(JustPatriots.com)- Back in March, the Washington State Legislature passed a bill to replace the word “marijuana” with “cannabis” in all state laws.
Why?
Because of the racist roots of the Spanish word from which “marijuana” is derived.
Democrat State Rep. Melanie Morgan, who sponsored the bill, claimed during testimony in 2021 that “marijuana” is “pejorative and racist,” adding that the term is “negatively associated with Mexican immigrants.”
By changing every mention of “marijuana” in state laws to “cannabis,” Morgan believes Washington State will be “healing the wrongs that were committed against black and brown people around cannabis.”
Who knew it was that simple?
To prove her point, during her testimony, Morgan reached back 85 years to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937.
She quoted the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Harry Anslinger, who was instrumental in getting the 1937 act passed. Anslinger described marijuana as “the most violent-causing drug in the history of mankind.” Anslinger said 85 years ago that most users were “Negroes, Hispanic, Caribbean, and entertainers.” He claimed marijuana usage was linked to jazz and swing music.
Okay, so 85 years ago some guy said something, and Melanie Morgan believes that justifies passing a law to replace “marijuana” with “cannabis” in state laws?
Good grief. Do Washington legislators have nothing better to do?
Apparently not.
The bill was passed unanimously on March 11 and Governor Jay Inslee signed it into law.
The law will begin “healing the wrongs” in June.
