La Cucaracha and Cannabis

How a Revolutionary Song Rolled into Weed History

When you think of the famous Mexican folk song La Cucaracha, you might picture a quirky cockroach or a catchy mariachi tune echoing through the streets during fiestas. But behind its playful melody lies a surprising connection to cannabis and revolution that many don’t know about. Yes, La Cucaracha—a song that has become an unofficial symbol of Mexican folklore—was once a coded anthem for marijuana use during one of Mexico’s most turbulent periods.

Let’s take a fun yet factual journey into how a marching song about a cockroach came to be linked with cannabis culture and revolution.

A Song Born in Turbulent Times

La Cucaracha dates back to at least the 1800s, but it rose to fame during the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920)—a decade-long conflict that shaped modern Mexico. The lyrics were constantly changing, passed from soldier to soldier, rebel to rebel. Each faction would rewrite verses to mock enemies, voice frustrations, or rally the troops.

The version that most famously links the song to cannabis goes like this:

La cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no puede caminar,
Porque no tiene, porque le falta, marihuana que fumar.

Translation:
The cockroach, the cockroach, can’t walk anymore,
Because it’s missing, because it lacks, marijuana to smoke.

Yes, you read that right—our little cockroach friend can’t keep moving without its weed.
Listen to the song on YouTube

Who or What was La Cucaracha?

The meaning of “la cucaracha” has always been symbolic. Depending on the singer and the political climate, the cockroach could represent anything from the corrupt regime of dictator Porfirio Díaz to rival factions like the Zapatistas or the Federal Army.

When cannabis entered the lyrics, it was both tongue-in-cheek and political. Soldiers and peasants alike smoked cannabis recreationally or medicinally to relax from the harsh realities of war. So, the song may have been poking fun at a comrade (or leader) who wasn’t quite himself without a smoke, or making a broader statement about morale and motivation.

The Role of Cannabis in Revolutionary Mexico

Cannabis wasn’t new to Mexico during the Revolution. Spanish colonists introduced “marihuana” (as it was called then) in the 16th century, originally for hemp production. Over the centuries, cannabis evolved into a medicinal and recreational substance, especially among lower classes.

By the early 1900s, it was associated with soldiers, prisoners, and poor groups often targeted by authorities. This stigmatisation laid the groundwork for future prohibition, both in Mexico and abroad.

La Cucaracha mirrored this tension. Including “marihuana” in its lyrics was a bold, rebellious act—a way for everyday people to acknowledge and normalise its use, even if indirectly.

From Battlefield to Global Soundtrack

Despite its revolutionary roots, La Cucaracha has gone global. It’s been featured in cartoons, Hollywood films, and countless parodies. The cannabis reference, however, rarely makes it into modern renditions.

Why? Mainly due to censorship and the sanitised image of the song in international media. The “marihuana” verse was seen as too controversial, especially during the rise of anti-cannabis sentiment in the U.S. during the 1930s.

Still, within Mexico—and among cannabis historians—the original lyrics remain an iconic nod to a time when music, marijuana, and revolution marched hand in hand.

A Legacy that Still Buzzes

So, next time you hear La Cucaracha, imagine a dusty Mexican road, revolutionaries with rifles slung across their backs, and the smell of rolled cannabis drifting in the wind. The song wasn’t just a catchy tune—it was a cultural snapshot, a rebel’s rhythm, and a sly ode to cannabis.

In today’s era of cannabis legalisation and cultural reevaluation, La Cucaracha reminds us that marijuana has long been part of everyday life—sometimes hidden in plain sight, sometimes sung aloud in protest.

Fun Fact for the Road

Some historians believe the “cockroach” in the song might have symbolised a cannabis user whose motivation dwindled without their fix. Whether metaphor or literal stoner humour, it shows how deeply marijuana was woven into Mexico’s cultural fabric, even during war.

La Cucaracha is more than a children’s song or party tune. It’s a window into a time when cannabis, music, and revolution danced together in defiance of authority. That quirky cockroach, it turns out, may have been the first weed-smoking folk hero in music history.