History of cannabis

The history of cannabis spans thousands of years. Considered one of the oldest plants cultivated by humankind, it has served in turn as a medicine, a sacred plant, and an industrial raw material. For an overview, read our A Brief History of Cannabis. Archaeological evidence and ancient texts indicate that it was used in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. In China, the plant was used for its medicinal properties; in India, it was associated with religious and cultural practices. Researchers have studied The Geographic Origin of Cannabis and on the first cannabis smokers. The hashish It, too, has its own long history. Through trade routes and later the age of exploration, sailors and merchants spread the plant and its uses—particularly in textiles and medicine—as far as Europe and the Americas. You can follow The Arrival of Cannabis in France, or explore the origins of words such as Marie-Jeanne and OG. In the 20th century, the status of cannabis shifted: most countries banned it, following a a prohibition whose origins and key figures can be traced. Scientific research is advancing in parallel: see who discovered THC and the role of Roger Adams. In the second half of the century, activists and farmers helped challenge this ban, such as Brownie Mary, the The LGBTQ+ community's fight for medical cannabis or the Emerald Triangle California, the birthplace of many varieties that have become iconic. Today, cannabis remains at the center of debates in the fields of medicine, industry, and law, with legal frameworks that vary from country to country.