Glossary of cannabis terms



Terms related to cannabis include:

0–9
2 long: Slang name for a cannabis cigarette. [See joint.] 420: Slang term for the consumption of cannabis 710: A slang name for hash oil, the word OIL flipped upside-down. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.]

A


Acapulco Gold: An heirloom variety of cannabis originally grown in the mountains of western Mexico. [See cannabis strains.] adult use: Any use of cannabis by adults, whether for medicine, pleasure, religious purposes, or otherwise. Incorporated in some legislation such as the California Adult Use of Marijuana Act. agent provocateur: A person who, out of their own sense of duty or employed by the police, commits or provokes others to commit illegal or inappropriate activity, or falsely implicates them in a criminal act. [See informant.] alcohol prohibition: Laws in some jurisdictions banning the production or sales of beverage alcohol in an attempt to prevent its use. These bans have been criticized because they create a black market, leading to corruption and violence. Nationwide, constitutional prohibition in the United States, established by the 18th Amendment in 1920, ended in 1933, repealed by the 21st Amendment. Alice B. Toklas: Alice B. Toklas (1877–1967) was author of an autobiographical book, The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook, first published in 1954, which includes a recipe for "Hashish Fudge". A slang name for a cannabis edible. amotivational syndrome: A supposed medical syndrome of lack of motivation in cannabis consumers, which has been challenged. anti-cannabis organizations: Groups fighting against cannabis legalization, or apologizing for harm caused by drug prohibition, including: D.A.R.E., Partnership at Drugfree.org, and SAM. [See prohibition.] anti-cannabis propaganda: Material prepared by governments, organizations, or the media, that is not objective or uses loaded language to demonize cannabis or cannabis consumers. Early anti-cannabis propaganda includes the 1936 drug exploitation film Reefer Madness. The 1980s media public service announcement This Is Your Brain on Drugs is an example of anti-marijuana propaganda. April 20: International day for cannabis pride. Assassin of Youth: 1937 American anti-marijuana propaganda film that depicts cannabis use leading to tragedies, and obscene, all-night parties. The film's title is from a 1937 article by U.S. "drug czar" Harry J. Anslinger. [See prohibition.]

B
bag: A package of marijuana. Battle of Maple Tree Square: Police riot against a peaceful Yippie smoke-in demonstration in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1971. [See Gastown riots.] BC Big Bud/BC Roadkill/BC Hydro: An industry strain cultivated in British Columbia, first called Red Hair Sensi, a hybridization of Panama Red/Acapulco Gold. beatnik: 1950s cannabis subculture, also called the Beat Generation. [See cannabis culture.] bhang: A traditional edible preparation of cannabis, a drink. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] black market: Underground economy of illegal cannabis trade created by prohibition. The world illicit cannabis economy is estimated to be $141 billion annually, but the estimate might be low due to the clandestine nature of the trade. Blue Dream: A sativa-dominant, hybrid variety of cannabis also called Blueberry Haze because it is a cross between Blueberry and Haze varieties, with Afghani, Mexican, and Thai ancestry. [See cannabis strains.] blaze: Action of smoking cannabis to reach euphoric/hazy feeling. blazed: Result of smoking cannabis with high THC level. blunt: A cigar filled with cannabis often mixed with tobacco. bong: A water filter for smoking cannabis. [See drug paraphernalia.] Boston Freedom Rally: Annual cannabis rights demonstration held in Boston since 1989. bowl: The part of a pipe or bong that holds the cannabis. A slang name for a cannabis smoking pipe. [See drug paraphernalia.] Brownie Mary: In California, before medical marijuana was legalized by voters in 1996, Mary Jane "Brownie Mary" Rathbun (1922–1999) who was arrested three times for baking cannabis brownies using her Social Security to buy ingredients and cannabis that was donated, giving them away free to AIDS and cancer patients, was able to successfully defend herself in court, arguing that medical necessity outweighed the reprehensibleness of her actions. bud: The part of a cannabis plant that is consumed for its psychoactive properties. budder: Industry trade name for a concentrated paste extracted from cannabis. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] budtender: A point of sale employee of a cannabis retail dispensary. buzz: Slang name for a pleasant euphoric effect of cannabis.

C


cannabidiol: A non-psychotropic chemical compound found in cannabis, abbreviated CBD. [See cannabinoids.] cannabinoid receptors: Parts of the endocannabinoid system located in cells throughout the body that are activated by cannabinoids, influencing appetite, pain-sensation, mood, and memory. Two types of cannabinoid receptors have been discovered, including cannabinoid receptor type 1 and cannabinoid receptor type 2. cannabinoids: A class of chemical compounds, with various effects, isolated from cannabis. At least 113 different natural cannabinoids have been identified, including:

cannabinol: A mildly psychoactive substance found in cannabis, abbreviated CBN. [See cannabinoids.] Cannabis: Latin, or scientific name for the entire plant hemp, legally named marijuana, marihuana, ganja or Indian hemp in some jurisdictions. There are many other names for cannabis, including commonly used terms grass, weed, and ganja. Three recognized sub-species include: cannabis and spirituality: Entheogenic and religious use of cannabis, including Rastafari and branches of Modern Paganism. cannabis concentrate: Concentrated active portions of cannabis. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] cannabis consumption: Ways cannabis is consumed to experience psychoactive or therapeutic properties, including:
 * cannabidiol (CBD)
 * cannabinol (CBN)
 * tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)
 * Cannabis indica
 * Cannabis ruderalis
 * Cannabis sativa

cannabis culture: A social atmosphere and fellowship associated with consumption of cannabis or hemp products, including:
 * cannabis foods
 * lotions
 * oral tinctures
 * smoking
 * vaporizing

Cannabis Culture: Monthly Canadian online cannabis rights magazine originally called The Marijuana & Hemp Newsletter founded by Marc Emery, published in print from 1994 to 2009. Cannabis Cup: Annual cannabis festival originally held in Amsterdam, now held in several cities, including awards for the year's best new cannabis strains in a variety of categories, and the Counterculture Hall of Fame and High Times Freedom Fighter of the Year awards for activism or leadership in the field of marijuana law reform. cannabis (drug): Cannabis used as a drug for medical or personal reasons, marijuana, marihuana, ganja or Indian hemp in some jurisdictions. cannabis edibles and extracts: Psychoactive products made from cannabis, including:
 * beatnik
 * cannabis consumption
 * cannabis smoking
 * flower child
 * hippie
 * hipster (1940s subculture)
 * hipster (contemporary subculture)
 * psychonautics
 * recreational drug use
 * responsible drug use

cannabis flower essential oil: A therapeutic product with little or no psychoactive properties extracted from cannabis leaves and flowers. [See cannabis industrial and home products.]
 * bhang
 * butter (cannabutter)
 * cannabis tea
 * charas
 * concentrates
 * honey oil
 * live resin
 * rosin
 * shatter
 * wax
 * hash oil
 * hashish
 * kief
 * tincture of cannabis

Cannabis indica: Latin, or scientific name for the plant species Cannabis indica, distinguished by its broad leaves and relatively short, densely branched stalk. [See cannabis.]



cannabis industrial and home products: Non-psychoactive industrial hemp products, including:

cannabis political parties: Organizations working to end prohibition by involvement in elections. These groups often sprout in areas that do not allow popular initiatives. Active cannabis parties include:
 * cannabis flower essential oil
 * canvas
 * hempcrete
 * hemp hurds
 * hemp jewelry
 * hemp juice
 * hemp milk
 * hemp protein
 * hemp seed oil

cannabis prohibition: Laws in some jurisdictions banning the cultivation or sales of cannabis in an attempt to prevent its use. These bans are criticized because they create a black market and because enforcement is disproportionate in communities of color. cannabis refugee: A term, primarily used in the United States and Canada, referring to people who have moved from one location to another due to cannabis prohibition laws, motivated by a desire to have legal access to cannabis to treat medical conditions for themselves or their family, or to legally consume cannabis for any other reason. cannabis rights: Rights of people who consume cannabis, including the right to be free from employment discrimination and housing discrimination, and in some jurisdictions, the right to religious freedom and the right to own guns. cannabis rights leaders: Activists in the cannabis legalization movement, including business leaders and celebrities who advocate for ending cannabis prohibition. cannabis rights organizations: Groups fighting for legalization, or advocating to reduce prohibition's harm to society, including: Drug Policy Alliance, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Marijuana Policy Project, NORML, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Cannabis ruderalis: Latin, or scientific name for the plant species Cannabis ruderalis, which is sparsely branched with narrow leaves, typically shorter, and autoflowering. [See cannabis.] Cannabis sativa: Latin, or scientific name for the plant species Cannabis sativa, known for tall, sparsely branched stalks with long, narrow leaves. [See cannabis.] cannabis slang: Cannabis has more than 1,200 slang names, including weed, a commonly used cannabis slang name. Additionally, there are many slang terms for consumption of cannabis, and describing the state of being under the influence of cannabis. [See cannabis culture.]
 * Ale Yarok (Israel)
 * Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis (New Zealand)
 * Dagga Party (South Africa)
 * Grassroots—Legalize Cannabis (Minnesota)
 * Help End Marijuana Prohibition (Australia)
 * Legal Marijuana Now (United States)
 * Minnesota Legal Marijuana Now
 * Nebraska Legal Marijuana NOW
 * New Jersey Legalize Marijuana Party
 * U.S. Marijuana Party (Vermont)



cannabis smoking: A method of consuming cannabis by inhalation of vapors released by burning cannabis or cannabis extracts. [See cannabis consumption.] Cannabis strains: Pure or hybrid varieties of Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis, including:

cannabis tea: An infusion of cannabis. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] cannabis (word): The history of the plant name cannabis. canvas: A heavy-duty fabric traditionally made of hemp. [See cannabis industrial and home products.] CBD oil: Cannabidiol, a relatively non-psychoactive medical cannabis extract, similar to the Charlotte's Web strain developed for Dravet syndrome. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] chalice: A sacred Rastafari water pipe. [See drug paraphernalia.] chanvre: French name for cannabis. charas: A traditional form of Indian hashish. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] Charlotte's Web: A high-CBD, low-THC, relatively non-psychoactive medical cannabis extract, developed in Colorado, named after Dravet syndrome patient Charlotte Figi. The name Charlotte's Web is banned in Oregon for its association with a children's book of that title. [See cannabis strains.] Cheech & Chong: Comedy team of Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, creators of the groundbreaking 1978 stoner film Up in Smoke. cherry: Slang word for a burning ember at the tip of a joint or in a pipe bowl. chillum: A traditional clay pipe for smoking cannabis. [See drug paraphernalia.] chronic: A slang name for high quality cannabis. Church of Cognizance: An Arizona cannabis church founded in 1991. [See cannabis and religion.] Church of the Universe: An Ontario, Canada cannabis church founded in 1969. [See cannabis and religion.] co-dependence: Psychological condition of dysfunctional attempts to control another person's behavior. [See prohibition.]
 * Acapulco Gold
 * Charlotte's Web
 * Kush
 * Sour Diesel
 * White Widow



cola: Topmost flower bud on a cannabis plant. Compassionate Investigational New Drug program: After Robert Randall became the first person to successfully use a medical necessity defense when he was charged with illegal possession of cannabis to treat his glaucoma, he filed a federal lawsuit, Randall v. United States, in 1976, resulting in the federal Compassionate Investigational New Drug program being established, under President Jimmy Carter, in 1978. At the program's peak, fifteen patients received cannabis. 43 people were approved for the program, however 28 of the patients whose doctors completed the necessary paperwork never received any cannabis and, under the Bush administration, the program stopped accepting new patients in 1992. concentrates: Products including budder, honey oil, live resin, shatter, taffy, wax, commercially extracted from cannabis with supercritical carbon dioxide or hydrocarbon solvents. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] connoisseur: A particular marijuana enthusiast. [See cannabis culture.] Controlled Substances Act: U.S. federal law enacted by President Richard Nixon in 1970 to replace Harry Anslinger's 1937 Marihuana Tax Act that was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The Controlled Substances Act created a list of five Schedules, and placed cannabis alongside codeine and heroin in Schedule I, the most restrictive classification. [See prohibition.] cottonmouth: Slang name for a dry mouth caused by smoking or vaporizing cannabis or cannabis extracts. [See effects of cannabis.]

D


dab: Slang name for hash oil, a resin extracted from cannabis. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] dabbing: A slang term for smoking or vape-ing hash oil, or "dabs", extracted from cannabis. [See cannabis consumption.] dab rig: Water pipe device for vaporizing hash oil. [See drug paraphernalia.] dagga: Afrikaans word for cannabis, derived from the Khoikhoi dachab. dank: A slang word for high quality cannabis. D.A.R.E.: US and UK government anti-freedom indoctrination program aimed at elementary school fourth through sixth-graders, instituted by LAPD chief Daryl Gates in 1983. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education program is costly, and is criticized for pushing out science-based health education. Other criticisms of the program include its ineffectiveness, and its training of children to be police informants. [See anti-cannabis organizations.] DEA or Drug Enforcement Administration: U.S. federal agency formed in 1970 by the establishment of President Richard Nixon's Controlled Substances Act. The organization is criticized for being unaccountable to any authority, and for self-serving acts including blocking the removal of cannabis from Schedule I. [See prohibition.] decriminalization: The lessening of criminal penalties in relation to consumption of cannabis, reflecting changing social and moral views. [See reform.] ditch weed or ditchweed: Slang term describing feral cannabis. A slang name for poor-quality marijuana. doobie: A slang word for cannabis cigarette. [See joint.] dronabinol: Synthetically manufactured tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), sold under the brand names Marinol and Syndros, produced by Insys Therapeutics and Solvay Pharmaceuticals, marketed legally in the United States under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, though natural THC is banned under Schedule I. drug czar or Drug Czar: A person put in charge of drug policy for some region, usually at a national level (US or UK). drug paraphernalia: Equipment or accessories used for growing, processing, consuming, or concealing cannabis or cannabis extracts, including:

drug prohibition: Laws in some jurisdictions banning the cultivation or sales of plants including cannabis, opium poppy, and psilocybin mushrooms in an attempt to prevent their use. These bans are criticized because they create a black market and because enforcement is disproportionate in communities of color. drug war or Drug War: Term referring to wars fought over control of drug commerce, including the 19th Century Opium Wars, and contemporary police and military operations including the Mexican War on Drugs, the Philippine Drug War, and the U.S. War on Drugs.
 * bong
 * bowl
 * chalice
 * chillum
 * herb grinder
 * hookah
 * oil rig
 * one-hitter
 * roach clip
 * rolling paper
 * stash box
 * vaporizer

E


edible: A food or drink containing cannabis. effects of cannabis: Consumption of cannabis has various psychological and physiological effects that can include euphoria and anxiety. Other effects of cannabis include munchies. Emperor Wears No Clothes: 1985 book by cannabis rights pioneer Jack Herer, The Emperor Wears No Clothes: Hemp & The Marijuana Conspiracy, that argues cannabis is a renewable source of fuel, food, fiber, construction material, and medicine, and that it can be grown virtually anywhere, citing data and historical records. endocannabinoid system: A group of receptors for cannabinoids in the brain and nervous system. ent: Contemporary slang name for a cannabis consumer, from the living trees in The Lord of the Rings. entheogen: Any psychoactive plant or compound that induces a spiritual experience and is aimed at personal spiritual development, including cannabis, peyote, and psilocybin mushrooms. [See religion and drugs.] enthusiast: A person who consumes cannabis. [See cannabis culture.] entrapment: Deceptive and unethical law enforcement activity by an officer planning an offense and inducing a person to commit a crime through fraud or persuasion, commonly practiced in the United States and banned in Sweden. [See informant.] Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church: A Florida Rastafari church founded by Thomas Reilly (Brother Louv) in 1975. [See cannabis and religion.] etymology of cannabis: The history of the plant name cannabis. exploitation film: Drug exploitation films include the well known Reefer Madness. extract: Product made from cannabis resin. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] Process of making edible products or concentrates from cannabis.

F


feral hemp: Wild-growing cannabis generally descended from hemp plants previously cultivated for fiber. Referred to as ditch weed, with little or no psychoactive properties, cannabis is exceptionally hardy, found widely across Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. First Church of Cannabis: An Indiana cannabis church founded in 2015. [See cannabis and religion.] flower: The part of a cannabis plant that is consumed for its therapeutic qualities. flower child: A hippie. [See cannabis culture.] freedom fighter: A cannabis rights activist. Freedom Rally: Cannabis pride demonstration held annually in Boston since 1989. [See Boston Freedom Rally.] 1971 rally and music festival in Michigan protesting the arrest for marijuana possession, and imprisonment of poet John Sinclair. [See John Sinclair Freedom Rally.] Free John Sinclair rally: See John Sinclair Freedom Rally.

G


ganja: Hindi word for cannabis. Gastown riots: 1971 Vancouver, British Columbia, incident also known as "The Battle of Maple Tree Square", described by a commission of inquiry as a police riot, during which police attacked a peaceful Yippie smoke-in protesting a series of special operation marijuana arrests. Police used horse-back charges on crowds of onlookers and tourists, and were accused of tactics including indiscriminate beatings with riot batons. The event is commemorated in a two-story-high 2009 photo mural by Stan Douglas. gateway drug: Disproved theory that cannabis use leads to use of potentially-deadly, dependence-forming substances such as alcohol and barbiturates, or heroin. gift economy: A means of exchanging cannabis for non-monetary gain, in jurisdictions where its possession is legal but its sale is not legal glass: A name describing specialty art-glass cannabis pipes and bongs. [See drug paraphernalia.] Global Marijuana March: Annual cannabis rights rally begun in 1999, held in more than 829 cities across 72 countries on the first Saturday in May. Gorilla Glue: Several hybrid cannabis strains, Gorilla Glue Number One, Gorilla Glue Number Two, etcetera, bred from indica varieties. [See cannabis strains.] grass: A slang word for cannabis. green closet: A state of fear for some people secretly using cannabis (also "coming out of the green closet"). Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival: The original Yippie smoke-in, first held in 1971 to protest the arrest of Dana Beal on marijuana charges, now the longest running annual cannabis rights "protestival", Marijuana Harvestfest, or Madison Hempfest, as it is also known, was organized by Ben Masel until his death in 2011. The multi-day event has an estimated attendance of 4,000 people each year. grinder: Apparatus for grinding cannabis before use. [See drug paraphernalia.]

H


hanf: German word for cannabis. Hanfparade: Annual cannabis rights demonstration held in Berlin since 1997. Harry Anslinger: The head of the U.S. Bureau of Prohibition when alcohol prohibition was repealed in 1933, Harry J. Anslinger (1892–1975) was the founding commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics which is credited for the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act criminalizing cannabis. The Marihuana Tax Act was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1969, but was replaced with the Controlled Substances Act. [See prohibition.] Harvestfest: See Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival. hash: Shortened name for hashish. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] Hash Bash: Held in Ann Arbor, Michigan, annually since 1972, following the John Sinclair Freedom Rally held a few months earlier there, in 1971, the Hash Bash cannabis pride protest-festival is one of the original Yippie smoke-ins. The event has an estimated attendance of more than 5,000 people each year. hashish: An extracted cannabis product made from resin. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] hash oil: A resin extracted from cannabis or hashish. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] head: See pothead. head shop: A retail outlet specializing in paraphernalia and items related to cannabis culture. hemp: English, or common name for the entire plant cannabis, legally named marijuana or marihuana in some jurisdictions. Other names for hemp include:


 * Cannabis indica
 * Cannabis ruderalis
 * Cannabis sativa
 * feral cannabis
 * ganja
 * grass
 * Mary Jane
 * medical cannabis
 * reefer
 * trees
 * weed



hempcrete: A bio-composite construction material made of hemp hurds. [See cannabis industrial and home products.] hemperor or Hemperor: See Jack Herer. Hempfest: Any of several annual cannabis pride demonstrations held in cities around the world, including Madison Hempfest, and Seattle Hempfest. Hemp for Victory: 14-minute 1942 U.S. Department of Agriculture film encouraging farmers to grow hemp for the WWII war effort because other industrial fibers were in short supply and often had to be imported from overseas. hemp hurds: Hemp wood, the inner portion of the hemp stalk separated from the fiber. [See cannabis industrial and home products.] hemp jewelry: Jewelry made from hemp cord, rope, or thread. [See cannabis industrial and home products.] hemp juice: A non-psychoactive drink cold-pressed from cannabis leaves and flowers. [See cannabis industrial and home products.] hemp milk: Plant milk made from cannabis seeds. [See cannabis industrial and home products.] hemp oil: Oil extracted from cannabis seeds. [See cannabis industrial and home products.] hemp protein: The protein content of hemp seeds. [See cannabis industrial and home products.] herb: A word describing cannabis. herb grinder: Device for grinding cannabis before use. [See drug paraphernalia.] high: Slang name describing the state of being under the influence of cannabis. [See effects of cannabis.] High Times: An American monthly cannabis rights magazine founded in 1974 for the Yippie Underground Press Syndicate by Tom Forçade, now with a circulation of 236,000 monthly subscribers.



hippie: 1960s cannabis subculture. [See cannabis culture.] hipster: 1940s or contemporary cannabis subculture. [See cannabis culture.] hit: Act of smoking, or vape-ing, a puff of cannabis or cannabis extract. [See cannabis consumption.] home grown or homegrown: Cannabis that has been personally cultivated. honey oil: A type of extracted cannabis concentrate. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] hookah: A traditional Indian water pipe, also called shisha in Arabic speaking locales and in Southeast Asia. [See drug paraphernalia.] hophead: A user of cannabis hot box: Slang term for smoking cannabis in a closed space. [See cannabis consumption.] hydro: Slang name for hydroponic cannabis. hydroponic: Cannabis that is grown in a nutrient solution, without soil.
 * hipster (1940s subculture)
 * hipster (contemporary subculture)

I


Indian Hemp Drugs Commission: British and Indian government 3,281-page 1894 study of cannabis use in India that found there are no ill effects from moderate cannabis usage, and it may be beneficial medically. However the report concluded that excessive consumption is an indication of moral weakness or depravity. indoctrination: Process of inculcating a person with ideas, attitudes, or cognitive strategies, distinguished from education on the basis that the indoctrinated person is expected not to question or critically examine the doctrine they have learned. [See anti-cannabis propaganda.] industrial hemp: Cannabis cultivated to make products that are non-psychoactive. informant: A word used to describe an undercover police informant, narcotics agent, or snitch. initiative: Citizens' initiatives are a method, allowed in some jurisdictions, to put a law up for popular vote by getting petitions signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters. Popular initiatives are allowed in twenty-one U.S. states. irie: Jamaican English term indicating peace of mind and well-being

J


Jack Herer: Cannabis rights pioneer Jack Herer (1939–2010) who ran for U.S. President in 1988 and 1992, was author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes: Hemp & The Marijuana Conspiracy, first published in 1985. A classic trade name for several medical cannabis strains. jagged: Jazz-era term for being under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or other drugs. jay: Slang name for a joint. John Sinclair Freedom Rally: 1971 Ann Arbor, Michigan, rally and music festival protesting the 1969 arrest and imprisonment of poet John Sinclair. Among others, John Lennon, Bob Seger, and Stevie Wonder performed for the event. Sentenced to ten years in jail for two joints, Sinclair had been imprisoned for two years when he was released, three days after the rally. joint: A cannabis cigarette. jury nullification: The power of a trial jury to reach a not guilty verdict, regardless of evidence and judge's instructions, because of a disagreement with the law, including the belief that a law is unconstitutional or inhumane, or disapproval of the punishment. Just Say No: 1980s-era anti-cannabis advertising campaign orchestrated by First Lady Nancy Reagan as part of the U.S. War on Drugs.

K
kief: A powder that is created by shaking the crystalized trichomes off cured cannabis flowers. [See extracts.] kind: Word describing high-quality cannabis, or anything related to cannabis culture. Kush: A subset of indica varieties of cannabis bred from descendants of strains originating in the Hindu Kush mountain range of Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. [See cannabis strains.]

L
La Guardia Committee: 1944 New York Academy of Medicine report prepared for Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia's commission, appointed in 1939 to study the effects of marihuana use in the US, that concluded the publicity concerning the catastrophic effects of marihuana smoking is unfounded, marihuana is not the determining factor in the commission of major crimes, marihuana smoking is not widespread among school children, and the gateway drug theory is without foundation. The report was condemned by "drug czar" Harry Anslinger. LEAP: Law Enforcement Action Partnership, formerly called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, is an organization of retired police officers and law enforcement officials, formed in 2002, now with more than 180 speakers, representing 5,000 law enforcement members, and more than 100,000 supporters worldwide. [See cannabis rights organizations.] Leary v. United States: 1969 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that unanimously declared the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 to be unconstitutional. Prohibition of cannabis continued under Nixon's 1970 Controlled Substances Act, which placed cannabis in Schedule I, prohibiting all uses. legalization: The process of removing the legal prohibition against cannabis. Legalize It: Song by Peter Tosh from an album of the same title, originally recorded in 1975, that was banned in Jamaica when it was released, and has since then become a cannabis culture anthem. lid: A measured quantity of cannabis, usually one ounce to 1 1/2 ounces, an amount that would fill a shoe box lid. live resin: Extracted fresh cannabis that is kept at freezing temperatures through the entire process, rather than dried. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.]

M


ma: Chinese name for cannabis. Madison Hempfest: See Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival. magical brownie: A slang name for a cannabis edible. magic mushroom: Any of 186 species of psilocybin fungi, or psychedelic mushrooms, banned in the United States under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Used since prehistoric times as an entheogen for spiritual experiences, some cultures have used psilocybin mushrooms in their religious rites and ceremonies. [See cannabis culture.] mandatory minimum sentencing: Laws that require offenders serve a predefined term for certain crimes, criticized for resulting in harsh sentencing and cruel and unusual punishment. marihuana or marijuana: A slang word for cannabis, the legal name in some jurisdictions. Marihuana: 1936 American anti-marijuana propaganda film that depicts alcoholic drinks and cannabis use leading to tragedies, including pregnancy, police shootouts, and a gateway to heroin use and a life of crime. [See prohibition.] marijuana enthusiast: A person who consumes cannabis. [See cannabis culture.] Marihuana Tax Act: 1937 U.S. law that prohibited cannabis for the first time, and was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1969 and replaced with President Nixon's Controlled Substances Act. [See prohibition.] marijuana prohibition: Laws in some jurisdictions banning the cultivation or sales of cannabis in an attempt to prevent its use. These bans are criticized because they create a black market and because enforcement is disproportionate in communities of color. marijuana refugee: Term referring to people who have moved from one location to another due to cannabis prohibition laws, motivated by a desire to have legal access to cannabis to treat medical conditions for themselves or their family, or to legally consume cannabis for any other reason. marijuana rights: The rights of people who consume cannabis include freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and the right to be free from employment and housing discrimination. marijuana rights leaders: See freedom fighter. Marinol: A synthetic cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), also called dronabinol, produced by Insys Therapeutics and Solvay Pharmaceuticals, sold legally in the United States under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, though natural THC is banned under Schedule I. Mary Jane: A slang name for cannabis. medical cannabis: Cannabis used as a drug for medical purposes, legally named marijuana or marihuana in some jurisdictions. Million Marijuana March: See Global Marijuana March.

Moses Baca: Laborer caught by authorities in 1937 with one-quarter ounce of cannabis, one of the first people convicted under the federal Marihuana Tax Act. United States "drug czar" Harry J. Anslinger visited Colorado in order to be present at Baca's sentencing. [See prohibition.] mota: Spanish slang word meaning cannabis. munchies: Increased appetite. [See effects of cannabis.]

N
narc: A slang word for undercover narcotics agent. [See informant.] New Jim Crow: A 2010 book by civil rights advocate Professor Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, that argues the War on Drugs has a devastating impact on inner city African American communities, on a scale entirely out of proportion to the actual dimensions of criminal activity taking place within these communities. Nixon: U.S. President Richard Nixon, who in 1969 declared War on Drugs. After the 1937 cannabis prohibition law was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, Nixon signed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, which placed marijuana in Schedule I, alongside heroin. [See prohibition.] A slang name for poor-quality, low-grade cannabis, or ditchweed that is misrepresented as being good-quality herb. noble experiment: See alcohol prohibition in the United States, 1920–1933. NORML: The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, an American non-profit cannabis rights organization founded in 1970 by Keith Stroup with a grant from the Playboy Foundation. nug: Slang name for a bud of high-quality cannabis.

O
oil: Slang name for hash oil, a resin extracted from cannabis. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] oil rig: A water filter modified for vaporizing hash oil. one-hitter: A pipe for smoking cannabis. [See drug paraphernalia.] Operation Green Merchant: Reagan-era DEA investigation primarily targeting advertisers in High Times and Sinsemilla Tips magazines. [See prohibition.] Operation Pipe Dreams: Code-name for a 2003 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation targeting businesses selling cannabis pipes and bongs. Hundreds of businesses and homes were raided during the operation. Fifty-five people were charged with trafficking of illegal drug paraphernalia, including actor Tommy Chong, who was sentenced to 9 months in federal prison for financing and promoting a glass shop. Operation Pipe Dreams was estimated to have cost more than $12 million. [See prohibition.]

P


pakalolo: Hawaiian slang name for cannabis. paraphernalia: Any material related to cannabis culture. Equipment or accessories used for growing, consuming, or concealing cannabis. [See drug paraphernalia.] paraquat: Herbicide that has been linked to the development of Parkinson's disease, banned in the European Union since 2007, used as part of North American and Central American anti-marijuana eradication programs during the mid-1970s. paraquat pot: Name given to cannabis discovered in US cities containing traces of paraquat following a 1975 US government assisted marijuana eradication operation in Mexico during harvest season. personal cannabis use: Consumption of cannabis for any medical, nonmedical, recreational, religious, responsible, social, spiritual, therapeutic, or other reason. peyote: Cactus found in Mexico and southwestern Texas used worldwide as an entheogen and supplement to transcendence. Native North Americans have used peyote for spiritual purposes for more than 5,500 years. Mescaline, the primary psychoactive compound isolated from peyote, is a controlled substance in Canada, while possession and use of peyote plants is legal. Peyote is a Schedule I controlled substance in the US, banned except for members of the Native American Church under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act. pot: Cannabis, possibly derived from Spanish potiguaya, itself possibly derived from potacion de guaya. pothead (cannabis culture): A frequent user of cannabis. potiguaya: Spanish word for cannabis. prison–industrial complex: Rapid expansion of the U.S. inmate population due to the political influence of private prison companies and businesses that supply goods and services to government prison agencies for profit. prohibition: Laws in some jurisdictions banning the cultivation or sales of cannabis in an attempt to prevent its use. These bans are criticized because they create a black market and because enforcement is disproportionate in communities of color. prohibitionism: A legal philosophy and political theory which holds that citizens will abstain from behaviors if the actions are prohibited and enforced by law. This philosophy has been most notably the basis for acts of statutory law throughout history when a large group of a given population disapproves of, or feels threatened by, an activity in which a smaller group of that population engages, criminalizing the behavior of the feared minority group. prohibitionist: See drug warrior. propaganda: Information that is not objective and is used primarily to influence an audience and further an agenda, often by presenting facts selectively to encourage a particular synthesis or perception, or using loaded language to produce an emotional rather than a rational response to the information. Propaganda can be material prepared by governments, organizations, or the media. Proposition 215: California law enacted by voters in 1996, called the Compassionate Use Act, the first state law allowing medical use of cannabis in the United States. psilocybin mushroom: Any of 186 species of psilocybin fungi, often called psychedelic, or "magic" mushrooms, banned in the United States under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. psychonautics: Altered states of consciousness induced by meditation, cannabis, or other substances. [See cannabis culture.]

R


Rastafari: A religion developed in Jamaica during the 1930s currently with an estimated 700,000 to 1 million members worldwide. [See cannabis and religion.] reefer: A slang word for cannabis, possibly derived from reefing, or rolling up a canvas sail. reefer madness: A fictional cannabis psychosis caused by smoking marihuana in the 1936 film Reefer Madness. Reefer Madness: 1936 American anti-cannabis propaganda film, produced under the title Tell Your Children, that depicts marijuana use leading to hallucinations, murder, psychosis, rape, and suicide. The film, now a cult classic, colorized by 20th Century Fox in 2004, was parodied by a 1992 stage adaptation, and by a musical that was broadcast as a television film in 2005. [See prohibition.] reeferphobe: An individual who feels uncomfortable around people who consume cannabis. Someone who is reeferphobic, or has an irrational fear of cannabis law reform, or someone who exhibits reeferphobia. reeferphobia: Aversion to, dislike of, or prejudice against marijuana consumers. reform: A social movement that aims to make gradual change in cannabis policy. religion and cannabis: Entheogenic and spiritual use of cannabis, and religious use including Rastafari and branches of Modern Paganism. rig: See dab rig. [See drug paraphernalia.] roach: Remains of a joint or blunt after most of it has been smoked. roach clip: A device to hold the butt of a joint while it is burning. [See drug paraphernalia.] roasted: Slang name for being high. [See effects of cannabis.] Robert Randall: Author of Marijuana Rx: The Patients Fight for Medical Pot, Robert Randall (1948–2001), who founded the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics, was the first person to successfully use a medical necessity defense when he was charged with illegal possession of cannabis to treat his glaucoma. Randall v. United States led to the establishment of the federal Compassionate Investigational New Drug program which ran from 1978 until 1992. rolling paper: A thin specialty paper used for making cannabis cigarettes. [See drug paraphernalia.]

S


Samuel Caldwell: A former alcohol peddler during prohibition, Samuel Caldwell (1880–1941) was one of the first people convicted in 1937 under the federal marihuana prohibition law. U.S. "drug czar" Harry Anslinger visited Colorado in order to be present at Caldwell's sentencing. [See prohibition.] San Marcos Seven or San Marcos 7: Seven demonstrators—Angela Atkins, Jody Dodd, Daniel Rodrigues Scales, Bill O'Rourke, Joe Gaddy, Jeffrey Stefanoff, and Joe Ptak—convicted of misdemeanor possession of cannabis following a series of smoke-in protests at the San Marcos, Texas, police station in March 1991. While incarcerated, Gaddy and Stefanoff went on hunger strikes. A tent city supporting the San Marcos 7 grew outside the Hays County Law Enforcement Center while Stefanoff was jailed. Schedule I: When Harry Anslinger's 1937 Marihuana Tax Act was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, it was replaced by Richard Nixon's 1970 Controlled Substances Act that created a list of Schedules, with cannabis in the most restrictive classification. Schedule I substances are defined by law as having high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use, and cannot be used safely under medical supervision. [See prohibition.] undefined: A medical disorder whose proper name is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, where abdominal pain occurs in some heavy users of cannabinoids. Seattle Hempfest: Annual cannabis pride protest-festival, or "protestival", organized by Vivian McPeak, held since 1991, originally called the Washington Hemp Expo. The 3-day Seattle Hempfest is the world's largest annual cannabis rights gathering, with more than 100,000 people attending each year. undefined: A sebsi or sibsi (Berber: ⵙⴻⴱⵙⵉ) is a traditional Moroccan cannabis pipe with a narrow bowl and a fine metal screen. To this a long stem (up to 46 cm/18 in) is attached through which smoke is inhaled session: Slang name for a cannabis get-together. [See cannabis consumption.] shadow economy: Black market or underground economy created by prohibition of entheogenic plants including cannabis. The illegal cannabis trade is estimated to be worth $141 billion per year worldwide. However the size and extent of the underground market is likely to be underestimated due to its illicit status. Shafer Commission: When the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, it was replaced with Nixon's Controlled Substances Act. Congress temporarily placed cannabis in Schedule I, the most restrictive classification, and the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse or Shafer Commission was appointed to make a recommendation for its permanent placement. The commission recommended decriminalization of cannabis in 1972, but the recommendation was opposed by a 1974 congressional subcommittee. [See prohibition.] shatter: A type of extracted cannabis concentrate that is brittle, usually transparent, and breaks like glass. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] shisha: An Arabic word for hookah, a traditional water pipe for smoking cannabis. [See drug paraphernalia.] sinsemilla: Spanish for without seed, a slang name for high quality, dried cannabis. Sinsemilla Tips: American monthly cannabis technical journal published in the 1980s by Tom Alexander, targeted in 1989 by the Drug Enforcement Administration investigation Operation Green Merchant. Skunk: Hybrid variety of cannabis that is known for a pungent fragrance. [See cannabis strains.]



smoke-in: The first cannabis rights demonstrations were called smoke-ins, organized by the Youth International Party in the 1970s. A peaceful 1971 Vancouver smoke-in was attacked by police in what was known as the Gastown riot. An Independence Day smoke-in held in Washington, D.C., became an annual event, as did others, including Great Midwest Marijuana Harvest Festival, and Hash Bash. smoking: A method of consuming cannabis by inhalation of vapors released by burning cannabis or cannabis extracts. [See cannabis consumption.] snitch: A slang word meaning police informant. space cake: A slang name for a cannabis edible. spliff: A slang word for cannabis cigarette. [See joint.] stash: Word used to describe a supply of cannabis. stash box: Any container used for concealing cannabis or valuables. [See drug paraphernalia.] stoned: Slang name for being under the influence of cannabis. [See effects of cannabis.] stoner: A slang word meaning heavy cannabis smoker, the word is derogatory except within the cannabis culture. stoner bashing: Verbal or physical abuse directed against a person who is perceived by the aggressor to be someone who is a consumer of cannabis, including unprovoked threats, intimidation, and offensive jokes made at the expense of a cannabis consumer by an attacker who is in a position of power over the victim. stoner film: Comedy films in which cannabis use is one of the main themes. [See cannabis culture.] stoner rights: Civil and human rights of people who consume cannabis, including freedom of religion, and the right to be free from employment discrimination and housing discrimination. strain: Varieties of cannabis bred for medical or industrial applications. Traditional heirloom strains of cannabis and contemporary hybrid varieties vary broadly because terpenes in the essential oils of the flowers, which give the buds their fragrance, and the ratio of cannabinoids, the more than 100 different therapeutically-active compounds, are infinitely variable.

T


taffy: An extracted cannabis concentrate product that is doughy or flexible. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] tax and regulate: A system for U.S. states like Washington and Colorado to legalize cannabis and gain tax revenue from it, versus states like Vermont, and the District of Columbia, which legalized without setting up any regulatory system. tea: A slang name for cannabis. An infusion of cannabis in water. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] tea head: A slang name for a cannabis consumer. tea party: Slang name for a cannabis get-together. [See cannabis consumption.] terpenes: Organic compounds in the essential oils produced in cannabis trichomes that give the buds their fragrance. tetrahydrocannabinol or THC: A psychoactive substance found in cannabis, abbreviated THC. [See cannabinoids.] Thai stick: A variety of cannabis flowers from Thailand tied together around a stick. [See cannabis strains.] THC Ministry: A Hawai'i cannabis church founded by Roger Christie in 2000. [See cannabis and religion.] This Is Your Brain on Drugs: 1980s-era United States anti-cannabis TV public service announcement that compared drug use to frying an egg, ending with "Any questions?" The ad has been widely parodied. Criticism includes an April 20, 2017, rebuttal advertisement blaming drug prohibition for contributing to mass incarceration, poverty, and structural racism. three-strikes, you're out: U.S. three-strikes laws, requiring persons convicted of three felony-level offenses to serve mandatory life sentences, were first implemented in the 1990s as part of President Bush's War on Drugs. In some jurisdictions, the resulting harsh sentences have become the subject of controversy. tincture of cannabis: An alcoholic extract of cannabis. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] toke: Slang name for a puff of cannabis smoke or vapor. [See cannabis consumption.] toker: A slang word meaning one who smokes cannabis. trees: A slang word for cannabis. trichomes: Structures giving the cannabis leaf a powdery appearance and containing most of the THC. trimmigrant: A migrant worker working in the cannabis industry, often as a bud trimmer.

U
undercover agent: A plainclothes police officer, narcotics agent, or informant. underground economy: Black market or shadow economy created by cannabis prohibition. The illicit cannabis market is estimated to be worth $141 billion per year worldwide. However the size and extent of the illegal black market cannot be fully gauged due to its clandestine nature. Up in Smoke: 1978 American movie starring Cheech & Chong, credited with establishing the stoner film genre of comedy.

V


vape or vape-ing: Act of consuming the active ingredients in cannabis by vaporizing dried flowers or cannabis extracts. [See cannabis consumption.] vaporizer: A device for smokeless vaporizing and consuming of cannabis or cannabis extracts. [See drug paraphernalia.] vending machine: Cannabis vending machines, located in Canada and the United States, are used to dispense or sell marijuana. viper: Jazz-era term for a cannabis smoker.

W
wake and bake: Consumption of cannabis early in the morning. war on drugs or War on Drugs: An American term, popularized by the media after President Richard Nixon, in 1969, formally declared a "war on drugs" including eradication, interdiction, and incarceration. [See prohibition.] water pipe: Device for filtering cannabis smoke through water, also called a bong, chalice, or hookah. [See drug paraphernalia.] wax: A type of extracted cannabis. [See cannabis edibles and extracts.] weed: A slang word for cannabis. White Widow: Hybrid of Brazilian sativa and Indian indica varieties of cannabis with buds covered in white-colored resin crystals. [See cannabis strains.] Wootton Report: 1968 UK committee that recommended cannabis decriminalisation, finding imprisonment to no longer be an appropriate punishment for possession of a small amount. When the report was published in 1969, some members of Parliament criticized the committee, however the report's recommendations were implemented during the 1970s.

X
x-ray eyed: Extremely under the influence of cannabis.

Y
Yippie: A word referring to the Youth International Party, or its members. [See cannabis culture.] Youth International Party: The Yippie political party, formed in 1967, often ran candidates for public office to advance the counterculture of the 1960s, engaged in street theater or "pranking the system", and organized the first North American smoke-ins. The Yippie flag is a five-pointed star superimposed with a cannabis leaf.

Z
zero tolerance: Policy of imposing strict punishment for cannabis law violations, which has been criticized because it forbids discretion regarding individual culpability, history, and extenuating circumstances. Zero tolerance policies in schools are said to contribute to a school-to-prison pipeline in the United States. [See prohibition.]