The History Of Cannabis

Hi, I’m an herbalist and I’m here to tell you that cannabis is medicine. Pile on years of research and case studies, and you’ll see with your own two eyes, all the overwhelming proof of what a miracle this plant is.

I’ve heard stories from people from every corner of the world who attest to the benefits of cannabis - Veterans and regular degular folks who struggle with mental health, stay-at-home Moms, yogis, athletes, business owners, folks with fibromyalgia, and the list goes on and on. Can you name another plant that can reduce inflammation, calm nausea and vomiting, relieve pain and help people who suffer with Epilepsy, Tourettes, Crohn’s Disease, MS or arthritis?

I live in a country that criminalizes this miracle plant despite having all the research and facts. The only concrete reasons for this condemnation is due to racial bigotry, politics and greed. There is power in knowing the history behind this plant and that’s what Part I of my 10 part series is all about! So let’s dive in and learn a brief history of Cannabis!

A Healing Plant for Ancient Civilizations

Here’s a little known history fact. The first cannabis plant is known to have come from the central part of Asia, mainly Mongolia and South Siberia. Cannabis was used by ancient civilizations for spiritual and religious rituals, as well as medicine. We’re blessed to have records from these civilizations to show us evidence that those who pre-date us were using cannabis in many ways including

• burning and inhaling the smoke

• mixing it with other herbs for medicine making

• cooking / distilling it into tonics

Take a peek at this timeline for a handful of records we have today on ancient cannabis use:

Lets jump to 1910, after the Mexican Revolution. Mexican immigrants who used “marihuana” socially, were bringing it with them as the migrated to the United States. Although there were many affluent individuals - actors, singers and other entertainers - using cannabis recreationally, the United States still associated the herb with minorities, including Black Americans, who were also using the plant socially.

Twenty-nine states outlawed cannabis along with alcohol during the Prohibition. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics commissioner, Harry Jacob Anslinger, stated that cannabis was safe and didn’t make people violent in 1933 but fast forward 4 years to 1937, and you’ll notice Anslinger has switched sides. Prohibition was lifted and Anslinger began pushing misguided information about cannabis stating that it caused people (mainly minorities) to fly off the handle into delirious rage. That year, the Marihuana Tax Act was passed, making nonmedical cannabis illegal. Ansligners misguided campaign on cannabis gained so much traction due to his partnership with with William Randolph Hearst, John D. Rockefeller and Pierre du Pont - all white men with investments in industries that would be threatened by the production and success of cannabis, industrial help in particular, as it can be produced into things like paper and biodiesel fuel, just to name a few.

In 1970, the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) was passed, establishing the federal US drug policy, regulating the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain substances. Substances are categorized into schedules. President Nixon repealed the Marihuana Tax Act and listed cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, alongside other substances like MDMA, psychoactive bath salts, heroin and LSD. Infuriating… I know.

According to the US Drug Enforcement Agency or the DEA, Schedule 1 substances are drugs/substances:

• with high potential for abuse

• that have no accepted medical use in treatment in the US

• with a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision

Can you overdose on cannabis?

There are many psychoactive drugs out there that will affect parts of the brain that controls breathing, heart rate or body temperature. As of today, we can say there are no recorded deaths directly related to toxicity levels of cannabis in the body. David Schmader, the author of Weed: The User’s Guide, states it would take consuming 1500 pounds of cannabis in 15 minutes, in order for cannabis to cause death.

So why is cannabis lumped in with drugs like MDMA and Heroin? It’s truly puzzling.

Next up we’ll be talking about Cannabis’ place in the plant kingdom and its medicinal make up!