Marijuana; Ganja; Can Sa; Cannabis; a weed plant by any other name would smell just as dank! Immersed in a variety of cultures, our favorite herb has many titles around the world. From the flowing Nile of ancient Egypt, to the sandy beaches of Jamaica and the canals of Amsterdam, this powerful bud has cemented itself in many pockets of the planet. Read below to learn a bit about cannabis across cultures!
Ancient Ganja
Known as the ‘cradle of civilization,’ Mesopotamia also acted as a birthplace of medical cannabis usage, with historians citing ancient Babylonian tablets that allude to the herb as a treatment for both grief and epilepsy. Ancient Egyptians, having believed that this powerful plant was created by the god of the Sun, utilized cannabis tinctures for spiritual advancement, death ceremonies, and medical applications.
Further to the east, Chinese Emperor Fu Hsi (2900 B.C.) saw cannabis as having possessed qualities that encompass both the Yin and Yang; while the ‘Father of Chinese Medicine,’ Emperor Shen Nung, first documented the healing applications of the plant in the Pen T’sao – the world’s oldest collection of ancient medical records. Past the Himalayas, this mighty plant was known as ‘Bhang’’ in ancient Hindu mythology and was used in religious contexts for ‘spiritual inspiration’. Hinduism’s foundational texts, the Vedas, refer to cannabis as one of the five sacred plants, as yogis consumed it to deepen their religious practices. Cannabis was used in ayurvedic medicine for many of the same reasons we use it today – to provide pain relief, anxiety reduction, digestive alleviation, and more!
The Proscribed Plant
Millennium passed before marijuana was brought to the western world by Irish physician William Brooke O’Shaughnessy. Following a residency in India, O’Shaughnessy published his observations on cannabis, citing a case study of a child whose seizures were relieved by the plant. By the second half of the 19th century, dozens of scientific articles had been published in Europe and the United States, which gave way to the implementation of the plant in medical fields. Sadly, this honeymoon period didn’t last very long – America’s love affair with cannabis was eventually sullied by racialized biases, social taboos, and competing industries. Published in 1937, the ‘Marihuana Tax Act’ removed cannabis products from American pharmacies; decades later, the UN classified cannabis as a schedule IV drug alongside heroin. Around the world, countries such as Nepal and Afghanistan closed down their cannabis shops and cancelled agricultural licenses of marijuana farmers. This once revered plant soon became an international source of jailtime, fines, and social taboo.
Pot Protest
While prohibition quickly became the norm in mid to late 1900’s,, the approaching turn of the century ushered in a new era of modern values that did not align with the strict interdictions the world’s governments were imposing. Out in Jamaica, Rastafari culture was spreading beyond the island with figureheads such as Bob Marley using music to share this culture of community, protest, and religion. Beginning as a response by Black Jamaicans to white colonial oppression, Rastafarianism used cannabis as a means of spiritual advancement and peace. As multiple wars raged around the world with direct western involvement, this social wave gained momentum in the United States and beyond as Americans leaned into Hippie culture and protest movements.
In 1991, Denis Peron opened the first medical marijuana shop in California. A strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and outspoken activist for the HIV/AIDS crisis, The San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club served members of the queer community and beyond. Eventually, cannabis slowly gained legality throughout the United States in the 90s and 2000s, with California becoming the first state to legalize medical usage.
Today, cannabis is still used all over the world in cultural practices. In Amsterdam, customers can gather to buy and consume cannabis in ‘coffee shops,’ acting as social hubs similar to a bar or pub. In Nepal, cannabis is illegal except for during the Maha Shivaratri festival, when it is consumed by patrons looking to honor the god Shiva. In some American states, such as Michigan and Oregon, cannabis festivals are held to celebrate the community surrounding the plant – and the mighty leaf itself! Whether we examine the plant in either historical and contemporary contexts, cannabis has long solidified itself as a means of healing, uniting people, and bringing about feelings of peace and spiritual relaxation.
