Culture

The Origins of Your Favorite Weed Slang

Weed slang is as varied and diverse as the very plants they describe.

By
Burgess Powell

Ganja

Different from a lot of common weed slang, ganja comes from the east. Derived from the Sanskrit term for hemp, ganja gained popularity in the West after the British forced Indians into indentured servitude.

In the late 19th century, the British then brought Indians to various plantations in the Caribbean, including ones in Jamaica.

Rastafarians adopted the term in the 20th century. Since then, ganja has symbolized the struggles of two distinct displaced peoples.

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Burgess Powell

Burgess Powell is a writer for High Times based in New York. She writes about marijuana news, culture, and health.

By
Burgess Powell

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