At the forefront of higher education’s ongoing journey through radical academic innovation, the University of Utah introduces a provocative course titled “Feminist Cannabis Studies” within its Gender Studies program. This latest addition to the curriculum not only reflects a growing trend of integrating unconventional subjects into academia but also highlights the broader cultural shifts and debates surrounding cannabis.
“Feminist Cannabis Studies” encourages students to critically examine the historical and societal context of cannabis through a feminist lens. It challenges conventional understandings, unraveling the intricate history of cannabis prohibition and the subsequent movements towards legalization. By focusing on the political, cultural, and practical aspects of cannabis, the course aims to explore how these elements intersect with issues of race, gender, and class within society.
Uniquely, this course delves into the intersections of cannabis with “Queer/Trans* Activism and Racialized Histories,” posing thought-provoking questions about the role of gender, race, and sexuality in shaping societal perceptions of cannabis. It goes further to question the historical use of cannabis as a tool to sustain inequality and explores how marginalized communities have harnessed cannabis in cultural, medicinal, and spiritual practices.
At the helm of this controversial course is Dr. Magaly Ordoñez, a postdoctoral fellow specializing in Latinx Sexualities. Her scholarly work focuses on the contributions of Chicanx and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities to cannabis culture and history, alongside the broader implications of the War on Drugs as propagated by U.S. policies worldwide. Ordoñez’s exploration of immigrant women’s roles in cannabis farming further highlights the ongoing challenges within the capitalist framework governing the industry.
This course is part of the University of Utah’s School for Cultural and Social Transformation, aptly named Transform due to its emphasis on challenging traditional academic boundaries. The school’s commitment to exploring themes like race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality through diverse academic fields underscores a strategic shift in prioritizing progressive education.
As institutions like the University of Utah increasingly embrace courses that push the envelope, they ignite significant conversations about the evolving landscape of higher education. These educational choices reflect wider cultural and political debates, touching on issues of social equity, representation, and the role of academia in contemporary society. As the discourse surrounding cannabis continues to evolve, such academic offerings suggest a broader societal shift towards understanding and addressing the nuanced relationships between policy, culture, and identity.
