What are the differences between weed, cannabis, and marijuana?

In short, cannabis itself is a plant, usually referring to more industrial applications. Weeds and marijuana are terms for recreational drugs extracted from plants.

Cannabis is a psychoactive substance, that is, a drug. Technically, marijuana is known as cannabis sativa and cannabis indica (including the third kind of marijuana ruderalis, which contains almost no psychoactive compounds) and a hybrid of this species.

“Weed” is a term used for any plant that grows where you don’t want it. Typically they show up in your yard . Calling the cannabis plant “weed” is both a compliment to how easy it is to cultivate, while also throwing a negative connotation on it.

Cannabis is the actual taxonomic name of the plant, specifically Cannabis sativa, and depending on who you ask, Cannabis indica and Cannabis ruderalis.

Marijuana or marihuana is a Spanish-sounding name given to the cannabis plant in the United States to help associate it with Mexican cartels.

Generally, there is no difference between marijuana and cannabis and the two terms are often used to describe the same thing. Cannabis describes cannabis products in general. Marijuana specifically refers to cannabis products that are made from the dried flowers, leaves, stems and seeds of the cannabis plant.

In Fact. Weed and marijuana are simply two of many slang words for cannabis.