A
cigarette consisting solely of the
wicked weed. This, to my understanding, distinguishes it from a 'joint,' which is traditionally rolled with a combination of tobacco and marijuana. However, the american tradition of smot-poking consist mostly of rolling marijuana-only cigarettes, therefore the
words 'reefer' and 'joint' are interchangeable.
The word 'reefer' probably comes from sailing terminoligy: when you 'reefer' the sails you narrow them and roll them up, and considering that modern marijuana use originated in the lower class, it's easy to see how a poor deckhand would associate this with the way he rolled his marijuana cigarette.
"
Son, do you know why I pulled you over?"
"No, I don't officer."
"
Well, it seems there's a reefer behind your
ear . . . "