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How the dictionary’s new word and the secret language of cannabis reveal modern culture trends.
Language is always a bit of a lark, here is a peek at the dictionary’s new word and the secret language of cannabis. The dictionary recently added a new entry that’s already turning heads: “6 7”. The phrase is a popular, largely nonsensical Gen Alpha and Gen Z slang term stemming from a viral rap song and social media memes featuring NBA player LaMelo Ball. It has no fixed meaning, though some interpret it as “so-so,” and its primary purpose is to serve as an inside joke and a playful interjection in conversations to signal group membership and sometimes to playfully annoy adults.
For Millennials and Gen Z, it’s another shorthanded phrase floating around. In this new lexicon, there are subtle ways younger generations talk about marijuana without saying it outright. And like 6 & 7, this generation has transformed cannabis conversation into something playful, coded, and cultural.
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For Millennials and Gen Z, cannabis isn’t just a plant—it’s a culture, complete with its own lexicon spanning playful slang, discreet references, and digital shorthand. Understanding this “hidden language” offers a window into how younger generations talk about, consume, and normalize cannabis in ways older generations never imagined.
Take, for example, words like “green,” “sticky icky,” “dank,” or “bud,” which are part of a flexible, evolving vocabulary signaling familiarity and community. But it doesn’t stop there. Millennials and Gen Z frequently use coded terms in text messages or social media to bypass restrictions or maintain privacy, turning ordinary words like “Netflix and chill” or “herbal tea” into cheeky euphemisms for cannabis consumption. The language can be playful, ironic, or even rebellious—a reflection of a generation who grew up amid shifting legalization policies and changing cultural attitudes.
Social media has accelerated this linguistic evolution. On platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Discord, cannabis culture thrives through memes, hashtags, and emojis serve as shorthand for both discreet communication and cultural identity. The leaf emoji 🌿 or the “420” reference often functions as a subtle nod, creating an inclusive insider language resonating with peers but might fly under the radar of older generations.
Interestingly, Millennials are witnessing a linguistic bridge between Gen Z and older users. Whereas Boomers and Gen X primarily used straightforward terms like “marijuana” or “pot,” younger generations lean into a mix of humor, irony, and coded vocabulary. This shift reflects more than playful creativity—it signals a deeper change in cannabis normalization. Where older generations often framed cannabis in terms of legality or risk, Millennials and Gen Z describe it with nuance, culture, and even culinary flair, from “infused edibles” to “craft strains” and “microdosing.”
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The evolution of cannabis language isn’t just about words—it’s about generational perspective. For older users, cannabis conversations were private, cautious, or stigmatized. Millennials and Gen Z, by contrast, have turned their lexicon into a form of expression, identity, and community. And as the dictionary updates to capture these shifts, it marks a cultural recognition of language which has long thrived outside the mainstream.
Cannabis has always been more than a plant—it’s a social marker, a generational signal, and now, officially, a dictionary-worthy phenomenon. The secret language Millennials and Gen Z share isn’t just clever slang—it’s a reflection of how culture, legality, and identity intersect in a world changing faster than ever.
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Anthony Washington
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