cannabis / marijuana
Last updatedWhat to know
Marijuana or cannabis is a drug derived from the cannabis plant that can have psychoactive effects when ingested. The two main compounds of the plant used commercially are THC (what is found in marijuana/cannabis) and CBD, which is non-psychoactive and has become a popular additive in food and drinks, bath products, and more.
The Drug Enforcement Administration classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug alongside drugs like heroin and LSD; a substance classified this way “has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision,” per the agency. The Biden administration and others have made efforts to have the drug reclassified at the federal level given that THC has accepted medical uses in some cases, and that a disproportionate number of drug arrests and charges are related to marijuana (see “legalization and criminalization” below). CBD has also been approved for medicinal use in some cases, though in early 2023 the Food and Drug Administration declined to regulate it as a dietary supplement, despite its popularity in commercial markets.
As of 2023, at least 21 states, along with Washington, DC, and Guam, have legalized recreational marijuana (see “legalization and decriminalization” below). Others have adopted different standards, such as legalizing the drug for medical use or decriminalizing possession. However, it remains illegal at the federal level; careful coverage will take into account any potential risks to sources when reporting on the subject.
Terminology
Marijuana may be the term most familiar to US audiences, but cannabis is also very common. While the National Institutes of Health defines cannabis as referring to the whole plant and marijuana as referring to the THC-containing parts, news outlets may use one word or the other, or both interchangeably. (The Associated Press, for instance, says the terms can be used interchangeably.)
Some critics of the term “marijuana,” a derivative of the Spanish word “marijhuana,” argue that it reinforces racist historical stereotypes about Mexican immigrants’ use of the drug and supposed connections to violent crime. In 2022, Washington state removed the term “marijuana” from all its state laws, citing a negative historical association with Mexican immigrants. Others, however, argue that popular use of the term stems from the influence Mexican immigrants had on American culture rather than an attempt to portray them negatively.
“Cannabis” is preferred by some advocates, who see it as emphasizing the medicinal qualities of the drug. There are also many more colloquial terms for the drug, such as pot, weed, ganja, etc., though not all may be familiar to audiences and may be less clear outside of direct quotes. When choosing terminology, it may be helpful for clarity to consider the wording used by your source materials (the Food and Drug Administration, for instance, generally uses “marijuana,” while members of the commercial industry may use “cannabis”) and to provide a brief definition of how the term is being used in context.
Legalization and decriminalization
Several states and cities in recent years have moved toward decriminalizing cannabis or legalizing it for medicinal use, recreational use, or both. 2022 Pew polling found that an overwhelming majority of US adults said marijuana should be legal, with 59 percent saying it should be legal for both medical and recreational use.
The ACLU found that over half of drug arrests were for marijuana. Studies of marijuana use rates among racial groups have largely focused on Black and white populations and have found that while, Black and white Americans use marijuana at roughly the same rate, Black Americans are disproportionately likely to be arrested for possession. (Hispanic Americans are also disproportionately likely to be arrested for possession.) Advocates of decriminalizing argue that it could help reduce these disparities, though research found that after Colorado legalized marijuana, possession arrests among Latino and Black minors went up significantly (while the rate for white minors fell). In 2022, President Biden pardoned thousands convicted under federal marijuana law and asked his administration to consider how the drug is classified.
Racial disparities exist in the growing and lucrative legal market as well — 81 percent of marijuana business owners in the US were white in 2017, compared to 5.7 percent Hispanic and 4.3 percent Black, suggesting those most harmed by the war on drugs also face the highest barriers to entry for participating in the legal marijuana industry. Balanced coverage will take into account a wide range of perspectives to ensure it doesn’t paint an overly rosy picture of legalization and commercialization efforts.
Additional resources
- Drug Fact Sheet: Marijuana/Cannabis (DEA)
- Marijuana’s racist history shows the need for comprehensive drug reform (Brookings Institution)
- The Mysterious History of ‘Marijuana’ (NPR)
- Marijuana: is it time to stop using a word with racist roots? (Guardian)
- How the 2023 farm bill could change the game for THC products (The Hill)
Summary
Marijuana or cannabis is a psychoactive drug derived from the cannabis plant. The two main compounds of the plant used commercially are THC (what is found in marijuana/cannabis and can have psychoactive effects when ingested) and CBD, which is non-psychoactive and has become a popular additive in food and drinks, bath products, and more. Marijuana may be the term most familiar to US audiences, but cannabis is also very common. Various organizations or news outlets opt for one term or the other, or use both interchangeably. Some critics of the term marijuana say it has a history rooted in demonizing Mexican immigrants. Some advocates prefer the term cannabis for emphasizing the medicinal qualities of the drug. There are also many more colloquial terms for the drug, such as pot, weed, ganja, etc., though not all may be familiar to audiences and may be less clear outside of direct quotes. When choosing terminology, it may be helpful for clarity to consider the wording used by your source materials (the Food and Drug Administration, for instance, generally uses “marijuana,” while members of the commercial industry may use the term cannabis) and to provide a brief definition of how the term is being used in context. Balanced coverage will take into account the racial disparities that exist in both marijuana-related arrest rates and opportunities to participate in the commercial cannabis market. The drug remains illegal at the federal level; careful coverage will take into account any potential risks to sources when reporting on the subject.