Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US drugs) high quality, dense, small hydroponically grown marijuana; thus a portion of the drug (see cite 2013).

1998		Eble Campus Sl. Apr.
2001		Eble Campus Sl. Fall 7: NUGS – See TREES [i.e. marijuana].
2003		Kinkyphilly Weed Lair 🌐 Nug – A chunk of firm compact weed. Nugs come straight off the plant, and are what ‘shake’ is made out of.
2013		I. Kirkman ‘Cocaine Starlight’ in ThugLit Nov.-Dec. [ebook] I slide a nug of weed out, break it up, separate the stems, and roll it up.
2013		N. Knight ‘Not Even a Mouse’ in ThugLit Nov.-Dec. [ebook] Jello ganked nuggs from Sonny’s station.
2020		G. Krauze What They Was 109: Mandem in the ends ill buy DVDs for three nugs each.