There are hundreds of slang terms and different names used for marijuana. Many of the different jargon used for marijuana or cannabis have been derived from a combination of the geographic location and the appearance of the processed plant.
Just in case you did not know is a marijuana pot, yes it is. Cannabis is indigenous to Central and South Asia as well as other warmer regions.
Marijuana comes from the cannabis plant (cannabis sativa) so it is natural and derived from the female flowers and dried leaves. So how did “pot” come to America?
Mexican Revolution of 1910
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle brought on by tremendous disagreement among the Mexican people over the dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz who stayed in office for thirty-one years.
The Revolution was started by a new generation of leaders who wanted to participate in the political life of their country, but they were denied the opportunity by officials who were already entrenched in power and who were not about to give it up.
As reported by PBS, “After the Mexican Revolution of 1910, Mexican immigrants flooded into the U.S., introducing to American culture the recreational use of marijuana. The “drug” became associated with the immigrants, and the fear and prejudice about the Spanish-speaking newcomers became associated with marijuana.”
Why is marijuana called pot? So did the word for a common kitchen instrument become slang for marijuana? The origin of the word “pot” has nothing to do with kitchen cooking utensils.
That is why so many people have asked, “why is marijuana called pot, or is marijuana pot?” And most have never understood this at all. The shortened nickname “pot” comes from the Mexican Spanish word Potiguaya or Potaguaya means “marijuana leaves.”
It is a shortening of the word potacion de guaya, an alcoholic drink made of marijuana leaves and buds steeped in brandy or wine. It means “the drink of grief”.
Now, what the heck is potacion de guaya? Well, that is a quick and easier question to answer, it is a tropical fruit that you typically can find at the grocery store called “guava” used to make the alcohol for the potacion de guaya.
“Pot” as slang for marijuana has been in common usage since the late 1930s and early 1940s and has been a subject of lively arguments among etymologists pretty much since day one. The reason why is marijuana called pot was made into a common term for marijuana or cannabis in the United States when it became popular during this period in history.
And that answers our questions:
- Why is marijuana called pot?
- Is marijuana pot?
Why People Are Asking…
You are probably asking “is marijuana pot” today because you’ve recently heard of medical marijuana in the news, which refers to the cannabis plant used as a doctor-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy. According to Wikipedia, “Pot, marijuana, cannabis, etc. is one of the 50 “fundamental” herbs of traditional Chinese medicine used for over 5,000 years, and is prescribed for a broad range of indications.”
Whatever you call it – ganja, weed, reefer, tea, bhang, leaf, or skunk – it may soon be medicinally and legally farmed in records amount as medical marijuana becomes more prevalent throughout the United States. Now we know the historical answer to why is marijuana called the pot.
Let us know what you think.
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