Indopedia All Things Marijuana
Hawaii health officials could soon be forced to officially change the term “medical marijuana” to “medical cannabis,” which legislative forces believe more accurately describes the true therapeutic nature of the herb without the racial connotations.
There is a bill currently sitting on the desk of Governor David Ige that, if signed, would dictate the change of all documentation, websites or other materials pertaining to the state’s medical marijuana program to express medical cannabis instead.
The bill was introduced by Senator Mike Gabbard because, according to its language, the term marijuana “carries prejudicial implications rooted in racial stereotypes.”
If Governor Ige signs the measure or simply allows it to become applicable by taking no action whatsoever, the state Department of Health would have until the beginning of 2019 to amend the language of all medical cannabis-related information.
If this happens, Hawaii would become the first state to require the word marijuana be legally changed to cannabis.
Lawmakers also hope that Governor Ige swoops in and signs another medical marijuana-related measure that would expedite the opening of…
