A LEXICON OF SLANG AND DRUG LANGUAGE 1967-1969

1967 was a good year. It was the year that DRUGS were coming under real attack in the newspapers and the “Adult Generation” was being educated to ‘Take a stand against Drug Abusers.”

Newspaper columnists were busily wandering aimlessly among us and everyone with hair was a potential interview. What did they want to know about? Well, obvious really. I lost count of the times I was accosted on the streets of St Petersburg fla. and a reporter wanted to bail us up to talk about what it’s like “Being a Hippie.”

First question out of their mouths. “Do you abuse drugs?’  Did you notice that? Do you ABUSE drugs?

They would have got a much better answer if they had asked ‘Do you USE drugs?” But the editorial guidlines required the question to be asked in that way.

It was the year we began to develop our own slang. (Adopting a few from the beatnicks, and a few from earlier too.) Essentially though the language as we know it today really began to change.

There has always been slang, but 1966-68 were the years when language exploded. Many of the slang words we used then have become common usage, some have gone, and there have been additions, but generally speaking the generation of Baby Boomers were highly literate and creative.

How many of these are still in use? How many have evolved or been absorbed into common everyday life. At the time this was the lexicon of the DRUG USING GENERATION.  Many of the words used have also been adapted to take on new meanings as language evolves.

A:

ACAPULCO GOLD The original top grade, yellowish coloured marijuana.

ACID-LSD.

ACID RAP talking  and letting the mind flow while on an acid trip. (LSD)

ACID HEAD A heavy LSD user

ACID TEST LSD party.

AIRPLANING sniffing hash or marijuana resin from the end of a joint. (As in Jefferson Airplane)

ALICE B. TOKLAS BROWNIES . Hash brownies.

APPLE TURN-ONS marijuana mixed with food, (accumulative action of about 3 or 4

hours)

ARTILLERY- equipment for injecting drugs.

AWAY under influence of drugs.

B:

BABY-SIT to guide a person through a drug experience.

BACK TRACK OR BACK UP to allow blood to come back into the syringe before injecting drugs.

BAD SCENE a situation likely to result in unpleasant drug experience or other types of trouble.

BAG a container of drugs. Also, “doing your own thing” as in “writing is my bag”

BAGMAN pusher.

BALE approximately 1 oz. marijuana.

BALLOONS  Small rubber balloons of heroin, or sometimes capsules are referred to as balloons

BANG marijuana. Or to inject drugs.

BARBS barbiturates.

BC PILLS birth control pills.

BE AT FEET to walk or run. In a hurry.

BEND SOME LEATHER leave the scene, to takeoff.

BENNIES benzedrine.

BETHESDA GOLD type of brownish-yellow marijuana, not common now.

BERNICE cocaine.

BINDLE small quantity or packet of narcotics.

BIGD LSD

BLACK RUSSIAN dark colored, very potent hashish.

BLANK extremely low grade narcotics. Or fraudulent dope. “I’ve been blanked” is “I’ve been sold fake dope”

BLOW  marijuana or similar substances.

BLOW A BAG sniff glue.

BLOW A STICK smoke a marijuana cigarette

BLOW ONES MIND something really excites you or upsets you to the lunacy pitch: to break with personal reality..

BLUE morphine.

BLUE ANGELS, BLUE DEVILS OR BLUE

HEAVENS amytal (barbiturates.).

BLUE SAGE marijuana cigarette.

BLUE VELVET paregoirc and pyribenzamine, mixed and injected.

BOMBERS large marijuana cigarettes.

B O M B ID O , B O M B I T A OR BOMBITO amphetamines tor injection.

BOO marijuana.

BOOK the PDR (physician’s desk reference .

BOOST to shoplift. ‘

BOXED in jail.

BREAD money

BROCCOLI marijuana

BUZZ high emotional plateau reached during a trip. A good feeling.

BURNED receive phony or diluted drugs.

BUMMER a bad trip An unpleasant drug experience. Bad news.

BUSINESSMAN’S SPECIAL OR HIGH UMT (hallucinogenic)

BUSTED arrested

BUTTONS sections of the peyote cactus (hallucinogen).

C:

CACTUS mescaline (hallucinogen).

CAN loz. marijuana.

CANADIAN BLACK a variety of marijuana grown in Canada.

CANDY barbiturates. (Any variety. )

CANDY MAN. Dealer in variety of drugs, mostly pills

CAP a capsule of drugs.

CARTWHEELS amphetamine sulfate (round. white, double scored tablets. Sometimes called Whites.

CAT hip person. Nicked from the Beatniks of the 40’s and 50’s

CHIPPING taking small amounts ol drugs on an irregular basis.

CHOPPER motorcycle

CHRISTMAS TREES tuinal,secobarbital,and amobarbital,in red and blue capsules. (Known also as Reds and Blues for obvious reasons.)

CHAMP a drug user who won’t reveal his supplier even under pressure.

CHARLIE cocaine or heroin

CHICAGO GREEN a green colored poor type of marijuana

CHIPPIE a prostitute

CLEAR UP withdraw from drugs.

COASTING under drug influence.

COKE cocaine.

COLD TURKEY sudden withdrawal from drugs.

CONNECTION pusher.

COOL to be in tune with the modern scene; to handle life situations in satisfactory manner.

COOK UP  prepare opium for smoking.

COPILOTS amphetamines.

COP to make a buy. Or to take a beating.

COP OUT to withdraw; alibi or confess; to duck an issue.

CRANK another name for speed methedrine.

CRYSTAL methedrine for injection.

CRYING WEED marijuana.

CUBES LSD.

D:

DABBLE take small amounts of drugs on an irregular basis.

DAY-GLO PAINT paint with iridescent sheen used to paint bodies.

DEAL to push narcotics.

DECK small packet of drugs

DEXIES dexedrine (green heart-shaped amphetamine tablets.

DIME BAG ten dollar purchase of drugs.

DIRTY possessing drugs, liable to arrest if searched.

DOING YOUR OWN THING doing what you like to do, whether legal or otherwise.

DOLLIES dolophine tablets.

DOMINO to purchase drugs.

DMT dimethylytryptamine (an hallucinogen).

DOPER person who uses drugs regularly.

DOWNS or DOWNERS barbiturates.

DREAMER morphine.

DROP to take capsules or pills by month.

DROP A DIME turn in a friend for drug abuse by writing a letter to the authorities.

DROPPED arrested

DROPPING THE BODY taking LSD trip.

DUMMY a purchase which did not contain narcotics.

DUST cocaine.

DYNAMITE high grade heroin.

E:

ELECTRIC KOOL-AIDE punch with LSD added.

F:

FACTORY equipment for injecting drugs.

FAG homosexual: cigarette: anyone you don’t like.

FALLOUT overdose.

FIT equipment for injecting drugs.

FLAKE cocaine.

FLASH thrill.

FLEA POWDER poor quality narcotics.

FLIP OUT OR “FLIP YOUR BIRD” to lose mental or emotional control following use of drugs, especially hallucinogens.

FLIM FLAM to “con” someone: to tell a tall story.

FLOATING under the influence of drugs.

FOOTBALLS oval shaped amphetamine sulfate tablets.

FREAK lose control. An odd person.

FREAKING OUT when you have run the gamut of every social and personal failure: and are now ready for status quo of awakened  insanity.

FRESH ANDSWEET out of  j a i l .

FUZZ police.

G:

GAGE marijuana.

GEE HEAD paregoric user.

GRATIS. Free, or for nothing. Sometimes money.

GREASER certain type of dress: leather jackets, or patent leather shoes, slicked back

hair for boys, high teased hair for girls.

GETTING THE SMARTS trying to raise your low achievement records to a passing level

GETTING YOUR HEAD STRAIGHT trying to withdraw  from drugs: trying to clear up a personal problem.

GIMMICKS equipment for injecting drugs.

GIVE WINGS to inject someone in the vein with drugs or to teach a person to

inject him or herself.

GLASS GUN hypodermic syringe: Sometimes, an eye dropper.

GO APE to lose control; go crazy.

GO BANANAS to lose control or go nuts.

GOAT Pontiac GTO

GOING TO THE WHEEL. Heading out to see a dealer.

GOLD DUST cocaine.

GOODS narcotics

GOOFBALLS barbiturates.

GRASS marijuana.

GREENIES dexedrme tablets, green and heartshaped.

GROOVIN free form of high indulgence, enjoying sexual or drug freedom. (As in the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Groovin’ on a sunny afternoon.’.

GROSSED OUT : being crude or vulgar for the purpose of making people laugh.

GUN Syringe, or hypodermic needle

H:

H heroin

HAIR standing still in the nude, not moving a muscle in order to not be arrested. (Something like planking these days but the thought was that nudity was only illegal if you were actually moving!)

HAMILTON ten dollar bill.

HANG LOOSE stay relaxed.

HANG UP a personal problem.

HARD STUFF morphine, cocaine or heroin.

H ARPOON equipment for injecting drugs.

HARRY heroine.

HASH (HASHISH) resin gathered from flowers.

HAY marijuana.

HEARTS benzedrine or dexedrine, heart shaped tablets; bennies are orange, and dexies are green.

HEAD (POTHEAD, ACIDHEAD ETC.) one who is high as much of the time as possible on LSD. marijuana or hash.

HEAD SHOPS psychedelic shops.

HEAVENLY BLUES blue morning glory seeds.

HEAVY exceptional or unusual . Or not a problem to a person. “He aint heavy he’s my brother.”

HEAT police.

HEESH hashish.

HEMP marijuana.

HIT to purchase drugs, or to get bnsted- arrested.

HOCUS narcotic solution ready for injection.

HOLDING having drugs in one’s possession.

HOOKED addicted

HOPHEAD narcotic addict.

HOPPED UP under the influence of drugs.

HORRORS terrifying hallucinations and delusions.

HORSE heroin.

HOT wanted by the police.

HOT SHOT -a fatal dose.

HUSTLER a prostitute.

HYPE a narcotic addict.

ICE CREAM HABIT a small, irregular drug habit.

IT’S A GAS fun or something that is wonderful.

INWARD hallucinogen.

IN THE GROOVE feeling great, on top of the world.

JOB to inject drugs.

JIVE marijuana.

JOINT a marijuana cigarette.

JOLLY BEANS amphetamines.

JONES narcotic addict, drug habit.

JOY POP to inject small amounts of drugs irregularly.

JOY POWDER heroin.

JUMP BACK JACK don’t lose your temper or your cool.

JUNK narcotics.

JUNKIE an addict.

KEY a kilo or 2.2lbs of drugs, usually heroin, coke, or dope.

KICK to abandon a drug habit; a thrill.

KIT morphine.

LA TURNAROUNDS amphetamines.

LAME a square person: a straight or an oddball person.

LAYOUT equipment, for injecting drugs.

LET IT ALL HANG OUT to be yourself, do your own thing.

LET’S ROAR to leave in a hurry.

LEAF  low grade low THC with no buds or flowers in it.

LEMONADE poor heroin.

LID approximately 1 oz. marijuana.

LIGHT UP A BAG to snifg glue or petrol etc

LINCOLN a five dollar bill.

LOCO WEED marijuana.

M morphine.

MACHINERY equipment for injecting drugs.

MAINLINE to inject drugs directly into the vein.

MAINTAIN to reach and regulate a level of fantasy or depersonalization in order to enjoy a constant “high.”

MAKE A MEET to purchase drugs.

MAKE THE SCENE to keep an appointment; being seen in public with someone with whom  you are openly intimate: enjoying an occasion.

MAN police; a pusher.

MANICURE high grade of marijuana, with no seeds or stems.

MARY JANE marijuana.

MELLOW YELLOW a state of bliss reached during an LSD trip

MESCO mescaline. a chemical taken from peyote cactus.

MESS to inject a narcotic incorrectly, causing either lumps on the arms or hepatitis

METH methamphetamine. liquid or crystalline form, usually injected for rapid results

METH HEADS chronic and heavy users of methedrine. Or methamphetamine.

MEZZ marijuana.

MICKEY FINN chloral hydrate. An unknown drug in a drink. (Ie:To Slip a Mickey.)MIKES micrograms of LSD or similar drugs.

MISS EMMA morphine.

MOD modern style: type of dress, as in Mods and Rockers.

MOJO narcotics. Also ‘personality’ as in “I work my mojo on her.”

MONKEY a drug habit where physical dependence is present.

MOTHER a pusher.

MULE one who delivers narcotics for a pusher.

MUSHROOMS psilocybin. an hallucinogen synthesized from mexican mushrooms.

NARCO narcotic addict; a narcotic agent.

NARK narcotic agent.

NEEDLE hypodermic syringe.

NICKLE BAG a five dollar purchase of drugs.

NIMBY nembutal. yellow pentobarbital capsules.

NITTY GRITTY the crux of the matter.

NOWHERE alcohol mixed with tranquilizers.

NUMBERS cocaine. ‘

NUMBERS heroin.

NUMBER 13 marijuana.

OD overdose of drugs.

OFF withdrawn from drugs.

ON THE NOD under the influence of drugs mainly heroin.

ONTHE STREET out of jail.

O R A N G I E S  or ORANGE WEDGES: Dexedrine in heart shaped tablets that break into two wedges.

OUT OF SIGHT something wonderful or great;

PACK a packet of heroin.

PAD (CRASH PAD. TEA PAD) apartment, or place to stay when using drugs.

PANAMA RED a fine grade of rust colored marijuana.

PANIC shortage of drugs on the market.

PAPER a prescription or packet of narcotics.

PEACHES benzedrine.

PEANUTS barbiturates.

PEELING OUT taking off or leaving the scene of a drug party or group.

PEPPIES amphetamines.

PHENNIES barbiturates.

PEYOTE mescaline.

PGORPO paregoric.

PIECE a container of drugs, holds 1 oz

PIG police.

PINKS seconal capsules.

PLANT a cache of narcotics.

PLASTIC a stereotype hippie.

PLASTIC HEAD a person who fakes taking drugs for social acceptance

POOGIE paregoric.

POP to inject drugs.

POPPYHEAD  opium user.

POT marijuana.

POUND five dollars

PSYCHING insane.

PURPLE HEARTS dexamyl. combination of dexedrine and amobarbital tablets or capsules.

PUTTING ONE ON. to make fun of or to kid someone.

QUARTER BAG about 1 oz. marijuana worth $25.

QUILL folded matchbox cover from which narcotics are sniffed.

RACK bed.

RACKED OUT asleep.

RAINBOWS tuinal, a blue and red barbiturate

SLAMMED* in jail.

SLEEPERS- barbiturates.

SKINPOP  to inject heroin under the skin rather than the vein.

SMACK heroin.

SMOKE wood-alcohol.

SNAKE pot head, marijuana user.

SNIPE marijuana cigaret butt.

SNIFF to sniff narcotics (usually heroin or cocaine) through the nose.

SNORT to sniff narcotics.

SNOW cocaine.

SPACEBOW having a drug experience.

SPEED methamphetamine, usually injected.

SPEEDBALL. Combines a stimulant and depressant (often cocaine mixed

with morphine or heroin).

SPEED FREAK one who is constantly high on amphetamines.

SPIKE needle for injecting drugs.

SPLIT to leave the scene.

SPOON a measure of drug to be injected, usually referring to about one gram of amphetamines.

SQUARE a non-addict; adults or straights.

STARDUST cocaine.

STASH a cache of narcotics.

STICK a large bud from a marijuana plant.

STOOLIE. An informer

STONED to be high on drugs.

SOUL essential quality; inner feelings and thoughts

STP also-known as DOM, a synthetic  chemical related to mescaline and the amphetamines.

STRAIGHT OR STRAIGHT ARROW squares or ordinary people.

STRAIGHT UP  honest, a good person.

STRUNG-OUT to be addicted.

STUFF narcotics.

SUGAR powdered narcotics.

SUNSHINE LSD:

SURF type of dress, collegiate style.

SWEETIES preludin.

SYNCED in tune with the world.

TEA marijuana.

TELLING IT LIKE IT;  telling the truth ,the whole story.

TENNESSEE BLUE A type of marijuana not much found today

TEXAS TEA marijuana. Stolen from the old slang for OIL.

THC tetrahydro cannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana.

THOROUGHBRED a high-type hustler who sells pure narcotics. Also, top grade dope.

THREADS clothes.

TOOIES tuinal.

TOOLIN AROUND bumming around, doing nothing in particular.

TOSSED searched for possession of drugs.

TRACKS needle marks, scars along veins after many injections.

TRAVEL AGENT pusher of LSD, STP, etc.

TRIP (TRIPPING.) being high on hallucinogens, particularly LSD.

TRIPS LSD

TRUCK DRIVERS amphetamines.

TURKEY a capsule purported to be narcotic but filled with a non-narcotic substance.

TURN A TRICK to steal; to become a pusher. To charge for sex.

TURNED OFF (TUNED -OUT).- withdraw from society.

TURNED ON. under influence of drugs or alcohol.

TWENTY-FIVE LSD.

UNCLE federal narcotic agent

UPTIGHT tense, nervous, worried.

UPWARD marijuana.

VET Corvette.

VIBRATIONS feeling emotional experience, ie good or bad vibrations.

VISUAL reoccurrences or flashes of a scene, experienced by LSD users even when not on a “trip “

VOYAGER person u nder influence of LSD

WAKE UPS amphetamines.

WASHED OUT (WASHED UP) withdrawal

WASTE to get rid of ; to kill.

WASTED under the influence of drugs.

WEED marijuana.

WEED HEAD marijuana user.

WEEKEND HABIT a small, irregular drug habit.

WHEELS car.

WHISKERS federal narcotic agent

WHITES amphetamine sulfate tablets

WHITE STUFF morphine.

WIRED to be addicted.

WORKS  drug equipment or parphenallia.

XANADU LSD experience; to plateau.

YELLOW JACKETS  Nembutal.  (The euthanasia drug) These days used only by vets for pet euthanasia.

YEN SLEEP abnormal, tossing; a sleep experienced during withdrawal

ZILCH a nowhere situation- a square , also, nothing.

Well, there you are, a lexicon from 1967-1969. Some of the words have changed, or evolved in current usage, some have gone from the language. But if you are a writer, writing about the times, this is a helpful.list. Always happy to hear from any old hippies who might have additions to the list.