Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. But when it comes to cannabis, words can seem like all you’ve got. A weed emoji has yet to be introduced to Apple’s keyboard, leaving a gaping hole in modern communication that has wreaked havoc on smoke sesh invites, dispensary payments, and the Twitter feeds of cannabis businesses around the world.
Since Apple has always been careful to include only legal substances in the keyboard, we probably won’t see a cannabis emoji until federal marijuana legalization occurs.
However, thanks to semantic progression and the undaunted resourcefulness of the cannabis community, there are still ways to use emojis in weed-related discourse. Just as the peach emoji has evolved to mean something completely unrelated to fruit, so, too, have several emojis evolved to be associated with cannabis.
After conducting a thorough investigation through Reddit and X (formerly known as Twitter) threads on the subject, we made a comprehensive list of the most popular emojis used to symbolize cannabis on the internet. Consider this your quick-access dictionary for canna-moji lingo—that is, until the tech gods bestow upon us a pot leaf emoji.
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The maple leaf
Wrong as it may seem, the universal symbol for cozy, autumn vibes is also one of the O.G. symbols for pot, presumably because it looks the most like a marijuana leaf.
Since the development of other marijuana-lookalike emojis, though, and since many Canadians found the association offensive, the maple leaf’s popularity has dwindled.
The four-leaf clover
Another symbol for the cannabis leaf, this lucky, green icon tends to appeal to those who call weed “clover” and prefer it to Guinness on St. Patrick’s day.
The pineapple
Just as there are a variety of drinks in the emoji language, there are a variety of forms of weed. Enter the pineapple emoji: the text symbol for bud. We think it’s pretty cute. And with the popularity of the movie Pineapple Express, this nod to the stoner classic is perfect for weed smoking film buffs.
The Christmas tree
If you find yourself at a loss for words describing the quality your weed, there’s an emoji to help.
Evergreen tree emojis (evergreen) were first used to describe dope because of their connection with the cannabis nickname “tree,” often used by rappers (think “All I do is smoke trees, call me a log head” from Brisco and Lil’ Wayne’s “I’m in the Hood.”)
It wasn’t long, though, before the evergreen tree wasn’t enough. Cannabis enthusiasts needed a differentiator–so they turned to the world’s symbol of yuletide cheer. Now, the evergreen tree symbolizes average weed, while the Christmas tree emoji symbolizes the good stuff–you know, the stuff that gets you the most lit.
Two other tree emojis are associated with cannabis: the palm tree and the deciduous tree. It’s all about what resonates with your experience.
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The herb
You guessed it, this one means herb – and not the kind you keep in a spice rack. This quintessential weed emoji is definitely top shelf.
The leaf fluttering in the wind
Whether this leaf is fluttering up or down is debatable, but optimistic cannabis-enthusiasts believe that leaf is riding high. Try shooting a friend this emoji next time you want to avoid explaining why you can’t make your dinner plans.
Broccoli
Rollin’ up your broccoli like Lil Yachty? Don’t forget your greens.
The broccoli emoji has been championed by many as looking the most like cannabis flower. Whether you see it or not, this emoji is a great way to look healthy and be stealthy while texting your friends in public.
Wind
The wind or “dash” emoji has come to not only indicate speed but also smoking a joint. This weed emoji is often used to arrange a sesh. Add a question mark to see if a friend wants to join–odds are they’ll respond with “bet.”
The Alembic
We’ve talked a lot about weed-synonymous emojis, but what about forms of consumption?
Fear not–there are emojis for that, too.
The cigarette emoji lives a double life, indicating either a tobacco cigarette or a joint, depending on context.
So, too, does one of the most obscure emojis: the alembic, a chemical distiller that made its way onto the emoji keyboard by the same logic that put the Dodo bird there (in other words, we have no idea how.) Nevertheless, this random chemistry tool gave the cannabis community a bong emoji, and that sparked a good reaction.
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Fire
A longtime symbol for blazing up, this one generally needs to be poised next to the cigarette or broccoli emojis to get the message across. Alternatively, position this around the fire emoji to convey being lit. With so many people calling good bud “fire,” this pot emoji can also indicate high quality.
The rocket ship
If you’re planning on smoking some moon rocks weed or eating three brownies in one sitting tonight, this one’s for you. The rocket ship emoji indicates getting so high you touch the stars (though let’s be honest, you’re stroking your lampshade.) Use this to safely alert your friends and family before blastoff.
The gas pump
Any fan of weed is familiar with the pungent gasoline aroma associated with OG and Diesel strains. Use the gas pump emoji to let folks know you’re up and packing some seriously top-shelf bud. After all, “gas” was the preferred nomenclature for the best buds before fire entered the chat.
The honey pot
Cannabis extracts have risen in popularity over the last decade. The honey pot has become a standard emoji for dabs, thanks to extracts’ tendency to resemble the crystalline substance. For all folks out there who love their concentrates, this marijuana emoji is perfection.
It turns out the lack of a dab emoji is also a cause of ire for weed fans. But the honey pot isn’t the only solution.
The diamond
Another great emoji for dabs, the diamond represents a variety of cannabis concentrates known as diamonds and sauce. The shiny rock-like extracts are highly coveted, and if one pops up in a chat, it likely means a dab proposal.
The clouded face
Now that we’ve covered a wide range of weed emojis, all that remains are symbols for when you’re good and toasted. The clouded face is the perfect example of a high emoji you can use once liftoff has occurred.
Perhaps it’s smoke in the face or a general feeling of haziness, but the clouded face could be an emoji for pot smokers all around.
The melted face
Taking things one step further is the melted face. The perfect emoji for when you’ve eaten a high dose of edibles or hit one too many indica strains, the melted face resonates big time with tokers young and old. We’ve all been too stoned from time to time, and this weed emoji somehow understands.
The kite
Ever heard the phrase, “High as a kite?” Yeah, you get the picture (no pun intended).
Weed emojis may not be approved by the tech world, but perhaps that will change if cannabis is ever legalized nationwide. In the meantime, use these lowkey emojis for weed to keep the vibes high.