Throughout the 19th century, news reports and medical journal articles almost always use the plant’s formal name, cannabis. Numerous accounts say that “marijuana” came into popular usage in the U.S. in the early 20th century because anti-cannabis factions wanted to underscore the drug’s “Mexican-ness.” It was meant to play off of anti-immigrant sentiments.
Jokes on them, they could’ve just called it Kush to acknowledge its Himalayanness. Americans definitely would’ve understood that
Hooold up, wait a minute, let me put some kush up in it…