The History of Medical Marijuana
September 25, 2020
Those who enjoy the benefits of medical and recreational marijuana today have a far different experience than patients did a few hundred or even a few thousand years ago. The history of medical marijuana spans many centuries so it’s impossible to explore in extreme detail, but we can touch on some of the most important milestones throughout this journey.
Before diving into the progressive timelines, allow us to touch on some terminology that’s relevant to the history of medicinal cannabis:
● Cannabis — The Latin name for a group of medicinal herbs utilized in traditional medicine.
● Marijuana — A Spanish word that was popularized in the early 1900s, marijuana is used as a slang term for cannabis.
● Cannabinoid — One of the chemical constituents of cannabis which accounts for its medicinal properties.
● Hemp — Usually associated with the non-drug fibers of cannabis which can be used to create rope and paper, hemp was also an old-world term for Cannabis.
● CBD — Shorthand for Cannabidiol, a popular cannabinoid which is minimally psychoactive but highly anti-inflammatory.
With this terminology in mind, we can begin to explore the winding history of medical marijuana.
Historical Milestones for Medicinal Cannabis
One important point of note when discussing the history of medical marijuana is that the earliest records of medicinal cannabis use are not accompanied by “direct evidence” (meaning physical evidence); instead, we must rely on written records.
Of course, it’s difficult for physical evidence of practically anything to survive thousands of years, and much of our knowledge of ancient history, in general, is shaped by written texts, so this isn’t especially surprising.
That said, let’s dive into some of the most meaningful moments throughout the history of medical marijuana.
Of course, just decades later in the early 20th century, prohibition of cannabis took hold in the United States (and much of the world). It took nearly a century for that prohibition to relax; today, some form of medical marijuana is legal in 33 states.
A look back at history shows us the perception of medical cannabis has been predominantly favorable; with the exception of the 20th century, thousands of years of medicinal use have proven beneficial across many different cultures, and modern society appears to have achieved a level of acceptance of medical marijuana as well.
