πΏ
Herb
ΙΛrb (US), hΙΛb (UK)
Definitions
1
Nature Β· Plants
Common
A green plant or leafy sprig, typically used to represent herbs used in cooking, tea, or medicine. Often depicts a stem with multiple small leaves.
Used when discussing cooking, gardening, natural remedies, or herbal teas.
Just planted some basil and mint in my garden πΏ
Instagram caption
This tea has a nice calming effect π΅πΏ
WhatsApp message
In many contexts, also serves as a coded reference to cannabis/marijuana, especially in drug-related conversations.
2
Slang Β· Recreational
Common
A euphemistic representation of cannabis/marijuana, used as coded language in discussions about recreational or medicinal marijuana use.
Often used with smoke emojis or fire emojis to emphasize recreational context.
Hanging with friends tonight πΏπ¨
Social media post
Got my medical card renewed today πΏπ₯
Text message
Usage varies widely based on regional legality of cannabis and platform content policies.
3
Lifestyle Β· Wellness
Uncommon
Represents natural wellness, organic living, or eco-friendly practices. Used to convey a connection to nature or holistic health approaches.
Common in wellness, yoga, and natural lifestyle content.
Starting my day with meditation and green juice πΏβ¨
Instagram story
Part of digital aesthetic for natural/organic brands and influencers focusing on sustainable living.
Evolution Timeline
2015
Initially used primarily for cooking and gardening contexts in mainstream platforms.
Early emoji adoption phase focusing on literal meanings.
2017
Increased usage as cannabis reference coinciding with marijuana legalization in more US states.
Changing legal status created need for coded language in public platforms.
2020
Surge in wellness and natural lifestyle usage during pandemic-driven health consciousness.
COVID-19 pandemic sparked interest in natural remedies and home gardening.
Cultural Context
The herb emoji exemplifies polysemy in digital communication, with meanings ranging from literal plants to coded drug references based on context and audience.
Usage reflects changing social attitudes toward cannabis, with the emoji serving as a socially acceptable reference in public forums where explicit language might be inappropriate.
Frequency as cannabis reference correlates with regional legalization patterns, with higher usage in areas where marijuana is legal or decriminalized.
Platform content policies influence usage patterns, with more explicit cannabis references on platforms with less stringent content moderation.
Regional Variations
Australia
Used with slang terms like 'bush' or 'green' when referring to cannabis.
United Kingdom
More commonly used for cooking contexts than in US, though cannabis reference is still understood.
United States
Frequently used as cannabis reference in states where marijuana is legal or decriminalized.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: More likely to use literally for cooking or gardening. Cannabis reference understood but used more cautiously.
Gen_Z: Primarily used as cannabis reference or aesthetic element in nature-themed content. Common in TikTok and Instagram Stories.
Older: Primarily used in literal sense for gardening or cooking contexts. May be unaware of drug culture connotations.
Millennials: Used both as cannabis reference and in wellness contexts. Frequent in recipe sharing and plant-based lifestyle content.
Common Combinations
πΏπ¨
Smoking marijuana/cannabis, with smoke representing the act of consumption.
Common code for recreational marijuana use where explicit discussion might be filtered or inappropriate.
πΏπ₯
High-quality or potent cannabis, with fire indicating strength or the act of lighting it.
Used in cannabis culture to indicate premium product or smoking session.
πΏπ΅
Herbal tea or cannabis-infused beverage, depending on context.
Dual meaning spans wellness culture and cannabis edibles discussions.
πΏβ¨
Natural wellness, holistic healing, or spiritual connection to plants.
Popular in wellness, yoga, and spiritual communities to indicate natural healing properties.
πΏπ§
Mental clarity from nature or cognitive effects of cannabis.
Dual meaning depending on audience - wellness communities vs. recreational users.