How to Sign "Marajuana"

Form your dominant hand into an "F" handshape, with your index finger and thumb touching and your other fingers extended. Bring the hand up to your mouth, with your palm facing inward. Tap the tips of your index finger and thumb against the side of your lips twice, as if you are holding a joint.

Examples Using "Marajuana" in a Sentence

1

Is marijuana legal in this state?

Sign "marijuana" using the F-handshape at the mouth, followed by "legal", "this", and "state", making sure to raise your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question.

2

He uses medical marijuana for his pain.

Sign "he", "use", "medical", and then "marijuana" by tapping the F-handshape to your lips, followed by "for" and "pain".

3

I smell marijuana.

Point to yourself for "I", sign "smell" by bringing a slightly cupped hand up to your nose, and then sign "marijuana".

How to Sign "Marajuana"
Form your dominant hand into an "F" handshape, with your index finger and thumb touching and your other fingers extended. Bring the hand up to your mouth, with your palm facing inward. Tap the tips of your index finger and thumb against the side of your lips twice, as if you are holding a joint.
Visual Logic(Etymology)
This sign is a classic example of an iconic sign. The "F" handshape visually mimics the action of holding a small, rolled joint between the thumb and index finger, while the tapping motion at the lips represents the act of smoking it.
Signing Tips
Ensure your middle, ring, and pinky fingers are clearly extended and spread apart to form a crisp "F" handshape. The movement should be a light, quick double-tap against the side of your mouth, keeping the motion controlled and close to your face.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using a "V" handshape instead of an "F" handshape, which actually means "to smoke a cigarette." Another mistake is making the tapping motion too large or moving the hand too far from the face between taps.
Regional Variations
This sign is widely used and understood across the ASL community with minimal regional variation.
Examples Using "Marajuana" in a Sentence
1

Is marijuana legal in this state?

Sign "marijuana" using the F-handshape at the mouth, followed by "legal", "this", and "state", making sure to raise your eyebrows to indicate a yes/no question.

2

He uses medical marijuana for his pain.

Sign "he", "use", "medical", and then "marijuana" by tapping the F-handshape to your lips, followed by "for" and "pain".

3

I smell marijuana.

Point to yourself for "I", sign "smell" by bringing a slightly cupped hand up to your nose, and then sign "marijuana".

Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from the sign for "smoking"?

The general sign for smoking a cigarette uses a "V" handshape (representing a cigarette between two fingers) tapped at the mouth. The sign for marijuana specifically uses the "F" handshape to show holding a joint.

Should I inhale or make a smoking sound when signing this?

No, you do not need to make any sound effects or physically inhale. The manual sign itself conveys the full meaning, though you can use facial expressions to match the context of your sentence.

Does it matter which side of my mouth I tap?

You should tap the side of your mouth that corresponds to your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, use your right hand and tap the right side of your lips.

ASL is a beautiful, expressive language. Practice regularly and have fun!