cannabis down to its most basic compounds, generally either THC or CBD, it removes the impurities and focuses on the benefit profile of a single cannabinoid.

  • Edible:

    Any food or drink that contains cannabis.

  • Extract:

    The act of using cannabis resin to make edible products or concentrates.

  • Hookah:

    A traditional water pipe from the Indian subcontinent. Can contain a single or multiple pipes for shared consumption.

  • Joint (or simply J):

    Slang for a marijuana cigarette.

  • Live Resin:

    Resin that is extracted through freezing rather than dehydrating.

  • One hitter:

    A pipe for smoking cannabis.

  • Preroll:

    Term for a joint you buy already rolled up.

  • Roach:

    The remains of a joint or blunt after its been consumed.

  • Roach clip:

    A device used to hold a roach while it is still being consumed.

  • Rolling paper:

    The paper used to roll a joint.

  • Tincture:

    An extract created by adding cannabis concentrate to alcohol or oils.

  • Topicals:

    These are creams and lotions that are infused with cannabis and applied to the skin directly. They generally help with sore muscles, inflammation and local pain management.

  • Vape:

    A method of consuming cannabis by  vaporizing either flower or extract.

3. Science & Plant Parts

Breaking down the biology behind the buzz.

  • Bud:

    The part of the cannabis plant that is consumed for its psychoactive properties.

  • Cannabinoids:

    The chemical compounds found in cannabis that interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system. There are more than 100 different cannabinoids, with some of the most well known being Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabindiol (CBD) and Cannabinol (CBN).

  • CBD (Cannabidiol):

    The non-psychoactive chemical compound found in cannabis. Also known as CBD.

  • CBN (Cannabinol):

    The chemical compounds found in cannabis that interact with the body’s  endocannabinoid system. There are more than 100 different cannabinoids, with some of the most well known being Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabindiol (CBD) and Cannabinol (CBN).

  • Delta-8 THC:

    Delta 8 THC has a weaker bond to the body’s CB1 receptors than the Delta-9 variety, making it less psychoactive.

  • Delta-9 THC:

    Delta-9 has a stronger bond to the body’s CB1 receptors, making it more psychoactive than its Delta-8 counterpart.

  • Endocannabinoid System:

    The system of receptors in the brain and nervous system that interact with cannabinoids as they are introduced to the body.

  • Flavonoids:

    A lesser-studied class of compounds that provide therapeutic value through interaction with the body’s endocannabinoid system.

  • Flower:

    The part of the cannabis plant that contains the beneficial properties.

  • Hemp:

    A variety of the cannabis plant that generally is lower in THC and higher in CBD than marijuana. Due to its decreased psychoactive properties, hemp based cannabis products have been largely legalized since 2018.

  • Industrial Hemp:

    The use of hemp to create non psychoactive products. In 1937, the federal government passed the Marijuana Tax Act to slow the growth of hemp as replacement for paper and fabric. The bill was pushed by several well-known industrialists who feared hemp could upset their existing business interests.

  • Terpenes:

    The organic compounds in the cannabis trichomes that give it its fragrance.

  • THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol):

    The abbreviated version of Tetrahydrocannabinol, is the most prominent among the nearly 100 cannabinoids found in cannabis. THC is known to provide the psychoactive effects  that people generally associate with the high that comes with cannabis consumption. The second most prominent cannabinoid, CBD, provides less psychoactive and more medicinal benefits.

  • Trichomes:

    The structure that gives the cannabis leaf a powdery look. The trichomes contain most of the psychoactive THC.

4. Culture & Lifestyle

Cannabis isn’t just a plant—it’s a vibe.

  • Budtender:

    The employee of a cannabis dispensary.

  • Cannabis Refugee:

    A person who moves from one state to another in search of laws that endorse the consumption of the products they either need for medical or just prefer for recreational purposes.

  • Cannivore:

    Someone who prefers edibles to smoked cannabis.

  • Cheech and Chong:

    The original theatrical stoners, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong created some of  the greatest stoner movies of the late 70s and early 80s. Up In Smoke is their most famous movie.

  • Head Shop:

    A store that features paraphernalia for  cannabis consumption, such as pipes, bongs, and one hitters.

  • Homegrown:

    Cannabis that is cultivated at home for personal use.

  • NORML:

    National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. A non-profit organization that has been fighting for cannabis rights  since the start of the war on drugs. Was founded with help from a grant from the Playboy Foundation.

  • Paraphernalia:

    Anything needed to properly participate in cannabis culture, including items used to grow, consume and/or conceal the use of cannabis.

  • Reefer Madness:

    A classic propaganda film that was  created in 1936 to warn kids about the murderous psychosis brought about by marijuana use. It has gained cult status, as is proven out by the fact that 20th Century Fox colorized and re-released the movie in 2004 and a musical version was broadcast on television a year later.

  • Trimmigrant:

    A migrant worker who works in the cannabis fields, often as a bud trimmer.

5. Strains & Genetics

Different varieties = different vibes.

  • Acapulco Gold:

    A popular strain of cannabis originally grown in the mountains outside this western Mexico resort city.

  • Blue Dream:

    A hybrid variety developed in 2003 that is sativa-dominant. With Afghan, Mexican and Thai ancestry, it is a cross between blueberry and haze varieties.

  • Charlotte’s Web:

    A strain of cannabis that contains high  CBD and low THC, making it a potent medicinal variety. It gained prominence as a result of its ability to treat Charlotte Figi’s epileptic seizures. It was so successful that Charlotte became the poster child for the benefits of medical marijuana.

  • Kush:

    An indica varietal that comes from strains with origins in the Kush region of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The various members of the kush family are characterized by their heavily sedative yet euphoric effects.

  • Sativa:

    With Indica and Ruderalis, a subspecies of cannabis that has a longer flowering cycle, and grows better in warm climates. Known for being taller and lighter green than its indica counterpart.

  • Indica:

    With Ruderalis and Sartiva, one of the three main species of cannabis. A short, stocky cannabis species with deep green leaves that has a short flowering cycle and grows well in climates where short growing seasons occur.

  • Ruderalis:

    With Indica and Sativa, one of the three most popular species of the cannabis genus with plants that are identified by their short, sparsely branched stalks and narrow leaves. The ruderalis strain is autoflowering, meaning it flowers based on age rather than ambient light cycles. As such, the plants can reach maturity in as little as ten weeks.

  • White Widow:

    A hybrid of Brazilian sativa and Indian indica varieties of cannabis that has buds covered in white colored resin crystals.

  • Cannabis Strains:

    There are a wide variety of cannabis strains. Some of the most prominent are Acapulco Gold, GMO, Blue Dream, Charlotte’s Web, Kush, Sour Diesel and White Widow.

  • Cultivar:

    A strain that has been developed by selective breeding with other strains is called a cultivar. Selective breeding is undertaken to create desirable characteristics like smell, flavor and chemical profile.

6. Product Types & Measures

Know what you’re getting.

  • Concentrates:

    A variety of products including Budder, honey oil, live resin, shatter, taffy and wax which are commercially extracted from cannabis. As the name implies, concentrates provide a stronger dosage of  cannabis in a smaller package. They are especially valuable for people whose increased tolerance has caused traditional cannabis products to lose impact over time.

  • Eighth:

    Short for ⅛ of an ounce, or 3.5 grams, its a standard order size for marajuana flower.

  • Popcorn:

    Slang for the smaller buds that grow lower on the plant, and sell at a discounted price compared to the top branch stuff. Popcorn is best for individual joints and cooking edibles.



  • Shake:

    The three basic types of cannabis flower are full-size buds, smaller popcorn buds and then the remaining stuff, which is just called shake.

  • Medical Cannabis:

    A variety of cannabis products that have been approved only for medical use with a prescription from a doctor.

7. Multilingual Terms

Cannabis goes global.

  • Ganja:

    Hindu word for cannabis.

  • Ma:

    Chinese name for marijuana.

  • Mota:

    Spanish slang for cannabis.

  • Pakalolo:

    Hawaiian slang for cannabis.

  • Potiguaya:

    Spanish term for cannabis. Possible inspiration for the previous term.

Keep it high-minded, stay lifted 🌱 — from your friends at Minneleaf