Cannabis
Cannabis the name comes from
an ancient Iranian language called Scythian or North of Greece
Language called Thracian. The Greeks used this influence to call it
κάνναβις (kánnabis),
and Perian language kanab. In
1548, the Oxford English Dictionary defines Cannabis as "common
hemp, Cannabis sativa".
In 1848 it defines the parts of the plant to be smoked, chewed, or
drunk for their intoxicating or hallucinogenic properties". In
440 BC in the Herodotus literature known as The Histories an exerpt
states "The Scythians, as I said, take some of this hemp-seed
[presumably, flowers], and, creeping under the felt coverings, throw
it upon the red-hot stones; immediately it smokes, and gives out such
a vapour as no Grecian vapour-bath can exceed; the Scyths, delighted,
shout for joy." (Source)
Hemp
Hemp
comes from the 13th
century Anglo-French word canevaz or Old French Canvas. Originating
from the the word cannabis, canvas is a woven fabric to make sails,
tents and bags, using the cannabis plant fiber that became to be know
an hemp.(Source)
Marijuana
Marijuana,
first known as Marihuana is theorized to come from the ancient aztec
language Nahuati, and then the word adopted by the Mexican Spanish
language for the word Mallihuan, meaning "prisoner".
The word marihuana was popularized by Harry J. Anslinger in the
1930s when he was campaigning against the drug. The first known
usage was in Hubert Howe Bancroft's 1873 The
Native Races of the Pacific States of North America.(Source)
Harry Anslinger was the leader in creating the Marihuana Tax Act of
1937 that put a tax on Cannabis, which many theorize as a way to help
out the nylon and wood industry by limiting the production of
hemp.(Source)
Many believe the word marijuana has a racial conotation to the name.
Early on, cannabis was a drug that the poverty stricken influx of
migrants from India and Mexico as well as the African Americans
used. This led to the name marijuana taking on meaning of a drug for
the lower class.
Other
theories are out on how marijuana came to be a name for cannabis.
Chinese immigrants from Mexico, cannabis plant in Chinese being (ma
ren hua). In a certain Spanish dialect, Chinese Oregano is mejorana
(chino). Angolan slaves brought to Brazil by Portuguese may have
brought their word for cannabis, ma-kaña.(Source)
Ganja
From the ancient Indian Sanskrit grñja and further used in Hindi as
gājā. The word that signifies the female personification of the
Ganges River as a Goddess, known for growing Indica Cannabis
naturally on it's shoreline. The Hindu's regard the use of cannabis
as a sacred practice.
The
word is first known to be used in 1680, probably brought from over
from trading with India. In Jamaica, the word ganja is widely used,
first known to be used in the 1840's, thought to be brought over by
British Imperialists. Ganja in the Jamaican culture is a term for
cannabis-as-sacrament for the Rastafarian faith.(Source)
Pot
This is an abreviation of
the Mexican Spanish drink potación de guaya where brandy or wine is
heated with canabis buds for a drink that is translated to “drink
of grief”. The name came into use in the US around
1935-1940.(Source)
Source
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