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meaning - “Cannabis” vs. “marijuana” vs. “weed”


I know all these words have the same meaning and refer to a kind of drug.


Also, as far as I know, weed is slang for marijuana or cannabis. (Correct me if I’m wrong).


What I do not understand is the difference between these words. Is cannabis a formal word, and marijuana and weed both informal?


Does one or two of these words come from South America — for example, has a Spanish root — and the others come from elsewhere?



Answer



It depends on the context. If you are referring to it scientifically, you call it cannabis (usually cannabis indica or cannabis sativa). Marijuana is a generic term mostly used by non-users. People who smoke the drug have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of slang terms for their favorite recreational drug, of which weed and bud are currently in vogue. You would not be likely to use those terms unless you don't mind people assuming you use the drug yourself, because they very likely will make that assumption.


EDIT: You can use the term pot in a disinterested way, as someone pointed out. Weed flirts with crossing the line, however, and bud is tantamount to a term of endearment.


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