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Q: Do you feel as though race is a hindrance into this industry?
A: Absolutely. We have limitations that we’re currently seeing in my own practice with people who can get access to this medicine. While the use of this medicine is equal among whites and nonwhites, the people who face jail time is not so. The history of Cannabis and why it is where it is today is about racism, like changing the name from Cannabis to marijuana. In 1937 the Marijuana Stamp Tax was created but many who signed it had no idea it was Cannabis. It added unknown legal terms and associated “marijuana” with the Mexicans and Spanish speaking people. Most people do not realize that in the 1600 in the USA people were told to grow Cannabis and faced a jail sentence if they did not grow it. Today we face a jail sentence for growing it. But politics laid the foundation because as a doctor “evidence-based medicine” was pounded into my head but what part of the evidence of zero deaths in the world is not evidence enough other than politics? Politics has kept this from being available to all people…along with racism, of course.
Q: Have you personally experienced any racial adversity? If so, how did you overcome it?
A: I am originally from India. I am not white. I came to the country in 1970 to New Jersey. And I remember at 8 years old being called “a nigger”but not knowing what that meant. What I still face is that I am not white in a very white and nonwhite society. So even though I’m not African American, people don’t know that. I have a son that’s 28 years old and how many times has he been stopped? When we [my son and I] travel I see him stopped often for security checks. I feel it’s a form of harassment. I personally experience it. I never used to say “I’m Dr. Uma” until I came back to Massachusetts. until then I was always known as Uma. But I make sure now I use the word “doctor” so I am recognized as a professional. But it’s the reality. You face it wherever you go. I face it even in my own country; if you are lighter skinned you start up in a higher class than if you are darker skinned. So the word racism, differentiating, diversity, as I call it, we see it all over the world. Being aware of it and addressing it through education is how we overcome it.
Q: Why do you think diversity is important in this industry?
A: Because we want to change the stigma. And how do we do it? By getting everybody involved. Diversity has to be involved because at the end of the day, we all are going to die regardless of where you come from. Whatever race, whatever creed, whatever part of the word you come from you are going to die. And everyone needs to know Cannabis is not for everyone but it should be a first line option. And the true facts about this plant need to be known. And we need to address that this is about racism not about evidence based medicine that Cannabis is in prohibition. And [people need to know] why it [Cannabis] is not legal on global level and why it needs to be addressed on a global level. I want to see legalization happen, cultivation, laboratory standards, products developed and education on a global level [5 pillars].
Q: What would you say or what advice would you give to someone (healthcare professional or not) interested in getting involved in the Cannabis industry?