Before it was stigma…it was just food

Cannabis is having a moment. Laws are changing across the United States and around the world, yet the stigma surrounding it remains deeply rooted in culture, politics, and public perception. But cannabis is only the starting point. This essay explores how foods and substances become labeled as “clean” or “dirty,” how those narratives shape the way we nourish ourselves, and what happens when morality replaces curiosity at the table.