Cannabis History

The Origins of Cannabis

The oldest known written record on cannabis use comes from the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2727 B.C. Ancient Greeks and Romans were also familiar with cannabis, while in the Middle East, use spread throughout the Islamic empire to North Africa. In 1545 cannabis spread to the western hemisphere where Spaniards imported it to Chile for its use as fiber. In North America cannabis, in the form of hemp, was grown on many plantations for use in rope, clothing and paper.

The Use of Cannabis

Cannabis sativa grows wild throughout many tropical and humid parts of the world. Its seeds have been used for animal feed, its fiber for hemp rope, and its oil as a vehicle for paint.

The Cannabis Plant

Cannabis is dioecious, meaning it comes as separate male and female plants. Male plants are taller and thinner and have flower like pods which contain the fertilizing, pollen-generating anthers. The female plant is darker and shorter and has short hairs protruding at the end of the bracteole pods.

Marijuana Paraphernalia

Most users smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints. Other popular methods of smoking marijuana include using bowls, pipes, and bongs.

Hashish

Hashish, also known as Hash is derived from the dried resin of the plants flowering tops and is compressed into a variety of forms such as balls, cakes or sticks. The Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the main sources of hashish. Pieces of hash are crumbled into pipes and smoked.

Hash Oil

Hash oil is the refined oily extract of the cannabis plant. Depending on the refining technique the oil can vary in colour from amber to dark brown with an average THC of content of approximately 80-95 percent. 

Hemp

One of the first fiber plants to be cultivated, prior to the widespread use of cotton, hemp has been referenced to originate in Central Asia. In the Middle East and India hemp was largely used in religious settings; however it was also used as a natural medicine. Hemp later made its way to Europe where its use as a fiber was highly ideal in many countries. Eventually, hemp landed in the Americas where it was popular for rope, clothing and paper.  

Hemp Fibers

Today, hemp fibers are more commonly used in clothing and jewellery, and can be used in place of man made fibres such as nylon that are not bio-degradable.

Marketable Cannabis Items

Marijuana and hemp have been and are used in a variety of products. Some of the most common foods and drinks include cereal, candy, coffees and teas. Hemp is also found in body lotions, make up and shampoo.

Cannabis Varieties

With a variety of cannabis strains the potency of marijuana varies greatly. The highest concentration of cannabinoids is found in the flowers of the female marijuana plant. 

Cannabis Strains

As cannabis strains are continually discovered and grown the flowers attributes change as well. The differences in marijuana potency, flavour, medicinal properties and body effects are what make various strains popular.

 

Medical Use

The topic of legalizing marijuana for medical use is a controversial issue since the therapeutic properties of marijuana are presently at question when claiming medicinal purpose.  Despite thousands of tests proving the safe use of cannabis for medical use with its ability to cure ailments big pharma previously had to prescribe radiation for, and not a single recorded fatality in history of recreational cannabis use, and despite the UK being the biggest exporter of cannabis in the world, it is illegal for commoners to grow in UK.  Hands up if you smell a rat!