Cannabis, marijuana, pot, ganja — call it what you will. (Craig F. Walker, Denver Post file)

The cannabis lexicon: Terms to know, from A-Z


On this page: I-J-K


I

Ice wax —  A term for very fine water extracted hash, it was originally coined by Matt Rize, a California-based hashmaker. A key part of the traditional Ice Wax process is to use a microplane grater to break up the patty of hash after extraction, allowing it to dry quickly as well as bursting many of the trichome heads, which makes the hash extra melty when heated.
• “I had the craziest ice wax when I was in Colorado, it just disappeared to nothing on the screen.”

Indica —  Though recent plant taxonomy studies have mostly determined that cannabis does not actually have two distinct species in indica and sativa, these classifications are still used in the culture to help describe the differences between plants while they are growing, as well as the effect they provide. Though there are some exceptions to the rule, indica varieties are shorter plants which mature more quickly, they also provide a relaxing, sedative effect. Indica varieties are most often used for relieving pain, muscle tension, insomnia, anxiety, lack of appetite, as well as easing spasms and reducing inflammation.
• “Bubba Kush is my favorite indica because it really helps my pain and back spasms without totally knocking me out.”


Strain Theory: Check out our marijuana reviews organized by type — indicas and indica-dominant hybrids, ditto with sativas


Iso (isopropyl hash oil) —  When alcohol (specifically isopropyl) is used as a solvent to strip trichomes from plant material, the resulting hash oil is normally refered to as “iso” hash oil. Though generally a less dangerous and equipment-intensive process than making BHO or CO2 oil, it is still essential to try to remove all of the residual alcohol from the extract, as vaporizing alcohol sugars can cause lung issues in some patients. Unlike the more selective butane, isopropyl often pulls chlorophyll as well as the cannabinoids, which necessitates a quick wash method, also known as “QWISO”.
• “You made that with just iso? It tastes great and dabs almost like it was made with butane.”

J

Jelly hash —  A mixture of water hash and hash oil, jelly hash is known for being very potent due to the combination of the two distinct types of extract being consumed at once. To make jelly hash, combine hash oil and water hash with a slight amount of heat, then whip it together until it’s mostly homogeneous; some users then elect to press it and let it dry into a hard puck, as it tends to burn longer that way.
• “I first heard about jelly hash back in 2004 or so on the forums when people were talking about smoking it with Soma in Amsterdam.”

Joint (glass) —  The part of a glass pipe or oil rig where the bowl or nail connects to the body of the piece. The industry standard for the size is 18 mm, 14 mm, and more recently, 10 mm, which allows the glass industry to make a variety of accessories in set sizes rather than having to custom make everything.
• “Ah man, my joint broke… guess I gotta go rig shopping!”

The new weed lexicon
(Seth McConnell, Denver Post file)

Joint (see also: cone, spliff, doobie) —  Marijuana rolled in non-tobacco papers that are generally light and have one sticky edge to help them adhere together. They come in all shapes and sizes, from pinners (small) to fatties (large), or cross joints that are lit on three ends and smoked out of the fourth. There’s no limit to the number of ways you can roll a joint.
• “I’m bringing a whole pack of joints camping with us.”


A joint-rolling contest at the county fair? It’s really happening at the Denver County Fair


K

Kief (see dry sieve) —  Kief is the traditional term for this process, originating in the Middle East.
• “I broke up that bud and there was kief all over my hands, it was crazy.”

Kind —  Call it kind bud, KB’s, or Killer INDoor: this stuff gets you very high. Referring to less potent marijuana as kind is a real giveaway that you’re a rookie.
• “I loaded a bowl of kind and couldn’t even finish it.”

Kush —  There are two distinct varieties of Kush that exist in the cannabis arena, and their relationship is a somewhat disputed issue. The first type is the traditional Hindu Kush, which refers to the hearty, wide-leaved, stout varieties which originated in the Afghani/Pakistani mountain region, known as the Hindu Kush mountains. The second type is the OG Kush, which is an American hybrid known for its distinctive lemon Pledge/fuel aroma and may or may not contain the genetics of the traditional Kush somewhere in its makeup; overall though, OG varieties certainly have a distinct sativa influence, which can be seen in their lanky, wide internode growth structure.
• “I like OG better than Bubba Kush, but I like Bubba better than Master Kush, and Master Kush better than Hindu Kush.”

More terminology
A-B | C | D | E-F | G-H | I-J-K | L-M-N | O-P | Q-R | S | T-V | W-Z/Numbers