• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Washington lawmakers claim term ‘marijuana’ is racist

A new bill has removed the word from state laws

smoking cigarettes

(Flickr)

April 24, 2022
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

A bill in the state of Washington will soon take effect striking the word “marijuana” from all state laws after lawmakers deemed the term “racist.” The change removes the word, swapping it out for the term “cannabis” instead.

The Post Millennial reports that Governor Jay Inslee signed the bill, which passed unanimously and changes every Revised Code of Washington, into law March 11. The changes take effect in June.

Supporters of the bill, House Bill 1210, say the word “marijuana” has a long history of racism, claiming its usage is racist against black and brown people.

“The term ‘marijuana’ itself is pejorative and racist,” Washington state Rep. Melanie Morgan, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, said during testimony in 2021. Morgan discussed the word’s history, which originates from Spanish.

Morgan said that as recreational marijuana use became more popular, “it was negatively associated with Mexican immigrants.” The state lawmaker claimed it is “racist terminology” and was used “to lock up black and brown people.”

Hollingsworth Cannabis Company’s owner Joy Hollingsworth, whose family business includes a pot farm, says for people of color in the industry, the word “marijuana” comes with a burden. “It had been talked about for a long time in our community about how that word demonizes the cannabis plant,” she said.

“We have a lot of people, especially in the black community that went to prison over cannabis for years. That were locked up, separated from their nuclear family, which is huge,” Hollingsworth said, adding it “triggers” people of color. “It’s really painful for people to hear that word and it triggers them,” Hollingsworth said.


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Tags: billlegislationmarijuanamust-readracistterminologywashington
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Seattle police officer

Gutting Police Services for Pie in the Sky

November 28, 2022
Louis Vuitton

Thief knocks himself out trying to flee store with luxury stolen goods

November 8, 2022
Steve Nothem

Texas police officer dies after being struck by vehicle during DUI investigation

October 19, 2022
Bristol officer

Connecticut Inspector General’s Office releases heroic bodycam footage of Bristol officer-involved shooting

October 18, 2022
San Antonio officer

Experts weigh in after 5th San Antonio officer dies by suicide in past 7 months

October 17, 2022
Natalie Young

California police sergeant pins badge on 22-year-old woman he saved as a baby

October 11, 2022
Load More

Latest Articles

Maleah Renee Henry-Reed

Ohio couple charged with starving children nearly leading to their deaths

February 4, 2023
complaint

No Contact, No Complaint

February 4, 2023
Georgia police

Georgia police now livestreaming 911 calls straight to patrol units

February 4, 2023
Turlock police

California police association donates money to replace girl’s stolen wheelchair

February 4, 2023
James Adam Baird

Former Michigan teacher charged with sexually assaulting female students during vision tests

February 4, 2023
David Hodge

Teacher charged with sex crimes involving 12-year-old girl in classroom

February 4, 2023
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

JOIN THE FIGHT

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Officer Privacy
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com