The Use of Cannabis in History 2

2009.06.28

The first register written about the cultivation of cannabis with medical purposes is from China, in 28 B.C. But the historians believe that way before of that people used to cultivate it, like the Egyptians, as example, where were found vestiges of cannabis in mommies with more than 3000 years. The origin of this plant is accredited to Asia, specifically by the Himalaya region.

There are suspicions’ from the researchers on that matter that the general use of this plant is associated to the Neolithic period and that, in this period, its utilization was associated to shamanic rituals in west Asia. Since this epoch, a diffusion of the use of the plant has happened all over the world, with multiple purposes.

In the occidental culture this market was present since the European expansion, utilized in ship construction and paper production. But the use as a hallucinogen was introduced since the XIX century by French artists and intellectuals, and with the creation of the Hashish Clubs; it is associated principally with the search for psychedelic experiences.

Since the XX century the cannabis was widespread by the youth, especially the occidental youth, reconciled with the middle class, and is often associated with the exploration of its psychoactive/recreational aspects.

Recently, in the 70´s, the peak of the underground culture movement, its use has been popularized. This expansion has attempted all the sectors of the population and finished to leave the antiques practices originated in Africa, in rituals and with medical purposes, in oblivion.

Because of this separation between the use of cannabis and the cultural rituals where the plant was consumed also, and else, by its use being related to African and Asiatic cultures, it and its consumers passed to suffer rejection from the racist society. Today the existence of cannabis sativa is prohibited in almost every country, and its use is submitted to judiciary sanctions.

Activists movements for legalization of cannabis argue that its initial prohibition was in United States, where it was popularly called “marihuana”, a way of associating it to Latin immigrants, creating the idea that cannabis was curse that had passed the frontier with people of other countries. Those activists believe that the prohibition and the bad fame that the United States attributed to cannabis was because of industrial interests, considering that the plant offers more economic and ecological alternatives to many goods, like oil, plastic, tissues and fabrics.

After demonizing cannabis, creating a general fear of society against this plaint and the consumers, the United States started a campaign for its prohibition in other countries. Today the use of marihuana is legalized in just a few parts of the world, like Holland and Los Angeles. In many countries where the use is prohibited, the plant is free to use for medical purpose; in United States also, where the prohibition and the cannabis phobia had started.