(Headline USA) Several blue states have passed legislation in recent weeks to remove the term “marijuana” from their records, claiming that the word is “pejorative and racist.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill striking the word “marijuana” from all state laws this week, replacing it with “cannabis.” The bill alleged that the word “marijuana” is tied to racism against migrants, since it was a common term for cannabis in Mexico during the 19th century.
“The term ‘marijuana’ has a racist history in the United States,” Inslee said during the bill signing ceremony. “It was used in anti-immigrant rhetoric in the early 20th century. We are tied to our history of language, and changing the word to ‘cannabis’ signals that we acknowledge the history of that language that targeted communities of color.”
Virginia and Maine have proposed similar bills. Leftists have also argued that removing the word “marijuana” will help redress the disproportionate impact “anti-drug” policies have on minority communities.
“We can’t deny that this country has a problem and has a very, very difficult time talking about race. And the war on drugs has very, very specific roots in that racial dialogue in this country,” said Toi Hutchinson, president and CEO of the Marijuana Policy Project.
However, some experts said the claim that “marijuana” has racist roots is half-baked at best.
“The use of the word is in no way racist,” said Isaac Campos, associate professor of history at the University of Cincinnati.
“It’s just the Mexican word for marijuana, and to stop using it is just to try to erase, essentially, Mexico’s history with this drug and Mexico’s influence on the United States.”
