Why cannabis is called ‘herb'
The term simply reflects what cannabis is: an herb, in the culinary and botanical sense. Rastafari doctrine treats cannabis as a plant given for meditation and healing, and calling it ‘the holy herb' reinforced that framing. In hip-hop and R&B from the ‘90s and 2000s, ‘herb' became a preferred term for casual references.
Herb vs weed vs bud
All three refer to the same thing: dried cannabis flower. ‘Herb' tends to carry a slightly reverent or laid-back vibe. ‘Weed' is the neutral catch-all. ‘Bud' emphasizes the physical flower itself — the nug you're smoking.
Herbal cannabis and terpenes
The reason cannabis works as an ‘herb' beyond the high is the terpene content. Terpenes are the aromatic oils cannabis shares with other herbs — myrcene (also in hops and mango), pinene (pine, rosemary), linalool (lavender), caryophyllene (black pepper). They shape flavor and modulate the effect of THC.
Choosing quality herb
Good herb is dense, sticky with trichomes, and has a strong, distinctive smell without any hay/grass off-notes. Color should be vibrant — greens, purples, oranges — not brown. Trim should be tight and buds should be trichome-frosted. Everything on a licensed NY menu is lab-tested for potency and contaminants.
Buying licensed herb in NYC
At Good Grades — a licensed New York adult-use dispensary in Queens — every gram on the menu is lab-tested through the state's Office of Cannabis Management compliance chain, tagged from cultivator to shelf, and delivered same-day across Queens, Nassau County, and much of the NYC metro. 21+ with valid ID at delivery. Browse the live menu to compare THC content, terpene profile, and grow method before you order.