Stone Age to the Stoned Age: History of Cannabis
Introduction into the History of Cannabis
Cannabis has been intertwined with human history for millennia, serving diverse roles across various cultures and eras. From its early use in ancient civilizations like China, Egypt, India, and Greece for fiber, medicine, and spiritual practices, to its complex role in medieval Islamic medicine where it was both celebrated and cautioned against.
During the colonial era, European interest in its medicinal properties grew, leading to both scientific exploration and regulatory control. The post-colonial period saw a resurgence in its medical use, despite increasing legal restrictions. The rich history of cannabis underscores the plants enduring significance and evolving perception through the ages.
History Of Cannabis in Ancient Civilizations
Earliest records of cannabis date back to at least the third millennium BC, possibly to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (8800–6500 BCE) based on archaeological evidence.
Cannabis played a significant role in various ancient civilizations across the world. In ancient China, cannabis was used for its fibers to make clothing, shoes, ropes, and an early form of paper as far back as the 5th millennium BC. The ancient Egyptians utilized cannabis to treat inflammation, with the Ebers Papyrus from 1550 BC detailing its medical applications. In India, cannabis held cultural, religious, and medicinal importance, with references found in ancient Hindu texts like the Vedas dating back to around 1500 BCE. Cannabis usage was often associated with Lord Shiva and believed to help facilitate spiritual experiences.
Aztecs often partook in cannabis as part of the religious ceremonies dedicated to Xochipilli, the deity of art, beauty and love. When they were not smoking at the alter of love, they used cannabis to help alleviate pain, and induce relaxation.
The ancient Greeks and Romans also recognized the medicinal properties of cannabis, using it to treat various ailments such as pain, inflammation, and sleep disorders. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Tocharian culture in China cultivated cannabis with high THC content for its psychoactive properties around 750 BC, indicating an early understanding of the plant’s potential beyond its use as a fiber or food source.
Cannabis in Medieval Islamic Medicine
Cannabis had a very complex and polarizing role in medieval Islamic medicine. Islamic physicians recognized both its therapeutic potential and the risks of recreational overuse. Although cannabis was not mentioned in the Quran, its use spread throughout the Islamic world by the 9th century CE.
This recreational use of cannabis in the Islamic society reached its peak in the 11th century during the reign of the Seljuk Turks. The Makhzan-El-Adwiya, text dating back to the 16th century, celebrated cannabis as a treatment for various ailments including inflammation, pain, parasites, and even gonorrhea.
This dichotomy is reflected in Islamic medical manuscripts, which contain both warnings about the dangers of cannabis as well as references to its therapeutic uses. Physicians recognized the plant as a powerful substance to be used judiciously. While it was prescribed medicinally, Islamic doctors also realized its potential healing but also for abuse and overuse.
The Role of Cannabis in Colonial Medicine
During the colonial era, cannabis played a complex role in medicine as European powers sought to understand and utilize the plant’s properties. In the 19th century, orientalists like Silvestre de Sacy and Western physicians who came into contact with Muslim and Indian cultures introduced the medicinal use of cannabis to Europe
O’Shaughnessy, a professor at the Medical College of Calcutta, conducted extensive research on cannabis indica and published a influential paper in 1843 detailing its potential medical applications, including as an anesthetic and anti-convulsant
However, colonial powers also sought to control and tax cannabis importation and cultivation. They would often portray the farmers as potentially dangerous drugs linked to “oriental degeneracy, madness and crime”. The British East India Company shifted cannabis production from a medicinal and recreational plant to an industrial and commercial commodity. This colonial bioprospection and commodification of cannabis, coupled with regulations and taxes, pushed back against its use in indigenous medicine in colonized regions like India.
The complex history of cannabis in colonial medicine reflects both an interest in its therapeutic potential and an impulse to regulate its use and sale. While some European physicians recognized the medicinal value of cannabis based on knowledge from colonized cultures, colonial economic botany and drug policies also served to restrict and control the plant’s applications.
Post-Colonial Cannabis History
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, cannabis experienced a resurgence in Western medicine. It was prescribed for various ailments, from painful menses to migraines. Queen Victoria herself took cannabis for menstrual cramps, while Empress Elisabeth of Austria used it to relieve cough and stimulate appetite. Influential physicians like J. Russell Reynolds in Britain summarized decades of experience with cannabis, finding it useful for treating numerous painful conditions.
However, the lack of standardization in cannabis preparations posed challenges. The active ingredient, THC, had not yet been isolated, so plant extracts varied in potency.
Throughout the 20th century, a series of legal restrictions limited cannabis use, particularly in the United States. These included the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act, which consisted of the removal of cannabis from the American pharmacopeia, and the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. In 1970, cannabis was declared a Schedule 1 drug in the US, officially ending the “Golden Age” of medical cannabis that had begun in the late 1800s.
Despite the increasing restrictions on cannabis in the post-colonial 20th century, countercultural movements in the 1960s led to a resurgence of interest in the plant’s recreational, spiritual, and medicinal uses. The hippie culture, influenced by Eastern mysticism and indigenous practices, embraced cannabis as a means of expanding consciousness and promoting peace. This cultural shift, along with the work of researchers like Raphael Mechoulam who isolated THC in 1964, reignited scientific interest in the plant’s therapeutic potential.
In recent decades, a growing body of research has explored the medical applications of cannabis and its derivatives. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the 1990s provided a biological basis for understanding the plant’s effects on the human body. This has led to the development of cannabinoid-based medications for conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain. Simultaneously, many countries have begun to legalize or decriminalize cannabis for medical and/or recreational purposes, marking a significant shift in public perception and policy. However, the legal status of cannabis remains complex and varies widely across the globe, reflecting the plant’s long and controversial history.
