Stone: definition, etymology and difference from high

The experience of being intoxicated by the effects of cannabis. Often used to describe the heavy, sedative and relaxing experiences sometimes associated with cannabis consumption.

Where does the word «stone» come from?

The origin of the term «stoned» goes back to biblical times, when sinners were pelted with stones as punishment. In the 1920s and 1930s, people began to use the terms «stoned» or «stone drunk» to refer to people heavily under the influence of alcohol, probably because excessive drinking could make one feel beaten and physically worn out, in other words, as if they'd been physically stoned.

Etymologists don't know exactly when the definition of «stoned» changed from an alcohol-related term to one more closely related to cannabis use.

The first mention of the term «stoned» in the’Oxford English Dictionary dates back to 1953, when it was defined as «under the influence of drugs» in the glossary section of the book «The Traffic of Narcotics», co-authored by Harry J. Anslinger, then Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and notorious enemy of cannabis.

As cannabis use became more widespread in the 1960s, references to «getting high» in pop culture more often referred to cannabis than alcohol, as in Bob Dylan's «Rainy Day Women #12 & 35».

Other theories of origin

The Internet is full of unverified theories about the origins of the word «stoned» and its connection with cannabis. These theories are widely circulated but have not been verified by etymologists. They are presented as folklore.

From the Italian word «stonato», which can be translated as «confused» or «misty». From smoking cannabis in a stone pipe. From the immobilizing effect that cannabis can have, giving the impression that consumers are as immobile as a stone.

What's the difference between being stoned and being high?

Why can cannabis make you stoned?

The answer lies in the plant's chemical composition. Several factors favor a stoned rather than a high effect:

THC/CBD ratio the CBD moderates the psychoactive effects of THC and amplifies its relaxing effects. CBD-rich cannabis produces a more sedative, less cerebral effect.

The CBN the cannabinol is a cannabinoid that forms naturally through the breakdown of THC (under the effect of heat, light and time). It is known for its marked sedative properties - poorly preserved or too old cannabis will be more stoner than depressant precisely because its THC has partially converted to CBN.

Myrcene This terpene, dominant in many indica varieties, is often cited as the main culprit behind the couch-lock effect. It is thought to facilitate the passage of the blood-brain barrier and amplify the sedative effects of THC - the same terpene found in mango, known for its high potency. amplify the effects of cannabis.

Stoner comedies

The term «stoned» came to include «stoner», slang for a cannabis user who spends most of his time getting high (and is therefore usually lazy or unmotivated). The «lazy stoner» archetype has become so popular and widespread that it has spawned its own film genre: the « stoner movies« .