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The language used to discuss cannabis has played a significant role in shaping public perception and policies surrounding the plant. In a thought-provoking episode of the In Conversation Podcast, hosts Tyler Green & Simpa Carter delve into how the manipulation of cannabis terminology has created barriers for activists advocating its decriminalisation and legalisation.
The conversation reveals how varying names and meanings ascribed to cannabis, based on cultural and geographical contexts, have led to confusion and misconceptions. For instance, terms like “rocky” or “tack” were used to describe low-quality cannabis, whereas the term “cannabis” itself has diverse origins, ranging from Germanic to Middle Eastern roots. In the past century, false dichotomies such as hemp vs cannabis and THC vs. CBD have emerged, creating a fragmented understanding of the plant’s History and potential benefits.
This episode also discusses how the UK government and corporations have used Language to manipulate public opinion. The “skunk psychosis” myth, which originated after the 1997 Royal Commission on Cannabis, illustrates how language was utilised to demonise certain strains despite the government’s investments in the cannabis industry. This demonisation led to a polarised debate, forcing consumers to choose sides in a narrative that is slowly evolving.
Simpa Carter highlights the unfair vilification of skunk cannabis and explains how the division between medical and recreational cannabis markets has been deliberately established. This division has resulted in misleading narratives about cannabis, hindering its acceptance even in fields like sports. Alcohol companies, in contrast, have lobbied effectively to restrict alternatives like cannabis from entering the market.
Another point of discussion is the CBD industry, which, despite its psychoactive effects, has been marketed as non-psychoactive and markedly different to the rest of the plant. This has led to a false distinction between THC and CBD and the dilution of the benefits of the whole cannabis plant.
The conversation emphasises the need for standardised language and a collective narrative that acknowledges cannabis’s rich History and diverse perspectives. By dismantling arbitrary definitions and prioritising consumer well-being, the path to decriminalisation and legalisation can be smoothed.
You can watch the episode below or click here to watch it on YouTube.
Video Chapters:
- 00:00 intro
- 1:06 When did you notice cannabis language was skewed?
- 2:22 The Etymology of cannabis
- 5:00 False dichotomies
- 7:03 Language as a tool to manipulate
- 9:40 History of cannabis language and propaganda
- 10:18 Origins of ‘Skunk Psychosis’
- 14:34 Weaponisation of Language
- 18:24 “All cannabis is medical”
- 19:20 “Weed is fine, but I don’t like skunk.”
- 21:00 The past few years in the UK – co-opting
- 23:00 24-hour drinking laws
- 25:35 the origins of propaganda and fighting the narrative
- 30:36 The misrepresentation (and clever marketing) of CBD
- 37:50 0.2% THC restrictions on hemp
- 40:00 Empowerment, cultivation and “Dealers”
- 41:30 Green Crack
- 43:47 Reclaiming the narrative and standardising language
- 46:19 The changing of the laws in November 2018
- 48:54 Being correct with cannabis language
- 50:04 Decriminalisation vs Legalisation
- 53:00 Outro
