Why Marijuana is Racist
The term "marijuana" has a troubling history steeped in racism and xenophobia. Marijuana is a Spanish word that came from Mexico, brought to the US when legal Mexican immigrants were fleeing the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. Anti-immigration advocates adopted the term to use in a derogatory way in connection with the rise of legal Mexican immigrants. This was a strategic move to instill fear and prejudice, portraying cannabis as a dangerous substance used by outsiders, thereby spreading a narrative of criminality and moral decline. This campaign of misinformation was spearheaded by Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Anslinger and his allies used the term "marijuana" to exploit racial fears, associating the plant with African Americans, jazz musicians, and Mexican immigrants. The 1936 exploitation film “Reefer Madness” was racist propaganda that significantly influenced the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, wh
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