Cannabis in History
1. Cannabis was once cultivated in ancient Egypt
Cannabis was first introduced to the world in the 5th Century BC in China. In ancient Egypt, cannabis was grown in temples, and was believed to have been cultivated since the beginning of time. Because they were able to make paper out of hemp fibers and ink, cannabis grew popular throughout the middle ages. However, cannabis was banned in England during the 16th century.
2. The Netherlands were the first place to legalize marijuana back in 1848
In the late 1800’s, the Dutch government passed their first law legalizing marijuana and regulating it similar to alcohol. This law had several restrictions on how young people could purchase the drug and what kind of use they could put it towards. Many believe that the Dutch realized the profitable nature of marijuana and later on adopted laws that allowed for commercial production of the drug.
3. World War II led to widespread usage of pot in the United States
During the second world war, many Americans turned to marijuana as a way to relax and relieve stress. Marijuana use became even more widespread after the war ended. The US federal government didn’t begin to take action until the 1950’s when President Eisenhower signed a military bill allowing him to regulate marijuana.
4. Marijuana was not actually illegal to possess until 1937
Marijuana is not technically illegal, however, it was classified as a narcotic under the Misuse of Drugs Act (1929) and Medical Acts Amendment (1937). Possession of anything classified as a narcotic was prohibited without a prescription. By changing these two laws, possession of marijuana changed from being an offense that was punishable by 1-10 years in prison to an infraction that was punishable by a fine.
5. Smoking pot was considered a sign of wealth in Ancient Mexico
Throughout different cultures in Mexico, smoking weed was considered a status symbol. Its use was often associated with wealthy business owners and politicians. However, its use wasn’t limited to just Mexican culture; it was prevalent among rich people around the globe.
6. Marijuana was used as early as 1500BC
A study published in 1943 discovered evidence of cannabis use dating back as early as the 15th Century BC. Dr. Wilhelm Junken, the leading archaeologist at the time, found cannabis seeds on a burial site in the Crimean Peninsula, Eastern Europe. There were no human remains with the cannabis seeds, just some burnt grass nearby.
7. Henry David Thoreau was inspired to write his classic book Walden after reading about legalization efforts in the Pacific Northwest
This famous author once wrote, Walden was “written somewhat in view of a lecture I heard at Portland on the subject of the personal rights of man.” He mentions the subject matter in his essay called “Economy”, in which he explains our modern methods of economic incentives and why we need to reform them. In his work, he noted that he felt ‘higher’ feelings after visiting a friend who sold timber and grain. The result was a much lower rate of unemployment than he had seen in Massachusetts.