While many of us might agree with Shakespeare’s famous line, “What’s in a name?”, it carries a much deeper significance for one woman who has faced lifelong discrimination because of hers – and refuses to change it. Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck, 52, was named by her late mother, Brandy ‘Maggie’ Johnson, who believed the unique name would “take her around the world”. However, instead of admiration, Marijuana has faced constant questioning and whispers throughout her life, according to SWNS.
While growing up, people would suggest she change her name, speculating that her mother must have been a “crackhead” for choosing such an unusual name. Many assumed her mother was a drug addict or had been in prison, neither of which was true.
Marijuana, who lives near Live Oak, Florida, reflected on her experiences: “Classmates and even teachers would whisper and come up to me asking if it was my real name. I would overhear people speculating if my mother was a ‘crackhead’ – I still have people say that to this day.”
Marijuana holds a PhD in Higher Educational Leadership, works at the Community College of Baltimore County, and is the founder of the Action as Empowerment Center for Change. Despite her qualifications, employers have rejected her job applications, and some have suggested she doesn’t belong in education – all because of her name. However, she refuses to use a different name to “appease” others.
She now asks people who are uncomfortable with her name to call her Dr Vandyck: “I always knew I would get a PhD as I’ve dedicated my life to education – and I thought if people would be calling me Marijuana Pepsi, I’ll be Dr Marijuana Pepsi.”
“People think things about me based on my name but I define success on my own terms,” said Marijuana, who is also a mother to a 21-year-old.
Interestingly, Marijuana neither smokes weed nor drinks Pepsi. “People don’t believe me when I say I’ve never smoked weed – because ‘there’s no way someone named Marijuana isn’t a smoker,’” she shared.
“I just get high on life,” she added, shrugging off the judgment. “It’s a problem, but it’s not my problem.”
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