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CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS article

Front. Educ.
Sec. STEM Education
Volume 9 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1470700
This article is part of the Research Topic Decolonizing the STEM Higher Education View all 7 articles

The Pharmacology of the Oppressed: Decolonizing Cannabis Science in Higher Education

Provisionally accepted
Brandie M. Cross Brandie M. Cross 1,2*
  • 1 Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • 2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, California, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This critical analysis explores the integration of Cannabis education in higher learning institutions through the lens of Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The study applies reirean principles of conscientization, dialogue, and praxis to propose an inclusive, empowering approach to drug education that challenges conventional narratives and addresses systemic oppression in traditional curricula. By centering Cannabis science within the framework of decolonial methodologies, the analysis emphasizes community engagement and historical awareness, positioning educators as facilitators of critical inquiry. In doing so, it challenges the historically punitive structures that have disproportionately targeted marginalized communities and advocates for the promotion of equity in scientific pursuits. Despite institutional and legal constraints, the analysis highlights the potential of decolonizing Cannabis education to foster inclusivity and catalyze social transformation.

    Keywords: Cannabis education, Paulo Freire, decolonial methodologies, Social Justice, Higher learning institutions

    Received: 25 Jul 2024; Accepted: 04 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Cross. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Brandie M. Cross, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.