What "grass" means
Grass is a slang term for cannabis. The word refers to the dried flower and leaves of the Cannabis sativa plant. US speakers have used it since the 1930s. A gram of grass sells for $5 to $20 in states with legal markets. Price tracks THC content and grow quality.
Grass, marijuana, and hemp: one plant, different rules
US law splits the plant by delta-9 THC content. Cannabis at or below 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight is hemp. Above 0.3% it is marijuana and stays on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. CBD sold in stores comes from hemp, so the THC level stays under that line.
- Hemp flower: 0.3% delta-9 THC or less.
- High-THC flower: 15% to 30% THC on a lab report.
- CBD isolate: 99% CBD or higher, no THC.
THC content in grass
THC levels rose over 30 years. Samples from the 1990s averaged under 4% THC. Samples from the 2010s averaged near 12%, per testing labs. Some modern cultivars test above 30%. THC binds CB1 receptors in the brain. CBD does not bind CB1 at the same site, and it can change THC effects.
Legal status in the US
Federal law lists marijuana as Schedule I. States set their own rules. 24 states and the District of Columbia allow adult use as of 2025. 38 states allow medical use. Those numbers change after each election, so check your state registry.
How to check a product
- Find the batch number on the label.
- Read the delta-9 THC line on the certificate of analysis.
- Check the lab name and test date.
- Confirm the result matches the batch.
A certificate of analysis comes from a third-party lab. It lists cannabinoid content and screens for pesticides, heavy metals, and mold. If a seller cannot show one, the THC number is unknown.