Fact Checked by Doctor NameOf all the slang around cannabis, “chronic” is arguably one of the most well-known.
Long before legalization, there was chronic. But where did this ubiquitous nickname for premium bud actually come from?
Let’s explore the etymology behind chronic.
Where does the word ‘Chronic’ come from?
The term chronic became cannabis code in the 90s hip-hop scene. But initially, it was used to describe the ultra-strong weed smokers were getting from northern California.
Growers developed advanced techniques for cultivating exceptionally potent strains of cannabis. This potency led to rhyming slang like “chronic hydro” and “one hit chronic.”
Dr. Dre’s 1992 album The Chronic brought the nickname into mainstream consciousness. As Dre rapped about slick urban dealers and legendary Cali connections, chronic became part of the cultural lexicon.
Fans and artists adopted the adjective chronic to describe anything of high intensity or extreme quality. Soon, chronic and “chronic-quality” bud was in high demand across the country.
Of course, chronic has an older meaning as well – a persistent health condition. But thanks to hip-hop, chronic became the defining term for powerful cannabis that delivers long-lasting effects from just a few hits.
Decades later, marijuana connoisseurs continue hunting for the best “chronic” on the market.
