The Brief Worldwide History of the Use of Cannabis

Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years. The oldest known written record of cannabis use comes from China, where the plant was used as a medicine and in religious rituals. In fact, there is evidence that it was cultivated as early as 10,000 BC!




The use of cannabis spread throughout Asia and Africa before arriving in Europe during the Middle Ages. There are records indicating that Queen Victoria herself used an ointment made with cannabis extract to soothe pain caused by rheumatism (a disease affecting joints).


Cannabis in Ancient Times



Cannabis has been used for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt and Greece. It was also used in India as a textile fiber and medicine.


Cannabis in the Middle Ages



While cannabis was used in medieval Europe, it was not as common as other drugs such as opium. Cannabis use was more common in the Islamic world, where it was considered an acceptable alternative to alcohol. In China and Japan, cannabis was also used for medicinal purposes but didn't become popular until later on in history when Westerners introduced them to its recreational uses.


Cannabis in the Renaissance



The use of cannabis in Europe can be traced back to the Renaissance period, when it was used as a treatment for various ailments. The first documented use of cannabis as medicine was by an Arab physician named Ibn Wahshiyah in the 11th century. He recommended smoking cannabis with tobacco or other herbs to treat any number of ailments including asthma and diabetes.

Cannabis also had its place among African tribes who used it for spiritual rituals and religious ceremonies such as weddings or funerals.


Cannabis in the 19th Century



The 19th century was an important time for cannabis use, as it marked the beginning of widespread recreational use and experimentation with the plant. In Europe, hashish became popular among some members of high society at this time, who would often smoke it from hookahs (water pipes). In America, hemp was widely used in clothing production until cotton became cheaper to produce in large quantities during the Civil War (1861-1865).

In Asia, however, medicinal properties were still being explored by scientists and doctors alike; they found that certain compounds within cannabis could be used to treat various ailments such as nausea or pain relief without causing any psychoactive effects themselves.


Cannabis in the 20th Century




The first state to legalize medical marijuana was California in 1996, and since then many other states have followed suit. In fact, as of 2018 there are 29 states (and Washington D.C.) that allow patients with qualifying conditions to use cannabis medicinally. However, despite its legality on a state level, cannabis remains illegal federally--meaning that doctors cannot prescribe it under federal law and users can't take advantage of their state's protections against prosecution by traveling across state lines with their medicine or engaging in interstate commerce involving cannabis products such as edibles or concentrates.

If you're interested in learning more about how medical marijuana works within your own community or if you need help finding out whether your condition qualifies for treatment under these programs check out this guide from Leafly: Medical Marijuana Laws by State .


Cannabis in the 21st Century



The use of cannabis has become more widespread in the 21st century. In the United States, medical marijuana is legal in 29 states and Washington DC. Recreational use is legal in nine states and Washington DC. In Europe, medical cannabis laws vary from country to country but are generally less restrictive than those in America; however, recreational use remains illegal throughout most of Europe (except for Spain). In Asia, many countries have some form of decriminalization or legalization for medical purposes; however, full legalization remains rare outside Japan and South Korea.


Medical Cannabis



Medical cannabis has been used for millennia to treat a wide variety of ailments. In fact, it was one of the first medicines ever recorded in history. The ancient Egyptians used it as an antidepressant and pain reliever; Chinese herbalists prescribed marijuana for nausea, diarrhea and malaria; Indian Ayurvedic practitioners used cannabis as an anti-inflammatory agent for rheumatism; and American colonists employed hemp fibers to make rope on their sailing ships (the word "canvas" comes from the Arabic word for cannabis).

In modern times, medical marijuana has been found useful in treating many conditions including chronic pain relief from injury or illness; muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS); nausea caused by chemotherapy treatment; loss of appetite due to AIDS wasting syndrome or other illnesses where eating is difficult due to nausea or lack of appetite; seizure disorders such as epilepsy which causes sudden recurrent episodes that can be severe enought o cause death if not treated quickly enough; glaucoma which causes increased pressure within your eyes causing damage over time if left untreated



The use of cannabis throughout history has been a subject of great debate, but it's clear that the plant has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. It was first cultivated in China around 2800 B.C., and its use spread throughout Asia and then into Europe by 1000 A.D., where it became popular among Muslim physicians who called it "hashish" or "ganja."

In Western culture today, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding marijuana use because of its association with drug abuse and addiction--but this doesn't mean that there aren't any benefits to using medical marijuana! In fact, many people claim that using cannabis helps them manage chronic pain or anxiety without causing side effects like drowsiness or dizziness (which can be common side effects from taking prescription medications).

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