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Where Did Cannabis Originate?
Jun
Cannabis, also known as marijuana or weed, has been used by humans for a long time. A lot of ancient cultures used the plant an an herbal medicine, most likely beginning in Asia as far back as 500 BC. In America, the history of cannabis cultivation dates back to the early colonists who grew hemp to use for textiles and rope. Marijuana use was criminalized in the 20th century due to political and racial factors, though its status in the US is rapidly changing. So, where did cannabis originate?
The cannabis or hemp plant originally evolved in Central Asia before people introduced the plant into Africa, Europe and eventually the Americas. Clothing, paper, sails, and rope were made from hemp fiber, and its seeds were eaten as food.
Hemp was widely grown throughout colonial America and in the Southwest because it was so easy to cultivate. In fact, in the early 1600s, the Massachusetts, Virginia, and Connecticut colonies required farmers to grow hemp.
These early hemp plants had very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for marijuana’s mind-altering effects.
Some evidence suggests that ancient cultures knew about the psychoactive properties of the marijuana plant. It’s possible that they may have cultivated come varieties to deliver higher levels of THC to use in religious ceremonies or healing practices.
In the Hindu culture, hemp was considered a holy plant. Sacred Hindu texts dating back to around 2000 B.C. refer to the plant as a liberator of fear and a source of joy and happiness.
In Siberia and China, burned cannabis seeds have been found in the graves of shamans from as early as 500 BC.
So, where did cannabis originate? Marijuana has a long and complicated past. From being used in ceremonies, to being totally outlawed, we are just happy that times are changing and cannabis is becoming an accepted plant once again.
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