Reframing Cannabis: A Call to Social Work

I recently published a commentary in Social Work in Public Health that speaks directly to the mission of Canna Heals: advancing healing, equity, and evidence-informed cannabis education for our communities. The article examines how cannabis prohibition has shaped public health outcomes and continues to disproportionately harm Black and Brown communities, even as legalization expands across the country. Reframing Cannabis in Social Wo…

For decades, cannabis has been framed almost exclusively as a risk. That narrow lens has contributed to stigma, discouraged people from openly sharing their experiences, and kept many from exploring cannabis as a supportive wellness tool. It has also left helping professionals — including social workers, clinicians, and community healers — without the knowledge needed to guide individuals safely and without judgment.

The commentary highlights several core shifts needed to move toward justice and wellness:

• Honest, stigma-free conversations about cannabis use

• Education that reflects both therapeutic potential and structural harm

• Harm-reduction approaches that honor people’s autonomy

• Policy advocacy that prioritizes expungement and equitable access

• An intersectional understanding of how race, gender, and class shape people’s experiences with cannabis

At Canna Heals, these commitments guide our work every day. We believe people deserve accurate information, compassionate guidance, and access to wellness practices rooted in science, culture, and community. Reframing cannabis through a public health and equity lens is not only overdue — it’s essential.

You can read the full commentary here: Reframing Cannabis in Social Work and Public Health: From Prohibition to Equity