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.
In the United States drug prohibition is historically ALWAYS about racism. The exception being weed which was about racism and anti-war protestors.
But of course the anti-war protests were also inextricably tied up with civil rights protests happening at the same time.
With cannabis it’s always been a tool to break up ethnic communities. Grass was an excuse, strength and community was the target.