Far out, Man: Washington State Declares Term 'Marijuana' 'Racist,' Strikes It From State Law

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Let’s just say that given the mindset of the far-out-left in Washington state, I wouldn’t be surprised if Democrat lawmakers and their left-wing governor were at least half-baked when they passed legislation to remove the term “marijuana” from the text of all state laws because it’s “racist.” C’mon, man— for real?

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The term will be replaced with “cannabis.”

I mean, we have “weed,” “pot,” “grass,” “reefer,” and other nicknames that are apparently non-racist — at least for now — so, what’s wrong with “marijuana”?

As reported by KIRO-7 in Seattle, Washington Democrat state Rep. Melanie Morgan, who sponsored the bill, argued that “the term ‘marijuana’ itself is pejorative and racist.” Sure it is. Before long, the list of terms not racist will be exceeded by the number of terms that are racist by a left-wing country mile.

So why “marijuana”? Ready to connect some ridiculous dots? Here we go.

Morgan discussed the term’s history, which originates from Spanish. “As recreational marijuana use became more popular,” she said, “it was negatively associated with Mexican immigrants.” She declared “marijuana” therefore is “racist terminology” that was used “to lock up black and brown people.”

“This is just another layer, of peeling off the systemic racism that’s built in our system,” Morgan said. And there it is, ladies and gentlemen: pretend “systemic racism.”

“Even though it seems simple because it’s just one word,” Morgan said, “the reality is, we’re healing the wrongs that were committed against Black and Brown people around cannabis.”

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What a complete crock of crap. Does this loon honestly believe “black and brown people” now feel “healed” because lawmakers in Washington state made themselves feel better, wasting taxpayer money debating and ultimately striking the word “marijuana’ from all state laws and replacing it with “cannabis”? Nonsense.

Memo to wingnut: black and brown people, along with white, red, green, striped, and glow-in-the-dark people are going to continue calling marijuana whatever the hell they now call it — without missing a toke. Symbolism over substance simply for the purpose of making leftists feel good about themselves is as meaningless as it is ineffectual. They’ve always done it; they always will.

Democrat Governor Jay Inslee signed the bill that passed the state legislature unanimously in mid-March. The changes will take effect in June.

A bit of hilarious history:

As KIRO-7 reported, Harry Anslinger, the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics — now the Drug Enforcement Administration — played a substantial role in the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which banned selling and possessing weed. For those of you keeping score at home, we’re talking 85 years ago.

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Said Anslinger at the time, as transcribed by KIRO:

Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind. And most marijuana users are Negroes, Hispanic, Caribbean, and entertainers. Their satanic music, jazz, and swing result from marijuana usage.

See what I mean? While disgusting, to explain the 1930s mentality about weed, noted KIRO, various lawmakers referenced the anti-pot propaganda film, “Reefer Madness,” as a proof source of marijuana’s evil ways. Here’s a snippet from the 1936 film’s trailer:

In this startling film, you will see dopesters lure children to destruction. A new and deadly menace lurking behind closed doors: Marijuana! The burning weed with its roots in hell.

Look, while I understand the idiocy of the view of marijuana in 1930s America, I also understand the idiocy of a plethora of views of 1930s America, and other decades, as well, that are no longer valid — if many of them were in the first place. But again, digging back this deep to rationalize nixing marijuana from the lexicon of state law — even if the state happens to be The People’s Republic of Washington, headquartered, of course, in Seattle — is ridiculous.

Then again, so is tearing down statues of Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Robert E. Lee, to name a few.

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How interesting that we live in a time when a segment of America is more concerned with the behavior (of the times) of people no longer with us than with their own destructive behavior today.

What the hell — for your viewing pleasure. You’re welcome.

Related on RedState:

Seattle Rescinds Bicycle Helmet Law, Citing ‘Racial Equity’

Washington State Library Fights ‘Racism’ With SEGREGATED ‘Race Sensitivity’ Training?

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