The Origins of Cannabis
Cannabis is an ancient plant that can be traced back to the Ice Age. As the geography of the Eastern hemisphere was formed, the cannabis plant grew among mountain ranges in Central, Western, and Southern Asia. It began to adapt and grow into different varieties due to geographical barriers like the Himalayas, which kept people and plants separate. The cannabis that grew in the West became different from the cannabis grown in the East, and it was valued for different reasons. Hemp, a variety of cannabis, was known in the West for its strength, utility, and resistance to decay. It was frequently used by Europeans for canvas, cord, and cloth. Varieties of cannabis in the East were valued for their psycho-activity and ability to help different cultures connect to a higher power. Ancient Hindu texts refer to it as “ganja” in native Sanskrit, and it was sometimes used for religious ceremonies. Eastern cultures also discovered how useful it was as an herbal remedy promoting appetite, reducing pain, and improving aggression or sadness.
CANNABIS 101:
An Introduction
The benefits of cannabis have been recorded for thousands of years, woven into historical moments that many of us grew up learning about.
Cannabis Resistance in the US
In 1920, The United States entered Prohibition. Many commonly used recreational substances became illegal. Cannabis was put in the same class as alcohol and other intoxicants, banned from cultivation, transportation, and sale. The Great Depression began in 1929, and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was established in 1930. Mass unemployment led to negative attitudes towards immigrant laborers and solidified cannabis’ reputation as the “evil weed.” By 1931, 29 states had outlawed annabis.
Anti-Cannabis Policy in America
The Marijuana Tax Act was put in place in 1937, just one year after the release of the famous propaganda film “Reefer Madness.” This act placed a tax on all cannabis, hemp, and marijuana unless it was for industrial use. Still, the United States government realized the value of hemp as a resource for the military. The U.S Department of Agriculture distributed hemp seed and granted military deferments to men who would stay home and grow hemp. By 1943, farmers in the department’s “Hemp for Victory” program had registered 375,000 acres of hemp in the United States.