Marijuanalingo

By Mikal Jakubal

In many ways, Southern Humboldt is like one of those tribal villages in New Guinea where, isolated by mountain ridges from neighboring settlements for generations, the people developed an entirely separate language and culture. While the Redwood Curtain is more metaphorical than topographical, the underground nature of the economy here and three generations of isolation from the larger culture have moved us well on our way to becoming linguistically incomprehensible to the outside world.

Southern Humboldt blogger Kym Kemp was asked by another writer for a glossary of pot-industry jargon. The list below is borrowed from her Redheaded Blackbelt blog post, with some additions and clarifications. While there are many words universal to the consumption side of the marijuana culture—“stoner,” “joint,” “420” and so on—those listed below are either specific to this area or are used in the production side of the industry.

Ill try and post at least one new word each day as I recall them. I’ll post on Twitter with #marijuanalingo tag, so they’ll show up in the feed on the right and I’ll add them to the glossary below as I have time. Have more words you want to contribute? Post them in the comments or message me @OneGoodYear on Twitter.

Cabbagy—used to describe a bud that is extremely dense, but in a bad way. The innards of such buds are often yellow and mold-prone.
Diesel dope—pejorative  term for marijuana grown off the electric grid under lights powered with electricity from diesel generators; also derogatorily called pollution pot.
Grow—n. a pot garden, indoor or outdoor (e.g. “diesel grow”). This is a term used by growers, law enforcement and the media.
Grower—marijuana farmer. Big-time grower—someone who grows more than you.
Homestead—a small home in the hills, usually off-grid, where marijuana is often but not always grown.
Humboldt honey—hippie chick often dressed unconventionally in cotton or hemp clothing and generally with unshaven legs and armpits.
Indo—Indoor grown marijuana.
Patch—outdoor marijuana garden.
Potstitute—a negative term for a woman who likes to have relationships with wealthy growers.
Quad—a four wheel motorized open vehicle similar to a motorcycle often used for transportation to and from marijuana gardens. Also known as a four-wheeler.
Salad—mix of different strains; usually less desirable
Scene—where marijuana is cultivated or processed (e.g. “trim scene,” “dry scene”); also general personal space, e.g.  “Dude, your scene is a mess.”
Shake—waste leaves of trimmed pot. In some areas, “shake” refers to the loose bits at the bottom of a bag of trimmed weed.
Trim—the short sticky leaves removed or “trimmed” from a marijuana bud.
Trimmer—one who cleans marijuana; also: manicurist, cleaner, picker.

Stay tuned for many, many more!