70s stoner slang refers to the informal words and phrases associated with cannabis culture during the 1970s. The decade was shaped by the counterculture movement, rock music, funk, reggae, comedy, movies, and changing attitudes toward marijuana.
Some expressions from the era are still instantly recognizable today, including pot, grass, reefer, doobie, joint, hash, roach, and stoned. Others sound distinctly old-school now and are mostly encountered in vintage movies, music, books, or discussions of 1970s culture.
The important thing to remember is that not every term was exclusive to the 1970s. Many were already in use earlier and simply remained popular during the decade.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat Is 70s Stoner Slang?
70s stoner slang is the informal vocabulary people used to talk about cannabis, smoking, being intoxicated, and cannabis culture during the 1970s.
Common examples include:
- Pot
- Grass
- Reefer
- Doobie
- Joint
- Hash
- Roach
- Stoned
- High
- Blazed
- Baked
- Head
- Kilo
- Mary Jane
- Acapulco Gold
The exact popularity of each expression varied by region and social group.
1. Pot
Pot was one of the most common informal names for marijuana.
Example:
“They were talking about smoking pot.”
The term was already established before the 1970s but remained extremely common throughout the decade.
2. Grass
Grass was another classic term for marijuana.
Example:
“He had some good grass.”
The expression is strongly associated with older American counterculture.
3. Reefer
Reefer is an older slang term for marijuana.
By the 1970s, it could sound somewhat old-fashioned, but it remained recognizable.
Example:
“The old movie uses the word reefer.”
Today, you are more likely to encounter it in historical discussions or deliberately vintage dialogue.
4. Doobie
Doobie is slang for a marijuana cigarette or joint.
Example:
“He rolled a doobie.”
The word became strongly associated with American cannabis culture and remains recognizable today.
5. Joint
A joint is a marijuana cigarette, generally consisting of cannabis rolled in paper.
The word wasn’t invented in the 1970s, but it was extremely common during the decade.
Example:
“They passed around a joint.”
6. Hash
Hash is short for hashish, a concentrated cannabis product made from cannabis resin.
It has a much older history than 1970s American stoner culture.
Example:
“The documentary discusses hash and cannabis culture.”
7. Roach
In cannabis slang, a roach refers to the remaining end of a smoked joint or marijuana cigarette.
Example:
“He put the roach out.”
The term was already established before the 1970s and remained common during the era.
8. Stoned
Stoned means being intoxicated by cannabis or another drug.
The expression became deeply associated with 1960s and 1970s counterculture.
Example:
“He was completely stoned.”
It remains widely understood today.
9. High
High means being under the effects of a drug.
Example:
“They were high.”
Although the word wasn’t exclusive to cannabis, it became a central part of drug-related vocabulary.
10. Baked
Baked is slang for being strongly intoxicated, especially by cannabis.
Example:
“He looked totally baked.”
The term remains recognizable in modern cannabis slang.
11. Blazed
Blazed means heavily intoxicated or high.
Example:
“They were getting blazed.”
Although still used today, it has strong associations with older and modern cannabis culture.
12. Blown
Blown could be used in drug slang to describe someone who was intoxicated.
Its meaning can vary considerably by context, so it is less precise than stoned or high.
13. Head
In 1960s–70s counterculture, head could refer to a person strongly associated with drugs or cannabis culture.
For example:
pothead
became a familiar term for someone who frequently used marijuana.
14. Pothead
A pothead was slang for someone who smoked marijuana frequently.
Example:
“The character is portrayed as a stereotypical pothead.”
The word can be humorous, descriptive, or insulting depending on context.
15. Dope
Dope has a long and complicated history.
During the 1970s, it could refer broadly to drugs, including marijuana, depending on context.
But modern slang also uses dope to mean:
Cool, excellent, impressive.
So:
“That jacket is dope.”
doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with drugs.
16. Mary Jane
Mary Jane was a playful euphemism for marijuana.
Example:
“The song makes a reference to Mary Jane.”
The expression was especially recognizable in older popular culture.
17. Acapulco Gold
Acapulco Gold became famous as a name associated with high-quality cannabis originating from or associated with Acapulco, Mexico.
The term became especially prominent in American counterculture.
Example:
“The film references Acapulco Gold.”
It became part of the mythology surrounding 1960s and 1970s cannabis culture.
18. Panama Red
Panama Red was another famous cannabis name associated with marijuana from Panama.
It became widely known through music and counterculture.
Example:
“Panama Red was mentioned in the old song.”
The phrase has strong historical associations with 1970s cannabis culture.
19. Maui Wowie
Maui Wowie, commonly spelled Maui Wowie, is associated with cannabis from Hawaii.
The name became prominent in American cannabis culture during the 1970s.
It is now often discussed as part of the history of cannabis strain names.
20. Colombian Gold
Colombian Gold was another famous name associated with cannabis originating from Colombia.
It became particularly recognizable during the 1970s.
21. Thai Stick
Thai Stick referred historically to cannabis associated with Thailand and became famous in American cannabis culture during the 1970s.
The term is now primarily encountered in historical discussions of cannabis culture.
22. Stash
A stash means a hidden supply or collection of something.
In 1970s stoner slang, it could refer to someone’s hidden cannabis supply.
Example:
“He hid his stash.”
The term is still used today.
23. Bag
Bag could simply refer to a quantity of marijuana.
Example:
“He had a bag of grass.”
The exact amount wasn’t necessarily standardized.
24. Lid
Lid is an older cannabis slang term associated with a quantity of marijuana.
It is strongly associated with earlier cannabis culture and became recognizable during the counterculture era.
Today, it sounds distinctly old-school.
25. Nickel Bag
A nickel bag historically referred to a small amount of marijuana sold for five dollars.
The expression reflects the prices and informal drug-market terminology of an earlier period.
By the 1970s, it could still be encountered, although terminology and prices varied by location.
26. Dime Bag
A dime bag traditionally referred to a small amount of marijuana associated with a ten-dollar purchase.
Again, this was informal terminology rather than a standardized measurement.
27. Paper
In cannabis contexts, paper could refer to rolling paper.
Example:
“He needed some paper.”
The meaning would be obvious from the surrounding conversation.
28. Zig-Zag
Zig-Zag is a brand associated with rolling papers and became deeply connected with smoking culture.
The name is still recognizable today.
29. Rolling Papers
Rolling papers are thin papers used to roll cigarettes or joints.
The term itself isn’t particularly slangy, but it was an important part of 1970s smoking vocabulary.
30. Toke
A toke means a puff or inhalation from a smoking device or joint.
Example:
“He took a toke.”
The word was widely used in cannabis culture.
31. Hit
A hit can mean one inhalation or puff.
Example:
“Take a hit.”
It’s still widely understood today.
32. Smoke
Smoke could refer to marijuana or the act of smoking it.
Example:
“Want to smoke?”
Depending on context, this could refer to cannabis.
33. Pass It
“Pass it” was a familiar phrase when people were sharing a joint.
Example:
“Pass it over here.”
The expression remains recognizable today.
34. Bogart
Bogart means to keep something for yourself instead of sharing it.
In cannabis culture, it could mean holding onto a joint rather than passing it around.
Example:
“Don’t Bogart the joint.”
The expression is associated with actor Humphrey Bogart and became part of American slang.
35. Munchies
Munchies refers to intense hunger or cravings associated with cannabis use.
Example:
“The movie jokes about getting the munchies.”
The word became deeply associated with stoner culture and remains common.
36. Stoner
A stoner is someone stereotypically associated with frequent marijuana use.
Example:
“The movie has a classic stoner character.”
The term can be descriptive, humorous, or derogatory depending on context.
37. Space Cadet
Space cadet can describe someone who seems absent-minded, distracted, dreamy, or out of touch.
In older counterculture contexts, it could be associated with someone who was intoxicated.
Example:
“He was acting like a total space cadet.”
38. Far Out
Far out was a major counterculture expression meaning something like:
- Amazing
- Cool
- Impressive
- Strange
- Exciting
Example:
“That’s far out!”
It wasn’t exclusively cannabis slang, but it is strongly associated with 1960s–70s counterculture.
39. Groovy
Groovy means cool, fashionable, enjoyable, or excellent.
Example:
“That’s a groovy jacket.”
Although it began earlier, the word remained strongly connected to 1960s and 1970s counterculture.
40. Dig It
“Dig it” meant something like:
- Understand it
- Like it
- Appreciate it
Example:
“You dig?”
Meaning:
“Do you understand?”
or:
“Do you like it?”
It was widely used in counterculture speech.
41. Heavy
Heavy could mean emotionally powerful, serious, intense, or profound.
Example:
“That’s heavy, man.”
It wasn’t strictly cannabis slang, but it was common in counterculture conversations.
42. Keep on Truckin’
“Keep on Truckin’” became a famous counterculture expression associated with perseverance and the hippie era.
It wasn’t specifically a marijuana term, but it belongs to the same cultural vocabulary.
43. Hippie
A hippie was a person associated with the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s.
Cannabis culture and hippie culture overlapped heavily, although they were not identical.
44. Freak
Freak could describe someone associated with alternative or counterculture lifestyles.
Its meaning depended heavily on context.
45. Peace
Peace was commonly used as a greeting or sign-off within counterculture.
Example:
“Peace, man.”
This expression remains recognizable as a symbol of the era.
46. Peace and Love
Peace and love became one of the best-known phrases associated with hippie and counterculture culture.
It wasn’t specifically cannabis slang but frequently appeared in the same cultural environment.
47. 420
Today, 420 is strongly associated with cannabis culture.
However, its origins date to the early 1970s, when a group of California teenagers known as the Waldos used “4:20” as a meeting time associated with searching for an abandoned cannabis crop.
The term later spread through cannabis culture and became globally recognized.
48. 4:20
4:20 became shorthand for cannabis use and later developed into the broader cannabis holiday associated with April 20 (4/20).
The term is one of the most successful pieces of cannabis slang to emerge from the era.
49. Get High
Get high means to become intoxicated by a drug.
Example:
“They talked about getting high.”
The expression is still common today.
50. Catch a Buzz
Catch a buzz means to experience an intoxicating or pleasurable effect from a substance.
It can refer to alcohol or other drugs, so it isn’t exclusively cannabis slang.
70s Stoner Slang in Music
Music played a huge role in spreading cannabis vocabulary during the 1970s.
You can find cannabis-related terminology in:
- Rock
- Funk
- Reggae
- Soul
- Jazz
- Country
- Comedy records
Songs and albums helped words such as Mary Jane, Panama Red, Acapulco Gold, and reefer remain part of popular culture.
70s Stoner Slang in Movies
1970s movies frequently reflected changing attitudes toward cannabis and counterculture.
You may encounter terms such as:
- Pot
- Grass
- Reefer
- Stoned
- Joint
- Doobie
- Pothead
- Munchies
Some expressions were used seriously, while others were deliberately comedic.
70s Stoner Slang in Texting and Social Media Today
People sometimes revive 1970s expressions online for humor or nostalgia.
For example:
“Pass the doobie, man 😂”
“That’s some far-out stuff.”
“Groovy!”
“Where’s the stash?”
Modern users may use these expressions ironically to imitate the language of the 1970s.
70s Stoner Slang vs. Modern Weed Slang
| 1970s Term | Modern Equivalent/Related Term |
|---|---|
| Grass | Weed |
| Pot | Weed |
| Doobie | Joint |
| Reefer | Weed |
| Mary Jane | Weed |
| Stoned | High |
| Munchies | Munchies |
| Toke | Hit |
| Stash | Stash |
| Far out | Cool |
| Groovy | Cool |
| Acapulco Gold | Strain/name culture |
| Panama Red | Strain/name culture |
| Maui Wowie | Strain/name culture |
| 4:20 | 420 |
Was “Stoner” a 1970s Word?
Stoner existed before the 1970s, but the decade helped cement its connection with marijuana culture and the counterculture.
It became a familiar stereotype in American popular culture:
The laid-back, marijuana-smoking, music-loving “stoner.”
That stereotype continues to appear in movies, television, memes, and comedy.
Is 70s Stoner Slang Still Used?
Some terms remain extremely common:
- Weed
- Pot
- Joint
- High
- Stoned
- Munchies
- Toke
- Stash
Others are much more strongly associated with the period:
- Reefer
- Grass
- Lid
- Far out
- Groovy
- Panama Red
- Acapulco Gold
- Thai Stick
Modern speakers may use these older expressions specifically to create a retro 1970s vibe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was slang for weed in the 1970s?
Common terms included pot, grass, reefer, Mary Jane, dope, herb, and weed.
What did they call a joint in the 70s?
People used terms such as joint and doobie.
What did “stoned” mean in the 1970s?
Stoned meant being intoxicated, especially from marijuana.
What did “pothead” mean?
A pothead was slang for someone who frequently smoked marijuana.
What was “Acapulco Gold”?
Acapulco Gold was a famous cannabis name associated with high-quality marijuana from or associated with Acapulco, Mexico.
What was “Panama Red”?
Panama Red was a famous cannabis name associated with Panama and became part of American 1970s cannabis culture.
What did “doobie” mean?
A doobie was slang for a marijuana cigarette or joint.
What did “roach” mean?
A roach referred to the remaining end of a smoked joint or marijuana cigarette.
What did “toke” mean?
A toke meant a puff or inhalation.
What does “Bogart” mean in stoner slang?
To Bogart something meant to keep it instead of passing it around, especially a joint.
Did 420 originate in the 1970s?
Yes. The term 4:20 originated in the early 1970s among a group of California teenagers known as the Waldos and later spread through cannabis culture.
What did hippies call marijuana?
Common terms included grass, pot, weed, reefer, herb, and Mary Jane.
Final Summary
70s stoner slang reflects the language of a major period in American counterculture. Some terms were specifically related to cannabis, while others belonged to the broader world of hippies, rock music, alternative lifestyles, and 1970s youth culture.
Some of the most recognizable terms include:
- Pot — marijuana
- Grass — marijuana
- Reefer — older marijuana slang
- Doobie — joint
- Joint — marijuana cigarette
- Hash — hashish
- Roach — remaining end of a joint
- Stoned — intoxicated
- Baked — very high
- Pothead — frequent marijuana user
- Toke — puff
- Munchies — hunger/cravings associated with cannabis
- Stash — hidden supply
- Mary Jane — marijuana
- Acapulco Gold — famous historical cannabis name
- Panama Red — famous historical cannabis name
- 4:20 — cannabis-associated time and cultural reference
- Far out — cool, amazing, or unusual
- Groovy — cool or fashionable
The biggest distinction is between actual cannabis terminology and broader 1970s counterculture slang. Words such as grass, doobie, and pot directly relate to cannabis, while groovy, far out, and peace represent the wider cultural atmosphere of the era.
Today, many of these expressions survive through movies, music, memes, TikTok, nostalgia, and retro-themed humor, giving them a distinctly vintage 1970s flavor.

