As the third anniversary of the legalization of cannabis in Canada approaches, we need to reflect on how the stigma of cannabis use is perpetuated. The culture of shame continues to exist, in part because of how the public discusses cannabis products. By understanding the difference between legal and illegal products, the history behind slang for cannabis, and the public health misinformation about cannabis, proper coverage can inform Canadians without shaming them for use of a legal product. Here are three common mistakes we’ve noticed when we see cannabis coverage and suggestions on how to fix them:  

1. Not clearly stating the difference between illegal vs. legal products. When covering issues with cannabis products, the reader should know from the beginning of the article whether the product was legal or illegal – this is often not the case. Taking this article from The Growth Op, for example, it is not clear until the end of the piece that the product causing the overdose was caused by an illegal product. This is vital information when discussing overdoses and other adverse health reactions. In the case that an illegal cannabis product caused the overdose, that needs to be clarified immediately in the coverage to eliminate the concern of the safety of legal cannabis. Beyond that, it is important any images of cannabis reflect the legality of the product in the article. This will avoid further stigmatization of legal cannabis and help ensure the reader has full comprehension. The best practice is when covering negative health occurrences, clarify the legality of the cannabis product immediately.  
2. Not using the correct terminology. Cannabis has long been known by many names including ‘pot, ‘marijuana, and ‘ganja’ amongst others. In 1753, Carl Linneus named the two most common species of the plant as Cannabis sativa L. and Cannabis indica. As cannabis became more common, nicknames for the plant began to spread. Unfortunately, the majority of these terms have negative and even racist pasts. When discussing cannabis, terminology and the images it conjures is important to fighting the stigma. The best practice is to refer to cannabis as cannabis and not use any of the slang. 
3. Not understanding the history of misinformation about cannabis. During prohibition and the War on Drugs, myths perpetuating cannabis use spread wildly. In particular, unsubstantiated health claims about how cannabis impacts the body. The truth about cannabis research is because it was illegal until recently, the research just has not been conducted yet. As more countries continue to legalize, more research will be allowed to be conducted about how cannabis impacts the body. The best practice is to be aware of the historical negative connotations of cannabis use and ensure you are referencing the most recent studies. 

Cannabis continues to be unnecessarily stigmatized despite being a legal substance. This stigma comes from years of misinformation. As we move into the third year of legalization, it is time to critically examine how this culture of shame continues to perpetuate.