Washington state code to nix word ‘marijuana’ over concerns it’s racist

In Washington state, where recreational pot is legal, “marijuana” is out and “cannabis” is in.

Starting in June, the word “marijuana” will be stricken throughout the Revised Code of Washington and replaced with “cannabis.”

It’s the result of House Bill 1210 finding “the use of the term ‘marijuana’ in the United States has discriminatory origins…”

HB 1210 was passed by the Legislature this session and signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on March 11.

State Rep. Melanie Morgan, D-Tukwila, the prime sponsor of the legislation, explained its importance during testimony before the House Commerce & Gaming Committee in January.

“This House Bill 1210 to change terminology from using the word ‘marijuana’ to the scientific name ‘cannabis’ is extremely important…even though it seems simple because it’s just one word,” she said during the virtual meeting. “But the reality is we are healing the wrongs that were committed against black and brown people around cannabis, as it was used as a racist terminology to lock up black and brown people.”

Although the two words are used more or less interchangeably these days, there was a time in America when the more exotic-sounding Spanish word “marijuana” was used to emphasize the foreign nature of the drug to white Americans at a time of increased xenophobia. [Read more at The Center Square]