The term POT actually originated from the Anglo-Saxophones and was used to describe other illicit drugs.
pot is a term for weed, terms for weed are representing the plant 'scientifically' known as tetra-hyrdocannabinol which is a plant gorwn naturally in the ground for medical, spiritual or recreational use. It is legal in two states in the USA and legal in the netherlands, and many more countries! It is legalized medically in half of the USA, almost. It has been used medically for thousands of years. Other terms for cannabis/marijuana/weed are - grass, pot, green, herb, nug, and bud.