Dank

Dank is a slang term used in relation to cannabis to describe it being good or high quality, polarising it from its original meaning of something being unpleasantly moist, like a damp cellar. During the 1980s, dank was used to describe cannabis with a strong aroma that was deemed high-grade. People consider dank cannabis to be more flavourful and potent than low-grade cannabis.

In English, dank is also used to describe something that is unpleasantly damp or musty. Dank has also been used in recent years to describe internet memes that are high-quality and clever.

At a glance: Dank

 

 

Where does the word dank come from?

The word dank originates from 1400s Scandinavia and once meant a marshy wet spot before coming to England and translating to moisture or dampness. 

It was typically used to describe damp cellars up until the 1980s where people in the United States started to use it to describe cannabis deemed of a high quality.

Today, when the word dank is used to describe cannabis in the UK and the United States, it means a cannabis of good quality.

What makes cannabis “dank”?

People often consider cannabis to be “dank” when it is of high-quality, free of contamination and high-grade.

High-grade cannabis has higher natural rates of cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

It also contains more terpenes, the aromatic compounds that give cannabis (and many other plants) their distinct flavour and scent; each of these terpenes has its own set of potential properties and benefits. Thiols are a sulphur compound that also contributes to the plant's smell. 

Flavonoids are also found in cannabis and a wide variety of other plants, flavonoids heavily contribute to the plant’s colour, flavour, and sensory experience.

Each of these compounds of the plants can enhance the effects of cannabinoids. This is known as the entourage effect, a theory that suggests that when cannabis compounds are consumed together, they can enhance effects or beneficial results on the body.

In cannabis manufacturing, strains are used to describe plants that have been selectively bred by humans to enhance certain characteristics, such as cannabinoids or terpenes.

Medical cannabis is manufactured to pharmaceutical manufacturing standards (GMP), that means it is regularly tested for safety, cannabinoid strength and other compounds such as terpenes to ensure it is safe to consume and can offer therapeutic benefits.

Is dank cannabis stronger?

Dank is not a scientific measure of the quality of cannabis or a name for a particular cannabis cultivar and is often used as street praise for cannabis, so there’s really no way to know if “dank” cannabis is stronger.

Some may confuse a high potency street cannabis strain like skunk with being "dank" and of high quality. This could be because of its pungent aroma or the way the flower feels.

The issue is that illegal street cannabis has been through no testing to see what its compounds are, how much cannabinoids are present, if it’s been contaminated and safe to consume, or if it is of good quality.

Dank street cannabis vs prescribed medical cannabis in the UK: 

As previously covered, we know that “dank” street cannabis is unregulated and untested, so it poses a real risk with safety and is illegal to buy or have on you as a Class B controlled drug.

Medically prescribed cannabis flower, on the other hand, is grown to pharmaceutical standards and lab-tested to ensure safety.

It is legal to possess when it has been prescribed by a specialist doctor and used as directed, unlike other prescribed medications there is no single fixed price for medical cannabis.

Even then, medical patients face limits: flowers cannot be smoked, and possession is only lawful when the product is in its original packaging with a prescription label.

Street cannabis often has unknown or inaccurate levels of THC and CBD, while medical cannabis has cannabinoid concentration stated clearly to help with dosing and consistent effects, which isn’t possible with black market cannabis.

Is dank cannabis legal in the UK?

The word dank is most commonly associated with street cannabis, in that case, dank cannabis is not legal in the UK and is a Class B controlled drug.

Medical cannabis has been legal since November 2018 when prescribed by a specialist.

Through the NHS, only certain conditions, such as rare forms of epilepsy, spasticity linked to multiple sclerosis, and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, are approved for medical cannabis prescriptions.

Private clinics, like Releaf, have a team of specialists who are able to prescribe medical cannabis to patients for a wider variety of conditions on the basis they have tried two traditional treatment methods that have failed.

Frequently asked questions about “dank” cannabis

What is a dank drug? 

A dank drug is considered a drug of a high quality. In the United States in the 1980s, it was used to call street cannabis good quality.

Is dank a drug?

Dank is not a drug, it’s a slang-term used to describe drugs, typically street cannabis, of a high quality.

Is dank weed good or bad?

Dank is a street term used to describe high quality cannabis, however it is not a scientific measure of high quality cannabis.

What does dank mean in UK slang?

In the UK, dank is used as a slang term to describe high quality cannabis. It can also be used to describe high quality internet memes.

How can you tell if cannabis is high quality? 

The only way to tell if cannabis is of high quality is through upholding pharmaceutical standards of manufacturing and lab testing, like Releaf does with our medical cannabis prescriptions. This ensures the cannabis has not been contaminated and can measure compounds such as cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids and thiols naturally found in plants.

What is really good weed called?

In slang terms, good weed can be called a number of different names such as dank or loud. In medical terms, there is no one word that describes quality weed, instead lab tests are used to look at the potency and compositions of the cannabis flower.

What is low quality weed called?

Street terms for low quality weed range from brickweed to cabbage. In the medical cannabis industry these are not words used to describe low quality cannabis.

If you would like to see whether you are eligible to receive medical cannabis treatment in the UK, take a look at our medical cannabis eligibility checker. It takes 30 seconds to fill in, is free, and could help you find the relief you’re looking for.

Alternatively, take a look at our medical cannabis glossary to learn more about the various terms you may hear associated with medical cannabis.

Releaf - redefining healthcare