bernice, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

bernice n.

also bernies

[‘Possibly the term is based on burnies, referring to crystals of cocaine added to a tobacco cigarette and smoked’ Spears, Slang and Jargon of Drugs and Drink (1986); note cocaine is a ‘feminine’ drug, see girl n.²]

(US drugs) cocaine in crystal form.

1933		D. Maurer ‘Junker Lingo’ in AS VIII:2 27: Bernice or burnese is crystallized cocaine prepared for inhaling into the lungs.
1938		D. Maurer ‘Lang. of the Und. Narcotic Addict’ Pt 2 in Lang. Und. (1981) 99/1: bernies. [...] 1. Cocaine crystallized for inhalation. 2. Cocaine allegedly obtained from Dr. Bernie, probably a mythical character.
1959		J.E. Schmidt Narcotics Lingo and Lore.
1969		R.R. Lingeman Drugs from A to Z (1970) 45: bernies cocaine.
1971		E.E. Landy Underground Dict. (1972).
1981		D.E. Miller Bk of Jargon 336: Bernice, Bernies: Cocaine.
1987		Eble Campus Sl. Spring.
1991		D. Jenkins You Gotta Play Hurt 269: There must have been two hundred entrepreneurs milling about [...] each one wearing a gold pendant on which his name was engraved. Among the names I read on pendants: Deion, [...] Corinne, Louie, Pony, Roof Top, Bernice, Superfly.
2001		ONDCP Street Terms 3: Bernice — Cocaine.
2003		K. Cage Gayle.