People have been smoking weed for a long time – legally or otherwise. The time leading up to and after the federal legalization of cannabis in 2018 represents somewhat of a period of enlightenment for cannabis, but our ancestors from past generations were familiar as well.
Our generation has found a number of uses for cannabis – such as addressing challenges like sleeplessness and discomfort. Throughout history cannabis has been utilized in diverse ways reflecting a long standing presence across many cultures.
In this article, we’re exploring the very long history of cannabis usage:
Central Asia
The very first documented use of cannabis dates us back to roughly 2800 B.C. Emperor Shen Nung, who is commonly referred to as the father of Chinese Medicine, had included cannabis in his pharmacopoeia.
Then in 750 B.C., in the Xinjiang-Uighur of China, a man was found buried with nearly 800 grams of high-THC cannabis. While cannabis was being used for clothing and food, this evidence suggests humans were using it for the psychoactive elements.
But thanks to the oral traditions and written records from Central Asia, we know that cannabis was used therapeutically for thousands of years.
Indian Hindus
Cannabis has a long history in India thanks to the Hindu legends of the god Shiva, who received the nickname ‘The Lord of Bhang’ because cannabis was supposedly his favourite food. Bhang was a drink made of flowers (including cannabis) that was consumed for religious purposes. Since then, cannabis usage became somewhat of a religious rite to appease the gods.
The earliest mention of cannabis was found in The Vedas, a sacred Hindu text, with writings that suggest cannabis usage as early as 2000 B.C. Then around 1000 B.C., medical texts mention cannabis was used as a diuretic, digestive aid, and anti-flatulent.
Egypt
The use of cannabis in Egypt dates back to at least 1500 B.C. It was around this time that the Ebers papyrus was written in Egypt, which mentions the topical application of cannabis to combat inflammation. Historians also found evidence of cannabis usage on ancient Assyrian clay tablets. Known as ‘azallû’ in the ancient Akkadian language, it’s likely that cannabis was being used as a tool for depression at this time.
Greeks & Romans
There are a number of stories and myths that suggest cannabis was a part of ancient Greek life. There is a loose mention in Homer’s Odyssey (Book IV), written between the 7th and 8th centuries. In the book, Zeus’ daughter serves a mystery drink to Greek soldiers that quiets their pain, allowing them to be overcome with forgetfulness. It’s likely that this medicine for posttraumatic stress disorder was cannabis or opium.
Many years later around 450 B.C., historian and geographer Herodotus wrote about the Scythians’ burial process, which involved heating hemp seeds to produce fragrant smoke. He believed that the Scythians were sowing and cultivating cannabis.
The Roman Empire brings more clear evidence of cannabis usage. Aelius Galenus, known as Galen, was a physician who wrote about the psychoactive effects of cannabis. Then in the oldest encyclopedia from Greek/Roman time, The Naturalis Historia by Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.D.), cannabis is mentioned for its anti-inflammatory properties, used to treat gout and arthritis among other conditions.
Modern Europe
Modern Europe rediscovered the world of cannabis by translating and observing old Arabic books, poems and manuscripts. Goethe’s West-östlicher Divan (1814-1819) was a collection of poems that sparked an exchange between both Muslim and Christian cultures. The Frenchman Silvestre de Sacy was one of the most well-known orientalists at the time, who compiled numerous Arabic authors, subsequently advancing Europe’s knowledge of cannabis.
A little later in the 1840’s, Irish physician William O’Shaughnessy and French psychiatrist Jacques-Joseph Moreau wrote about the therapeutic and psychoactive potential following colonial tours in India and the Middle East. Likely due to the differences in climate and secretion of resin, O’Shaughnessy noted that European hemp was not the same as in India, where he observed the intoxicating effects of cannabis. After personal experimentation, Moreau wrote about feelings of pure bliss and disorganization of ideas.
By the late 19th century, cannabis usage has made it into the mainstream (at least for the elite). While there is no proof, it’s been noted that Queen Victoria used cannabis to treat menstrual cramps and Empress Elisabeth of Austria used it for her cough, along with stimulating her appetite.
Coming to the US + Canada
Thanks to the writings of William O’Shaughnessy in 1840, cannabis was in America in no time. Hemp became ubiquitous for use in rope and fabric, and George Washington grew it at Mount Vernon. In the 1850’s, cannabis had made its way into US pharmacies.
Prohibition of Cannabis
The war on cannabis began long before the infamous War on Drugs that kicked off in the 1970’s under the leadership of President Nixon.
In 1923, William Lyon Mackenzie brought forward the Act to Prohibit the Improper Use of Opium and other Drugs, which added heroin, codeine and cannabis to the list of controlled substances that included cocaine, opium and morphine.
Also in 1923, Canada added cannabis to the Confidential Restricted List under the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill. Some historians attribute this to the 1782 publication of The Black Candle. This book was written by suffragist and police magistrate Emily Murphy, who claimed that Chinese immigrants would use drugs to corrupt the white race.
A little later, the culture machine took over with the introduction of films, TV shows and other media aimed at eradicating cannabis usage. The film Reefer Madness from 1936 was one of them, which depicted extreme mental disorder and violence following cannabis usage.
In 1970, the United States introduced the Controlled Substance Act, which basically decided there was no use for cannabis.
Legalization Begins
In the 1960’s through the 80’s, cannabis-related arrests reached an all-time high in the US and Canada. It soon became clear that the War on Drugs was not succeeding. But before that realization, the investigation into the qualities of cannabis intensified.
The early medicinal cannabis laws began popping up in the late 1970’s. New Mexico was the first state to pass legislation cannabis to be provided for federally approved research. In 1998, citizens of California voted to legalize medical cannabis.
In 1996, after a series of successful local initiatives, California voters approved the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, becoming the first nation to legalize the medical use of cannabis. Provided you had a physician’s recommendation, this measure allowed for use, possession and cultivation of cannabis. Legalization in California spurred other states into action, including Maine, Nevada, Colorado and Hawaii.
Since the legalization of medical cannabis in California, countries around the world have began decriminalizing or even legalizing the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis. Canada would legalize recreational weed in 2018, but Uruguay was the first to do it in 2013. Learn more about the history of legal cannabis in Canada.
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