Cannabis

Cannabis vs. Marijuana — What’s the Difference, and Why Does It Matter?

Written by Adie Rae, PhD | Reviewed by Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Published on December 20, 2022

Dmitry_Tishchenko/iStock via Getty Images

Key takeaways:

Cannabis and marijuana are both terms used to refer to the Cannabis sativa plant.
Cannabis is the scientific term for a large family of plants. Only some of these plants produce the mind-altering compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Marijuana is generally used to refer to products or types of cannabis that make you feel high. But this term has also been used as a tool for racial discrimination.

You may think the words cannabis and marijuana mean the same thing. But there are important cultural, legal, and scientific differences between them. Marijuana has a complicated history, so many people now prefer cannabis.

Here’s a bit of background and reasons to choose these words carefully.

What’s the difference between cannabis and marijuana?

In botany (the science of plants) the term cannabis is used to refer to a family of plants called Cannabis sativa. These plants produce unique chemicals known as cannabinoids.

Some types of cannabis plants mainly produce cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is the active ingredient in Epidiolex, an FDA-approved epilepsy medication. These plants are often referred to as hemp. People tend to use CBD products for things like anxiety, stress relief, or nerve pain.

Other types of cannabis plants produce more of the mind-altering chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is well-known for its ability to make people feel “high.” But it’s also responsible for some of cannabis’ potential medical benefits, like pain relief.

In popular culture, the word marijuana generally refers to types of cannabis that contain THC. Most people in the U.S. understand this term to mean a plant that gets you high. And most laws, state regulations, and history books use the word marijuana when referring to high-THC cannabis. To find out why, we need to take a step back in time.

What’s the history around the term marijuana?

By the 1850s, cannabis was a very popular medicine in the U.S. You could find it over the counter in drugstores across the country. The word cannabis even appeared in the U.S. Pharmacopeia, a trusted reference book for pharmacists.

In the early 1900s, the Mexican-Spanish word “marihuana” first appeared in American English. Because of Henry Anslinger (the first director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics), the use of this word spread throughout the 1930s.

Anslinger, who remained in office for 30 years, was powerful and outspoken against cannabis — which he chose to call marijuana. He used propaganda films and movie theaters (a brand new technology at the time) to spread disinformation about cannabis.

Why is the term marijuana problematic or controversial?

Henry Anslinger was well-known for his racist beliefs and remarks. They were documented in many of his public speeches.

Anslinger and other cannabis opponents chose the word marijuana (rather than cannabis) on purpose. They wanted to make the familiar medicinal plant sound like a foreign threat. They also racialized the plant by changing its name — they gave it a new identity by associating it with immigrants and people of color.

Anslinger was successful in his mission to portray cannabis use as disgraceful and shameful. This shameful legacy, known as stigma, still persists today.

Marijuana and the war on drugs

Anslinger was also the first person to use the term “war on drugs.” This was a controversial movement that President Richard Nixon later supported. Nixon and his administration used harsh drug laws to target people of color as well as those who disagreed with the Vietnam War.

By the 1990s, studies showed that the war on drugs was mainly a war on cannabis. From 1990 to 2002, 82% of drug-related arrests were for cannabis offenses. And the vast majority (88%) were for cannabis possession.

The war on drugs has had devastating effects, mostly for people of color. Black and Latino people are arrested far more often for cannabis possession despite the fact that rates of cannabis use are similar across all races. As a result, the U.S. has more people in prison for drugs than any other country, many because of marijuana.

Why is cannabis the preferred term to use?

The word cannabis is the proper scientific term for the plant. It also doesn’t have historical baggage associated with racism and the war on drugs. Because of this, experts are advocating that states should replace the word marijuana in their laws and regulations with the word cannabis.

But some Latino communities are reclaiming the word marijuana. That’s because it’s only associated with racism and other negative things in the U.S. — not in Mexico or other Latin American countries.

Some cannabis activists also suggest that we shouldn’t completely erase the use of the term marijuana. They believe that doing so could erase the important history behind it and allow people to ignore or forget how it’s been used to target certain racial and ethnic groups.

What about other slang terms for cannabis?

People often feel a need to be careful when talking about cannabis because it’s illegal. This is part of the reason cannabis has so many nicknames. In North America, some of the slang terms for cannabis include:

Weed
Pot
Grass
Herb
Mary Jane
Ganja
Trees
Broccoli

Other slang terms may not be good to use because they have complicated histories or negative meanings:

Dope (also used as a slang term for more dangerous drugs)
Reefer (used in 1930s propaganda)

Like all slang, the word marijuana may also discount people’s meaningful and complex experiences with the plant. Some consider it to be a sacred medicine or spiritual tool that should be spoken of with respect.

The bottom line

Cannabis and marijuana are two different words used to refer to the same plant. Cannabis is often preferred over the word marijuana in the U.S. because it’s the plant’s scientific name. It also doesn’t have the negative history that the term marijuana does.

Regardless of whether you choose to use a slang term or the scientific name, it’s a good idea to understand where the word came from. This helps you be mindful about which name you’re using and why.

why trust our exports reliability shield

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Adie Rae, PhD

Adie Rae, PhD, is a neuroscientist known for her extensive expertise on cannabis. She has been conducting peer-reviewed research about cannabis since 2004.

Edited by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts

References

Bridgeman, M. B., et al. (2017). Medicinal cannabis: History, pharmacology, and implications for the acute care setting. Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

Britannica. (n.d.). Cannabis.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.