The Case for Genuine Cannabis Legalization: Confronting History and Embracing Equity 

Written By Dustin Hoxworth

At the heart of cannabis prohibition lies a truly disgusting history filled with misinformation, fear, and racism. The illegal status of cannabis was not born out of legitimate concerns for public health or safety, but rather from a calculated campaign to demonize a plant and the people associated with it. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 is a prime example, rooted in the racist rhetoric of the time that equated cannabis use with violence and moral decay, particularly within Black and Latino communities.