The word 'marijuana' was used by the perpetuators of cannabis prohibition because the word 'marijuana' is espanol in origin.

It has been cited, many times, that the perpetuators of prohibition used racism quite flagrantly to appeal to racism in the masses (which was especially common in the era) in order to further drive their cause. Marijuana was a term used for a judgemental twist on Cannabis, long ago!

I either call it pot or dope, myself. I try to limit my syllables to about 3 per drunken slur.