The Marijuana Debate: Let's Check In & Other Fun Facts Part-1 - Women Campus
It's no question that marijuana is quite the popular drug among college students. Hell, it's pretty popular among people of all ages nowadays (see stats below). From Snoop Dogg music videos to Blockbuster hits like Pineapple Express, marijuana and its "stoner" culture has become a popular topic among our generation. It's not unusual to hear weed casually referenced in a sit-com or even to smell it on the person next to you in class who decided to "wake and bake." You can even find magazines and trade papers dedicated strictly to the topic of pot.
The other day I caught myself in the middle of a conversation when someone used the term "doja." To avoid awkwardness, I did the usual smile and nod, acting like I knew what he was talking about. Naturally, I Googled the term when I got home, and immediately I felt naïve that I wasn't up-to-snuff on marijuana street names. Then I came to find out I wasn't up-to-snuff on a lot about the drug itself. And I probably should be a little more informed considering the vast media coverage of the drug policy reforms going on.
In a recent HC survey of college women, we found that 68% of the respondents are pro-legalization of marijuana. But of the people who said they were pro-legalization, only 10% said they were "very informed" on the subject. Glad to know I'm not alone!
Here is a general overview – a little study guide if you will – on some of the history, health effects, as well as some interesting statistics on doja, herb, and weed – or whatever you want to call it, as well as where things stand politically with the drug at this point.
What exactly is marijuana?
Marijuana is the mind-altering substance produced from a plant with the scientific name Cannabis sativa. The United Nations World Drug Report 2010 reported cannabis to be the most widely used illicit substance in the world. Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp plant. Weed is used because its primary active chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), may induce relaxation and heighten the senses. Sinsemilla (a Spanish word), hashish ("hash" for short), and hash oil are stronger forms of marijuana, containing five to ten times as much THC.
Where did the name "marijuana" come from?
The word marijuana is said to have derived from the Mexican Spanish term marihuana according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It has also been cited as a Mexican slang term for Cannabis that was derived from the Spanish pronunciation of the names "Mary" and "Jane" – which were used by Mexican military as slang for prostitutes or brothels.
What are some other not-so-commonly-used names for the drug?
We rarely see this drug referred to as "cannabis" in modern pop-culture. People have thought of much more clever terms. You may hear marijuana called by street names such as pot, herb, weed, grass, Mary Jane, or chronic. The National Drug Intelligence Center came up with this quick chart of terms:
We also asked college women which slang names they most often use and here's what they said:
