The importance of names: Cannabis-speak

“Dense and luscious – mellows out in a peachy-smooth daydream”

A sophisticated Merlot perhaps, or a gutsy Cabernet Sauvignon perhaps?

Nope, these were the ‘Tasting notes’ taken from a brand of cannabis (i.e. weed, hash, or whatever you prefer) sold over the counter in a shop in Denver, Colorado, one of 14 US states where it has now be decriminalised… The importance of names : Cannabis-speak.

Description ≠ Name

“If you want this drug with serious medical benefits to be taken seriously, how about adulting up the names a bit? That way, a sick old man doesn’t have to ask for a quarter ounce of ‘Rainbow Diesel Funkadelic Cheddar Harmony’.” John Oliver, ‘The Daily Show’

Here’s a list of some of the most-popular descriptive names around at present:

• Purple Urkel
• Strawberry Cough
• Golden Goat
• Martian Mean Green
• Schnazzleberry

Whilst the ‘Tasting Notes’ hint at sophistication and elegance, the ‘Names’ suggest a more juvenile approach, rather like ‘Ben & Jerry’ ice-cream on….well, you know what I mean.

The Need for Context

If a product is to be taken seriously, it’s name is of utmost importance – it sets the context for the product, what it represents, its implied quality….etc.

So, it would seem that cannabis has a way to go yet before it moves towards the mainstream and away from its student-dig roots.

Still, there is definitely potential here – after all, who wouldn’t want to partake of “An indica oozing with mango resin”?