What Is RSO: The Complete Guide to Rick Simpson Oil 
What Is CBN? Cannabinol Explained 
What Is Cannabis Wax? Types, Textures & Uses 
What Are Trichomes? The Resin Glands on Cannabis Flower Weed Slang Dictionary: 50+ Terms Translated
Cannabis has generated more slang than almost any other subject in American culture. Some terms are decades old, some are regional, some were invented last week on TikTok. Here’s a working dictionary of the most common cannabis slang — what it means, where it came from, and when it’s used.
Key Details
Slang for Cannabis Itself
Weed — the all-purpose American term, in use since the 1930s.
Bud — specifically refers to the flower of the plant.
Flower — industry-standard, non-slang term used on dispensary menus.
Pot — classic 1960s term, still widely used.
Grass — old-school, mostly retired outside baby-boomer speech.
Herb — common in Rastafarian-influenced circles.
Mary Jane / MJ — novelty term, used playfully.
Za / Zaza — newer slang for top-shelf bud, often exotic strains.
Loud — slang for strong-smelling, high-quality flower.
Fire — simply means ‘good weed.’
Slang for Weight and Quantity
Gram — one gram, the smallest standard unit.
Dime / dime bag — historically meant a $10 bag; exact weight varies.
Dub — $20 worth; varies by market.
Eighth — an eighth of an ounce, or 3.5 grams (5g at Social’s deli counter).
Quarter — a quarter ounce, or 7 grams (10g at Social).
Half — a half ounce, or 14 grams.
Zip / ounce / O — a full ounce, or 28 grams.
QP — a quarter pound, or four ounces.
Pound / lb / lb’d up — a full pound.
Slang for Formats and Consumption
Joint — a hand-rolled cannabis cigarette.
J — shorthand for joint.
Blunt — cannabis rolled in a tobacco leaf (cigar wrap).
Spliff — cannabis mixed with tobacco in a joint (more common in Europe).
Zootie / zoot — slang for a joint.
Bowl — a packed pipe bowl, or the bowl part itself.
Dab — a serving of cannabis concentrate, consumed on a hot surface.
Rip — a single inhalation, usually from a bong or rig.
Wake and bake — smoking first thing in the morning.
Sesh — shortened form of ‘session.’
Slang for Concentrates and Hash
Wax — soft, opaque cannabis concentrate.
Shatter — hard, glass-like concentrate that snaps when broken.
Budder — whipped concentrate with a butter-like texture.
Crumble — dry, crumbly concentrate.
Sugar / sauce — concentrate with sugary crystalline texture or high terpene content.
Live resin — fresh-frozen concentrate with high terpene retention.
Rosin — solventless concentrate pressed with heat and pressure.
Kief — the collected trichome dust from a grinder.
Hash — compressed resin, historically made in the Middle East.
Bubble hash — water-and-ice extracted hash, sold in micron ratings.
Slang for Effects and Experience
High — general term for the cannabis effect.
Stoned — usually refers to a deeper, body-heavy high.
Zooted / zooked / blazed — very high.
Ripped / torched / twisted / faded — all mean ‘very high.’
Couch-lock — the heavy, sedating feel of strong indicas.
Greening out — feeling sick from too much cannabis (pale, nauseous).
Munchies — the increased appetite that often comes with cannabis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the most common slang for weed?
‘Weed’ itself is the most universal. ‘Bud,’ ‘flower,’ ‘pot,’ and ‘herb’ are also extremely common across regions and generations.
What does ‘za’ mean?
‘Za’ or ‘zaza’ is newer slang for top-shelf cannabis — often exotic or highly regarded strains. Shows up a lot in hip-hop and social media.
What’s a zip of weed?
A zip is an ounce of cannabis — 28 grams. The term comes from how an ounce typically fits into a Ziploc-style bag.
What’s the difference between a joint and a blunt?
A joint is hand-rolled in cigarette paper; a blunt is rolled in a tobacco leaf or cigar wrap. Blunts are larger and burn slower due to the tobacco wrap.
Is ‘dime bag’ still a thing?
The term survives but the product doesn’t really. In legal markets, you buy cannabis by weight from a dispensary, not by dollar amount from a street dealer.
Related Reading
Shop at Social Dispensary
Looking for quality flower, concentrates, edibles, or vape cartridges? Social Dispensary operates licensed retail cannabis stores across Colorado with carefully curated menus and everyday value pricing. Browse our current specials, or visit any of our Denver metro locations for in-person help from our budtenders.
Find a Social Dispensary near you.
See this week’s deals · Join Be.Social Membership
Educational content for adults 21 and over. This article is informational and is not medical advice. Cannabis affects everyone differently. Statements about cannabis on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Cannabis is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, talk with a licensed healthcare provider before using cannabis. Do not drive or operate machinery after consuming. Keep cannabis products away from children and pets.
