Industry professionals, media, marketing teams, medical users, adult use enjoyers listen up! We are in tumultuous times in the cannabis industry today and an administration that has made less than friendly remarks about cannabis is currently in power. Many of us wonder how we can ensure a positive and healthy dialogue with those that oppose this industry, whether passively or aggressively and I have one simple thing you can do TODAY to pave the way to an open mind. Specifically, we need to stop using industry language that is derogatory when referring to the cannabis world. The term “marijuana” is a slang term made up by a prejudiced and racist group and should be eliminated from our vocabulary. https://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/where-did-the-word-marijuana-come-from-anyway-01fb
Second, please call it “adult-use” instead of “recreational” when referring to 21+ product. “Recreational” has several negative implications but more dangerously it is appealing to children as “recreation,” while “Adult-use” says NOT FOR CHILDREN. We understand that government agencies and political parties across the nation are using these terms even in their names of governing bodies (IE Marijuana Enforcement Division in Colorado), it may take some time to change those official titles but we as advocates can change RIGHT NOW how we speak. Language is a very powerful medium to illicit feelings and responses in the public, as any marketing team will tell you. Our job is to advocate professionally for our industry and at the same time do everything we can to promote safe consumption and divert all adult use products out of the hands of children.
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