Weed

What is Weed?

Weed is dried cannabis flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds. The term refers to recreational cannabis smoking, vaping, or ingesting. Cannabis (weed) has long been utilized.

Cannabis emerged in the US in the late 19th century, coining the term “weed”. Spanish-speaking Americans termed the weed “marihuana”. This became “mariguana” and “weed” lingo.

Weed distinguished psychoactive cannabis from the industrial hemp crops also being cultivated at the time.

It highlighted the plant’s prolific growing abilities, as well as its use as a recreational drug.

The word weed was popularized in the U.S. in the early 1900s and was cemented into cannabis culture during subsequent prohibition.

History of weed

Cannabis has been cultivated and consumed for millennia, but recreational smoking really emerged in the 20th century.

As prohibition began across the U.S., weed was driven underground and adopted counterculture status.

The term became synonymous with cannabis consumed for intoxication and relaxation.

Weed culture expanded greatly during the 1960s, and use increased exponentially in the decades since, leading to legalization today.

The word continues to define recreational cannabis in legal markets.

Difference between cannabis and weed

Cannabis refers to the plant genus that contains species like indica, sativa, and ruderalis. Weed refers to dried cannabis flower consumed specifically for its psychoactive effects. 

Other key differences:

• Cannabis also includes hemp, which contains little THC. Weed refers to THC-rich cannabis.
• Cannabis is scientific; weed is colloquial.
• Cannabis can be used for hemp material, medical benefits, or recreation. Weed is mostly used recreationally.
• Cannabis refers to the plant; weed refers to consuming it as a drug.

So, in summary, weed is a casual, widely used term to refer to psychoactive cannabis consumed recreationally by smoking, vaping, or ingesting the dried plant material.

It differentiates recreational use from marijuana‘ other applications.