Use of ‘cannabis’ by politicians is telling

Re Wynne down on Ottawa’s marijuana tax proposals; Provinces split on how to sell cannabis, Nov. 11 In the Saturday Star (Nov. 11), there were two articles, side by side, on page A23 about the upcoming legalization of pot. One headline used the word “marijuana” and the other headline used the word “cannabis.” And on page IN3, the Political Blind Date Q&A on Legalizing Pot demonstrated an illuminating use of these two words. The Liberal MP in favour of legalization used “cannabis” exclusively, whereas the Conservative MP, who is opposed, used “marijuana” most of the time.

Given that there’s a growing outcry over the “M” word and its racist connotations, perhaps it’s time to stop using it, in the same way you did with ISIS and started using Daesh instead. And in this case, it would be much simpler since you won’t have to explain what “cannabis” means every time you use the word. All the various slang terms — pot, weed, wacky tobaccy, etc. — could still be used as they are mostly inoffensive.

After all, we don’t refer to liquor any more as “firewater” because of its offensive association with Indigenous peoples. Leon Marr, Toronto