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Comment by sturza | Hacker News Reader

Marijuana is the dried leaves and flowers of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant. I cannot imagine how the term is racist. But the fact thay it makes you think of 420, that’s just you.

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> The use of "marihuana" in American English increased dramatically in the 1930s, when it was preferred as an exotic-sounding alternative name during debates on the drug's use. It has been suggested that in the United States the word was promoted by opponents of the drug, who wanted to stigmatize it with a "foreign-sounding name".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana_(word)#Early_use_of_...

"It has been suggested" sounds like some weasel words from someone who doesn't want to back their claims. Even if this is true, who actually cares if people from the 30's thought foreign sounding words were scary? Shouldn't we strive to stick it to those fuddy duddies by continuing to use the actual Spanish word without fear?

Marijuana was like a barely existing Spanish slang promoted at the beginning of cannabis being illegal in the first half of the 20th century to make cannabis seem more foreign and worthy of a ban.

It's definitely suspicious at least. If you really want you can view it as more cynically exploiting existing prejudice than prejudiced in and of itself, but I am not sure that is much of an exoneration.

Language evolves. The use is uncontroversial today and specifically refers to the flower.

We're all aware of previously uncontroversial words that are taboo today. The reverse can happen as well.

Sure, but also it just sounds weird to use a ramming together of names in Spanish as the formal word for anything in English. Especially when the thing comes from Asia.

I agree with parent. Cannabis and marijuana are synonymous. Marijuana is more negatively connoted. I'd prefer to use Cannabis which is more neutral.

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