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When you see cannabis in a lab report or on a product label, it refers to the species Cannabis sativa, the plant humans have cultivated for fiber, oil, medicine, and – more recently – recreational enjoyment.

This formal name appears in scientific journals, agricultural regulations, and product packaging to ensure consistency across research and commerce.

Legally, hemp is classified under the 2018 Farm Bill as Cannabis sativa containing no more than 0.3% Δ9-THC by dry weight—a threshold that separates federally legal hemp from regulated marijuana. North Carolina enforces this standard through its Industrial Hemp Program, which requires grower licensing and third-party testing.

Weed: Slang Goes Mainstream

Most people simply call it weed, a nickname that likely emerged because cannabis plants can spread as prolifically as garden weeds. Over the decades, this term has moved from counterculture slang into headlines, marketing copy, and everyday conversation.

Today, lifestyle magazines, dispensaries, and even some legislators refer to hemp-derived “weed” when debating pilot programs – proof that this casual word has become fully entrenched in formal discourse and popular culture.

Flower: Spotlight on the Buds

In dispensaries and product menus, flower denotes the dried and cured buds of the cannabis plant, where most cannabinoids and terpenes concentrate. Using “flower” emphasizes that you’re experiencing the plant in its natural, unprocessed form.

Connoisseurs prize flower for its full spectrum of aromas – from citrusy limonene to earthy myrcene – and its visible trichomes, which signal cannabinoid potency. Whether you prefer a classic sativa or a modern hybrid, knowing you’re getting “flower” means you’re sampling the plant at its purest.

Monikers from Across Cultures

Over centuries and continents, people have coined colorful nicknames for cannabis and hemp. Below is an introduction to some of the most enduring slang terms, followed by a quick look at their roots.

1. Marijuana – Borrowed from Mexican Spanish; became common in U.S. law and media during the early 20th century
2. Ganja – Originates in India and Jamaica; closely tied to Rastafarian traditions
3. Pot – Thought to derive from potación de guaya, a 17th-century cannabis-infused drink
4. Grass – A 1960s reference to the plant’s lush green leaves
5. Bud – Direct nod to the flowering tip where cannabinoids are most concentrated
6. Chronic – ’90s hip-hop slang for exceptionally potent flower
7. Reefer – Early-20th-century term for cannabis cigarettes
8. Mary Jane – Playful English twist on “marijuana”
9. Dank – Modern descriptor for dense, aromatic buds
10. Zaza – Newer slang for exotic, high-end strains

These names reflect waves of cultural influence from farmer’s fields to hip-hop studios.