Early History of Cannabis
by DAVID M. JOLLEY, J.D.
The cannabis plant is one of humanity’s oldest cultivated crops. It is believed humans began cultivating the plant between 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. It has been widely used by humans to make hemp, which can be used to make such things as clothing and rope. In addition, it has been used for its medicinal and psychoactive effects, often for ceremonial or religious purposes. This article will briefly cover the early history of the plant and its usage up to its introduction to America.
Origins In Central Asia
Cannabis is thought to have first evolved over 10,000 years ago in the steppes of Central Asia, specifically in the regions that are now Mongolia and southern Siberia. The earliest known reference of cannabis being used for medicinal purposes is in the Pen-ts’ao Ching, an ancient Chinese compendium of herbal remedies. In this, it refers to a mixture of female cannabis plants as “ma-fen” that can be helpful in treating conditions such as gout, rheumatic pain, constipation, malaria, and gynecological disorders.
In 2019, in the Eastern Pamir region of China, archeologists discovered an ancient smoking device dating back to 1500 BCE referred to as a “wooden brazier” buried at a cemetery. These braziers, which were essentially wooden pipes or bongs, had charred residue containing traces of cannabis in them. It is believed cannabis was smoked in these as part of ritual and/or religious ceremonies.
Ancient Egypt
Cannabis next found its way to Egypt around 1550 BCE via medical records written on papyrus that discusses the plant’s anti-inflammatory properties and as a useful aid in childbirth. Interesting to note, Egyptians administered cannabis not only by mouth or skin, but also in the rectum, vagina, and eyes.
Greece and Rome
The earliest known record of medical cannabis being used by the Greeks is in the De materia medica, written by the physician Dioscorides, around 100 CE. In it, Dioscorides recommends cannabis as a treatment for earaches. This was closely followed by Roman author and philosopher, Piny the Elder, who discussed the medical use of cannabis for aching joints, gout, and burns in Naturalis Historia around 77 CE.
Arab and Persia
Hundreds of years later, Arabic scholars, al-Mayusi and al-Badri pointed out cannabis as being an effective treatment for epilepsy. In addition, Persian scholar, Avicenna, acknowledged the usefulness of cannabis for pain relief, gout, edema, infectious wounds, and eye inflammation in the Canon of Medicine in 1025 CE.
Europe
After cannabis found its way to the Middle East from its origins in Central Asia around 800 – 1500 CE, it is believed Arabic traders spread the plant throughout North Africa and eventually into Spain and greater Europe. One of the first texts to document the use of cannabis in Europe, the Anglo Saxon Old English Herbarium (1100 CE) describes cannabis as an anesthetic and pain reliever, in addition to being helpful with gout, urinary infections, childbirth issues, and weight loss.
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The smoking of cannabis (specifically hashish) for its psychoactive effects became popular in Europe around 1800 CE after Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt, where he encouraged his troops to smoke hashish, as opposed to drinking alcohol. The plant was then brought back and spread throughout Europe.
Cannabis in America
Cannabis is believed to have first come to the Americas via the Spanish, during their invasion beginning in 1492. The crop was intended to be grown for hemp that could be used for clothing, bags, and the rigging of ships. Later in 1611, in the original 13 colonies, King James I enacted a royal decree instructing the colonists of Jamestown, Virginia, to grow hemp in order to make rope, sails, clothes, textiles, and other materials.
The medicinal properties of cannabis were brought to the attention of Western medicine in 1839 when Irish doctor, William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, published On the Preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah, which explained the benefits of cannabis as a treatment for rheumatism, convulsions, and spasms associated with tetanus and rabies.
Today in the U.S., cannabis has been legalized medicinally in 38 states and recreationally in 18, including the District of Columbia.
Be sure read about the legal history of cannabis in the U.S.here.
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