[metaphorm]

upvoted for truth. maybe people downvoting aren't familiar with the history.

so here's some history. the name "marijuana" was pushed by Harry Anslinger[0] as a way to trigger racial anxiety amongst conservative whites who held negative views with respect towards Mexicans. the other names for the plant being "hemp" (a non-psychoactive strain used as an industrial fiber crop) and "cannabis" (latin name for the genus of the plant).

[0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_J._Anslinger

[jat850]

I didn't downvote, but some research shows that this is a controversial truth, even among those in the industry. The history is not controversial but the treatment of marijuana as a racist term is, from what I can see.

[logicallee]

It has a Mexican name literally IN it. A conservative, white term would be Marijosepha.

[maxerickson]

It has a Mexican name literally IN it. A conservative, white term would be Marijosepha.

logicallee, I think you've misunderstood the point made in the gp post. Harry Anslinger wanted it to sound strange and foreign to white conservatives, not familiar.

[logicallee]

I mean that it has Juan in the name (which I contrast with Joseph). So MariJUANa. Couldn't sound more Mexican if they tried.

[jpttsn]

Do you have a source for the about downvoters' opinions?