February 13, 2023

On February 13, 2023, the Medical Cannabis Research Center at Drexel University held an event on the Black history of cannabis.

A panel discussed the history of cannabis from the Black perspective on cannabis in ancient history, American history and modern history and how it relates to the current state of legalization and medicalization of cannabis across the country and specifically in the Philadelphia region.

The discussion was led by Tauhid Chappell, an Executive Board Member of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. Tauhid leads the Philadelphia CannaBusiness Association – Pennsylvania’s first Black-owned and Black-led cannabis nonprofit.

Tauhid was joined by Dewey Thomas, Director of Education for the Diasporic Alliance of Cannabis Opportunities (DACO); Linn Washington Jr., a professor of Journalism at Temple University focusing on race-based inequities specifically related to cannabis; and Jelani Gibson, a reporter for NJ Cannabis Insider – a section of NJ.com and The Star-Ledger.

Watch the event:

Additional Resources Shared by Panelists

1. DACO 
2. Some history of China/cannabis 
3. History of cannabis/India 
4. The African Roots of Marijuana (a great historical account) 
5. https://medium.com/@dubhempmuseum/sir-william-brooke-oshaughnessy-medical-cannabis-pioneer-c94798fd7722
6. Panama Canal Zone Marijuana Study 
7. Harry Anslinger background 
8. Mayor LaGuardia Commissions Academy Report On Marijuana Usage 
9. “Gateway theory” from DEA removed from its website
10. Shafer Commission history 
11. Pennsylvania Auditor General DePasquale Says State Could Reap $581 Million Annually by Regulating, Taxing Marijuana 
12. Despite marijuana legalization, Black people are still disproportionately impacted by arrests and incarceration
13. Media influence 
14. Relevant article to Philly 
15. https://www.niemanlab.org/2020/12/defund-the-crime-beat/