Historical Background of
Marijuana
When weed was discovered in the ancient days, it was strictly
used for medicinal purpose. It was highly cherished and completely
reserved for the nobles and privileged. That is how much Cannabis
became really important during that era.
In the old Chinese empire, the herb was used to treat mostly
the privileged (Emperors, Nobles, and so much more) as it was very
rare and extremely expensive plant during this era. Also in ancient
Egypt, the plant and its seeds were used in treating Pharaohs and
most members of the ruling Council.
With these instances and various examples, you would agree
with me that the Cannabis plant was highly cherished as one of the
most beneficial plants in the world. It’s funny how a plant whose
origin is known to be mysterious spreads its roots across nations
and kingdoms of the world.
Although many scholars and researchers agree with the fact
that Cannabis got its origin mysteriously with its seeds, leaves,
roots, and even flowers dispersing all over the universe with the
help of dispersing agents. For example, when birds perch the
ground, they are likely to pick a seed or two with their claws or
beaks, thereby dropping it off in another region as they fly off.
Herds of cattle grazing off a particular area might also get
their hoofs attached to few seeds as they walk on the plants
unknowingly, thereby, planting the seeds as they run or walk off.
These and many more led to the discovery of the rampant state of
the plant in the world. We won’t be entirely wrong to say that
these diverse agents of dispersion played a very big role in the
discovery of the Cannabis plant in the world today.
Ever since it was discovered, the plants had been studied and
researched on how it can be further used in a more advanced,
improved, and modernized form; tablets, syrups, and so much more.
Marijuana was first used in liquid form when it was added to wine
by an old Chinese doctor in the 1800s. It had taken lots of form
since then.
Let’s take a brief look at the history of Cannabis in
different ancient empires and kingdoms.
The Chinese Empire
Long before civilization gets to the west, the old Chinese
empires are known to be far ahead of other kingdoms and empires of
the world. They had developed their own alphabets, they had learned
to read and write, and they are far in terms of medicine and
science, and so much more. In Asia, the Chinese empire is no doubt
the only powerful hegemony with lots of subsidiary kingdoms and
empires. That is how well they were developed.
Marijuana started out as a normal type of plant till the
physicians of that era realized the plant could mean so much more
if refined and reprocessed. Little by little, Marijuana became the
secret recipe of most of the medications prescribed at that period
of time. One way or the other, it multipurpose usage got out and in
turn became a very scarce herb, especially with the importance and
high price tagged on it.
During this era, it was believed to have been used to cure a
severe illness like heart failure, skin disease, cancer,
indigestion, and so much more. It became even more popular amongst
the nobles and privileged of the society in that era. Due to its
expensiveness, it could only be afforded by the nobles. Physicians
of the era also made improvements to it.
Some other uses of the plant during that era are the use of
hemp for clothing materials. At a point, it became the secret
weapon of the Chinese in winning wars and battle. Hemp was heavily
used to make thicker and stronger fabric which covered both the
people and the soldiers.
For example, there had been archeological evidence which was
believed to be around thousands of years old and contains details
of how hemp was heavily used for clothes. The Shu King which and
old poetry also laid emphasis on how China made use of hemp in
creating fabrics.
With the firmness and vigor of the plant, it was highly used
by the Chinese in archery. Arrows, bows, and bowstrings were made
out of hemp. They are much stronger, better, and flexible, thus,
making the arrows covers more ground when fired. China can be said
to have categorically reached a highpoint in the use of Cannabis.
The Greek & Roman Empire
It won’t be fair if we are discussing the historical
background of the Cannabis plant without delving into the
contribution of the Greeks and Romans towards this psychoactive
herb. According to ancient history, it was believed by some
botanists that the plant was given enough recognition during the
Greek-Roman era as ancient botanists like Theophrastus (287-371 B.
C.) made reference to it in their ancient writings.
Though there had not been many writings on the medical
benefits of the Marijuana plant during this era, they had
acknowledged the fact that Cannabis is one hell of a plant with
lots of outstanding properties. They had further laid emphasis on
the seeds and leaves of the plants. The old Greek-Roman writers had
made us understand that no part of the plant is entirely useless.
From the buds down to the leaves to the branch to the stems,
and connects to the roots. It’s all useful. Additionally, it was
popularly known that the man who coined the word CANNABIS is an old
Greek Historian known as Herodotus (490 A. D.) As a traveler who
was in love with history, he had moved around the areas of old
Egypt, Babylon, Tyre, Thrace, Scythia, Arabia, Palestine, and so
much more.
He had also written lots of works on the Cannabis subject
matter. In one of his work, he had described the Cannabis plant and
seeds as a vapor emitting plant. Other notable Greek-Roman
philosophers, historians, botanists, and so much more had given
their own view and opinion on the plant. With this, you would
surely agree with me that Cannabis seeds and plants had been in
existence for over a long period of time.
The old Egyptian Kingdoms
During the days of the pharaohs, Egypt can be said to have has
been at the forefront with an advanced technological, medical,
social, and psychological feat which made other kingdoms around
them bow to their might. The story of Joseph in the Bible should
serve as evidence of these assumptions.
Medically, the old Egypt had found solace in the eyes of
Marijuana. Over time, they had been able to get the optimal benefit
of the plant in the best possible form. As a form of medicinal
purpose, the Cannabis plant, as found in the ancient Ebers Papyrus
(a book penned down in the 1550 BC), the Cannabis was used to cure
lots of illness both chronic and mild.
The Ebers Papyrus made emphasis on how to prepare and apply
the herbs, when to apply the herbs, and where to apply it. It shed
more light on how Marijuana can be used to move pass depression and
other psychological issues one might be passing through during this
era.
As old as 2000 BC, this medicinal herb is used for curing
disease like glaucoma, cataracts, hemorrhoids, vaginal bleeding,
and so much more. Even when the Cannabis plant does not entirely
cure these diseases completely, it goes a long way in ensuring that
the diseases are reduced to the barest.
In ancient Egypt, Marijuana moved towards a whole new
dimension entirely. It no longer served the purpose of just being a
cure or psychoactive substance, it graduated into a way of life. It
moved into a movement. It became a culture and a religion to many
old Egyptians. For example, archeologists had found traces of weed
in the tombs of notable personalities in Egyptian history.
This only signifies one thing, Cannabis had indeed eaten deep
and made a very good mark in their society. It had grown to be
generally acceptable by everyone including the Pharaohs of the era.
Now, picture Cannabis as an aspect of their religion, making sense
right? If their Pharaohs can accept the plant and even be buried
with it, isn’t that an evidence to our religion narrative of the
era?
Aside from that, the pictures of the goddesses of the old
Egypt (Goddess of Wisdom and Goddess of War) Seshat and Bastet also
have the Cannabis plant in it. This is, even more, stronger
evidence towards categorizing the Cannabis plant as part of the
religion of that era. As a way and process of fulfilling the
religious beliefs, festivals, and culture of the Egyptian era,
Cannabis is highly used. It is also believed to have been used for
witchcraft and rituals.
The Islamic Kingdoms
It is important to know that the Koran and the Prophet himself
didn’t really lay a direct emphasis on the prohibition of Cannabis,
however, it is still a haram (forbidden) in the religion of Islam
just as pork is forbidden. This doesn’t change the fact that the
Cannabis plant had been imbibed into the cultures of diverse
Islamic nations and kingdoms with historical backgrounds up to a
few centuries.
Many Islamic countries like Afghanistan, Morocco, Iran, and so
much more even turn this plant into hashish. In recent time, the
possession of these plants in many Muslim countries like Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are met with the harshest of
punishment. Thus, even if these Islamic kingdoms and empires
acknowledge the existence of the Cannabis plant, they had been able
to ban it in their environment.
Nevertheless, some kingdoms still made good use of the
Cannabis plant, most especially in treating diseases and making
hashish. Let’s take a look at old Morocco, Turkey, and Iran, shall
we?
Morocco, in the 7th down to the 15th century, had really been
characterized by a lot of tribal and cultural activities that is
before the introduction of Islam into their system. Cannabis
growing had really thrived under this era with lots of businessmen
and women moving into Morocco with caravans.
The next century witnessed a change in the face of Cannabis as
the then king ordered the large production of the plants. Farmlands
were given out, seeds were shared, and planting techniques were
taught to people during that era. What followed after this was
surplus cultivation of the plant all over Morocco, though only
practiced by a tribe.
This was however curtailed by King Hassan I when he issued new
laws and restrictions on the cultivation of cannabis in the 18th
century. Instead of the art of growing Cannabis being reserved
exclusively for a particular tribe, it now became an art that can
be practiced by more than four different tribes. This boosted the
economy of Morocco.
The modern-day Turkey which is now characterized by a high
number of Muslims has a long time history with Cannabis. With the
diverse tribes and religious beliefs scattered all over old Turkey,
Cannabis production had been acceptable during that era. There had
been evidence such as paintings, old texts, writings, and medicinal
formulas as far back as 100 BCE.
Even the Ottoman setting in Turkey made good use of the
Cannabis plant. According to ancient history, the 1631 era of the
Sultan Murad IV ushered in a severe punishment levied on the
possession of tobacco, wine, and coffee, but interestingly, he
allowed weed and opium legal. You can see how much of importance
the Cannabis plant was to this era.
In old Iran, the connection between Cannabis and its people is
quite deep. The Scythian tribe which were quite popular in old Iran
starting from 700 BCE had been known to be quite synonymous to the
psychoactive herb. Their name had appeared in more than a dozen
ancient texts. They mostly use the Cannabis plant for lots of
purposes like recreational, medicinal, and even spiritual purposes.
Just like the Scythians, other tribes and religion like the
Zoroastrians also recognized and made use of the Cannabis plant for
religious and medicinal purpose. It was even indicated in their
holy book, Zend Avesta as Bhanga, the Sanskrit meaning of
Marijuana. Afterward, the production of Cannabis fell heavily under
the introduction of Islam.
