A term adapted by the cannabis industry to refer to manicured buds from the cannabis plant. Nugs are the smokable part of the colas that are commonly referred to as flower. The term is also used as a slang reference to high-quality cannabis.

She packed a nug into her pipe and took a hit.

The budtender pulled a few nugs from the jar.

autumn chemdawg weed nugs Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Origin

While there's no definitive answer as to where the term “nug” derived from — or how it became ingrained in cannabis culture — the most likely explanation is as a shortened version of the term “nugget.” Originally, the word “nugget” was defined as a small lump of gold or other precious metal, but the term was eventually expanded to include small lumps or chunks of other substances, including cannabis.

In addition to describing the size and shape of cannabis flowers, nug can also refer to the quality of cannabis. Nug is a term cannabis consumers typically use to describe buds of high-quality cannabis. The opposite of nug is “schwag,” or low-quality cannabis.

Nugs make up the larger colas on the cannabis plant and have a relative density of trichomes far greater than leaves and stems or stalks. After the cola is harvested, the nugs are removed and manicured to clear away any leaves or stems that might be attached. Dried, cured nugs are sold for consumption.

Nug in pop culture

The term nug is used frequently in the cannabis industry and by cannabis consumers. As cannabis has become more mainstream, so have pop culture references to nugs.

Some places you might have heard the term nug in recent years include:

  • The namesake song “Haiku d'Etat,” released in 19992004 by the group of the same name (“... after partaking from breaking nugs down out of fat bud stash … ”)
  • The song “Blaze,” released in 2000 by The Pharcyde (“ … there's no need for hatin,' I got nugs you can hug … ”)
  • The song “Boulevard Star,” released in 2000 by Delinquent Habits (“ … I'll be remembered in the hearts of riders, West and East siders, known to take nug, pack bowl, and light ...”)
  • The song “Remember,” released in 2003 by Presence (“ … better yet one more hug, one more nug to smoke … ”)
  • The song “Where's The Weed At?,” released in 2006 by Kottonmouth Kings (“ … I got a nug on my desk and in my dresser drawer ...”)
  • The song “Higher Learning,” released in 2011 by Young Jeezy, with guests Snoop Dogg, Devin the Dude, and Mitchelle'l (“ … I smoke dro, good Reggie, smoke shake to nugs ...”)
  • The song “Get Hi,” released in 2016 By Danny Brown with guest B-Real (“ … you swear you could make dreams come true, sticky icky nugs, real furry buzz … ”)
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The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. This page was last updated on July 13, 2021.