• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

FHE Health | Inpatient Rehab & Mental Health Facility in Florida Homepage

Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment

ContactCareers

Call for Immediate Help (833) 596-3502

MENUMENU
  • About
        • About FHE Rehab
          • About FHE Health
          • Our Staff
          • Locations We Serve
          • Testimonials
        • Our Campus
          • Gallery
          • Our Videos
          • The Health and Wellness Center at FHE Health
        • Our Locations
          • Alcohol Rehab
          • Detox Center
          • Drug Rehab
          • Mental Health Center
          • Outpatient Rehab
        • Careers at FHE Health
          • Employment Opportunities
        • Our Expertise
          • Accreditations
          • Educational Opportunities
          • Community Impact Award
          • First Responder Families Podcast
          • First Responder Paws
          • Education Scholarship
  • Addiction
        • Treatment Programs
          • Treatment Program Overview
          • Alcohol Addiction
          • Drug Addiction Treatment
          • Behavioral Addiction
        • Levels of Care
          • Continuum of Care
          • Addiction Detox
          • Inpatient Addiction Treatment
          • Outpatient Addiction Treatment
        • What We Treat
          • Alcoholism
          • Amphetamines
          • Benzodiazepines
          • Cocaine
          • Heroin
          • Opioids
          • Sedative
  • Mental Health
        • Mental Health Rehab
          • Mental Health Rehab
          • Onsite Psychiatric Care
          • Dual Diagnosis
        • Levels of Care
          • Residential Mental Health Care
          • Outpatient Mental Health Care
        • What We Treat
          • ADD & ADHD
          • Anxiety Disorders
          • Bipolar Disorder
          • Depression
          • Eating Disorders
          • Personality Disorders
          • PTSD
          • Schizophrenia
          • Substance Use Disorder
          • Trauma
  • Programs
        • FHE Programs
          • Specialty Program Overview
          • Restore (Mental Health)
          • Empower! (Women's Program)
          • Shatterproof FHE Health(First Responders)
          • Compass Program
        • Support Programs
          • Alumni
          • Family Support
        • Therapies
          • Acupuncture
          • Breathwork Therapy
          • CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
          • DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy)
          • EMDR Therapy
          • Expressive Arts Therapy
          • Individual Therapy
          • Group Therapy
          • Gambling Therapy
          • Massage
        • Medical Care
          • Medical Integration
          • Ketamine Infusion
          • IV Vitamin
          • Fitness & Nutrition
          • Medication-Assisted Treatment
          • Medication Management
        • NeuroRehab Services
          • Neuro Rehabilitation
          • Neurofeedback Training
          • Neurostimulation Therapy
          • EEG Brain Mapping
          • Insomnia Treatment for PTSD
  • Resources
        • FHE Guides
          • Understanding Drug Abuse
          • Signs of Addiction
          • The Disease of Addiction
          • Confronting Addiction
          • Staging an Intervention
          • Rehab Success Rate – Does It Really Work?
          • Withdrawal Timelines
          • Life After Rehab
          • LGBTQ+ Community Resources
          • Veteran Resources
          • FHE Podcasts
          • Remote Resources Toolkit
        • Learning Center
          • Help for You
          • Help For Loved Ones
          • Help For Alcoholism
          • Help With Substance Abuse
          • Behavioral & Mental Health
          • Life in Recovery
          • Rehab Explained
          • Addiction Statistics
          • Our Research Articles
          • View All Articles
        • The Experience Blog
          • Addiction News
          • Alumni
          • Community Events
          • Expert Opinions
          • FHE Commentary
          • FHE News
          • Treatment Legislation
          • View All Articles
  • Admissions
        • Insurance
          • Blue Cross Insurance
          • Beacon Health / Value Options Insurance
          • Cigna Insurance
          • Humana Insurance
          • TRICARE Insurance
        • Admissions
          • Steps to Addiction Help
          • Will Insurance Cover Behavioral Treatment?
          • Self-Pay Rehab
        • FAQ
          • Keeping Your Job in Rehab
          • Example Day in Rehab
        • Contact Admissions
          • Contact Us
          • Secure Payment Form
  • Contact
  •  
Home > Learning > Drug Addiction > What’s a Spliff? And Other Forms of Pot Use

May 27, 2024 By Kristina Robb-Dover

What’s a Spliff? And Other Forms of Pot Use

What is a spliff and other forms of pot use

Since many states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use, the drug has steadily grown in popularity. An estimated 4.8 million people in the U.S. had marijuana use disorder in 2019, according to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Even so, advertisers and influencers continue to trumpet marijuana’s many uses and benefits, and pot shops, dispensaries, and grow houses are cropping up all over. Meanwhile, a whole vocabulary for the various forms of pot use has sprung up. Here, we’ll explore some of the more common slang terms for marijuana.

Terms for Marijuana Use

When it comes to common terms for marijuana and how marijuana is used, there is no shortage of slang and word choices today. Some terms are more prevalent in some parts of the United States or other countries. Similarly, terms that are popular today may fall from favor tomorrow—just as some terms that once were common no longer are.


Terms for Marijuana Use: Spliff, Blunt, Roach, Edibles, CBD Oils, Vaping, Dabbing, ZootSpliff

A spliff is a convenient way to smoke a combination of two habit-forming substances: marijuana and tobacco. Historians of cannabis often point to the West Indian origins of the term spliff, specifically mentioning Jamaica as the originating country. What native Jamaicans refer to as a spliff, though, is a product that only contains marijuana.

According to cannabis culture media, spliffs are more popular in countries outside of the United States. The term is more widely used in some European countries where cannabis users combine tobacco and the THC-laden ingredient, which gives them a buzz of energy. Users like to roll their spliffs because they can customize them to their preferences, controlling the mixture and ratio of tobacco and marijuana. There are also several paper choices to select from, ranging from plain, unflavored papers to distinctly fruity-flavored papers like watermelon, banana, honey, and green apple.

While a spliff is similar to a joint, which is a marijuana product rolled in white cigarette paper, the amount of cannabis in a joint is typically higher than what’s found in a spliff. According to some anecdotal accounts, there’s up to a gram of marijuana in a joint, whereas a spliff may contain only half that amount.

Health Concerns with Spliffs

Using spliffs is associated with a range of short- and long-term health risks. Not only do spliffs carry a cancer risk because they contain tobacco, a known carcinogen, but the marijuana they contain also increases the individual’s susceptibility to cancer. Cannabis smokers typically inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than tobacco smokers. The result is a greater accumulation of carcinogenic ingredients in the respiratory tract. The long-term lung cancer risk of smoking one cannabis joint a day is equal to smoking about 20 tobacco cigarettes a day.

Despite the widely held belief that marijuana is safe to use, research has shown increased health risks for those who smoke the substance. One study noted that cannabis is a complex plant that has 400-plus chemical entities, 60 of which are cannabinoid compounds. Cannabis potency has been increasing worldwide, and several studies found some evidence of links between dose-related use of cannabis and an increased risk of developing a psychotic illness.

A small study published in the European Respiratory Journal found increased lung cancer risk among young adults using cannabis long-term. While researchers cautioned the results are conflicting and limited, they also noted that there may be a greater potential for lung cancer from smoking cannabis than tobacco. In cannabis cigarettes, there’s up to two times the concentration of carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Additionally, the tobacco in spliffs is packed less densely than in cigarettes, and users typically don’t use filters.

While a spliff is unlikely to create the kind of euphoria or high that a joint can produce, there is the possibility that regular spliff use could lead to dependence and addiction. This combination of tobacco and marijuana can become habit-forming and difficult to stop using. Additionally, tobacco contained in a spliff is a stimulant that can counter the mellowing aspect of the cannabis ingredient. While someone may think they’re not becoming dependent on the substances when they smoke spliffs, that may not always be the case.


Blunt

“Blunt” refers to a cigar that has been hollowed out and filled with dried cannabis flower so it can be smoked. Most people think the term “blunt” comes from the Phillies Blunt cigar brand. When it comes to joints versus blunts, blunts use the cigar, whereas joints use rolling paper to hold the cannabis in place.

Health Concerns with a Blunt

The amount of cannabis in a blunt is cause for concern. In general, the cigar used for blunt weed is six times larger than the average joint. The individual is also exposed to the cancer-causing chemicals in cigar wrappers or, in the case of joint rolling papers, chemicals that the individual will inhale when they burn. Additionally, cigar smoke contains more toxins than smoke from a joint, which is damaging to the lungs. The American Lung Association says that tobacco smoke and cannabis smoke share many of the same poisonous materials, harming the airways and lungs with each inhalation.


Roach

A “roach” is the very end of a blunt, spliff, or joint after it’s been smoked. Some people put their roaches into a bong or bowl so they can smoke the last bit of cannabis inside the burnt paper.

Health Concerns with Roaches

In addition to the toxins the individual may inhale from smoking marijuana, they also expose themself to bacteria by smoking roach weed and may introduce a serious infection into their lungs. Some research suggests that lighting cannabis a second time after it’s been exposed to flame can increase inhaled carcinogen levels, especially if the individual uses a butane lighter.


Edibles

Edibles provide a way to ingest cannabis without smoking. The individual can consume THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, in various forms that can include oils, capsules, candies and desserts.

Health Concerns with Edibles

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, taking too much THC in edible form can result in poisoning. Kids and pets have an especially high risk of illness and hospitalization from accidentally ingesting cannabis. The body processes cannabis differently when the substance is eaten versus when it’s smoked, which can result in unexpected effects.

It’s easy to take too much THC when using edibles since it’s difficult to determine the exact dose. Because it takes 30 minutes to two hours for the effects to be noticeable, people often take too much when they don’t get the desired effect right away. The high lasts much longer with edibles than it does with smoked or vaped cannabis. The food the individual had eaten recently, their physical composition, and their THC tolerance also affect their experience with edibles.


CBD Oils

CBD oil contains cannabidiol, a chemical derived from cannabis. It’s often used to relieve pain and anxiety because it doesn’t cause the high that comes from THC. Different forms of CBD can be added to beverages, applied to the skin, or taken as capsules. Individuals can even use CBD as a spray that goes under the tongue.

Health Concerns with CBD Oil

CBD oil isn’t regulated, so the user can’t be sure about the purity of the product unless they purchase from a reputable source. This oil can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners, so it’s important to talk to a doctor before incorporating it into a daily wellness routine. The Mayo Clinic reports side effects that include fatigue, drowsiness, reduced appetite, diarrhea and dry mouth.


Vaping

Vaping involves inhaling vaporized cannabis. Proponents of the practice say it provides a pure experience with less lung damage than smoking. Vaping can be done with a wide variety of devices and substances, including cannabis, flower, oil, and wax-like forms.

Health Concerns with Vaping

Vaping can potentially cause lung damage because of exposure to vitamin E acetate, a common chemical additive in THC vape oils. The CDC even associates vaping nicotine and THC with e-cigarette product-associated lung injury, a life-threatening disease. Vaporizing cannabis also increases the risk of taking too much of the substance and experiencing unwanted effects like paranoia, racing heartbeat, and sweating.


Dabbing

Dabbing refers to the practice of inhaling concentrated THC through a bong, which may also be called a dab rig, outfitted for this purpose. The person places the cannabis concentrate on a quartz or metal device called an e-nail, which is heated with a specialized torch. While it’s similar to vaporizing concentrated cannabis in cartridge form, dabbing delivers a much higher dose of THC in the vapor. It’s also difficult to control intake.

Health Concerns with Dabbing

A 2017 study published in the medical journal Cureus associated dabbing with brain and heart-related toxicity, as well as potential psychosis. Dabs can come from unreliable sources, which introduces unwanted substances into the breathing pathway and bloodstream. They often contain solvents and other contaminants. Side effects may include rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure.


Other Slang for Marijuana

The term “zoot” may be used to describe a joint, blunt, or spliff filled with cannabis or a cannabis-tobacco mixture. It’s a common slang used in the United Kingdom. However, it tends to be a catch-all that can mean any type of smoked marijuana cigarette or cigar. “Jawn” is another common slang term in the cannabis lexicon. According to Urban Dictionary, the term comes from Philadelphia and typically refers to a blunt. However, in Philly, this term can also mean anything from a random person to a location to an object.


Seeking Help for Marijuana Use

While marijuana is legal to use in many states, using this drug isn’t always safe. Many people use the substance for managing mental and physical health conditions, paving the path to dependency. Fortunately, for those who are concerned about how frequently they or a loved one use marijuana, whether it is through spliffs or vapes, help is available. Contact us today to learn how we may be able to help and to begin the journey to a healthier, happier tomorrow.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction, Featured for Drug Addiction

About Kristina Robb-Dover

Kristina Robb-Dover is a content manager and writer with extensive editing and writing experience... read more

Primary Sidebar

Expert Nelson

Expert Review By

Dr. Beau Nelson, DBH, LCSW
Dr. Beau Nelson

Chief Clinical Officer,
at FHE Health

As chief Clinical Officer at FHE Health, a nationally recognized behavioral health treatment provider, he ensures quality, innovation, and comprehensive treatment for patients.

Dr. Nelson has worked in the behavioral health field for more than 22 years. He has served as a clinical director, clinician, and supervisor for mental health pro- grams in acute, sub-acute, and outpatient facilities, and in primary care.

Read More

Learning Center

  • Help for You
  • Help For Loved Ones
  • Help For Alcoholism
  • Help With Substance Abuse
  • Behavioral & Mental Health
  • Life in Recovery
  • Rehab Explained
  • All Articles

Sign up for the Blog

Our Facilities

Take a look at our state of the art treatment center.

View Our Gallery

The Experience Blog

  • Addiction News
  • Alumni
  • Community Events
  • Expert Columns
  • FHE Commentary
  • FHE News
  • Treatment Legislation
  • All Articles

Footer

FHE Health

© 2025 FHE Health

505 S Federal Hwy #2,
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441
1-833-596-3502
youtube facebook instagram linkedin twitter
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • AI Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
A+ BBB and Top Places to Work - Sun Sentinel

Copyright © 2025 · FHE Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}

The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.

If there are any concerns about content we have published, please reach out to us at marketing@fhehealth.com.

833-596-3502

Text/Call Me