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Is the word marijuana racist?

It’s a long-standing debate in the cannabis world, but the question is now slipping into the mainstream as the drug is on the edge of becomingly legal for recreational use. Many people aren’t aware of the history of the term marijuana, which is linked to campaigns in the U.S. in the 1930s to demonize the plant by associating it with Mexican immigrants.

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Halifax Coun. Shawn Cleary recently created controversy when he declared he would no longer use the word. “Let’s do what we can to not perpetuate racism,” he said on Twitter.

The response from some was a big eye roll.

“Next year it will be legal to smoke it. But not say it. Only in Canada!” replied fellow Coun. Matt Whitman on Twitter. Whitman ended up apologizing for the language he employed when he tried to explain his stance on CTV. Whitman said the term marijuana can’t be racist because “Mexican” is not a race.