Have you ever wondered where your favorite bud comes from? It grows on farms, of course, but did you know that marijuana cultivation started thousands of years ago? That’s right — people fell in love with pot as early as 2,800 B.C.!
Marijuana has a long and fascinating history, and we wouldn’t have the strains we do today without it. If you’re itching to know “When was marijuana discovered?” you’ll find the answer below.
If your looking for marijuana in Spokane, Spokane Valley or Liberty Lake Washington, stop by Cannabis and Glass, Eastern Washington’s best dispensary!
The Origins of Marijuana
Today, growers cultivate marijuana, also known as cannabis and hemp, on farms equipped with cutting-edge technology designed to help boost the potency of their crops. Long before growers began experimenting with strains to create hybrids, marijuana grew wild in Central Asia. You may still find it growing there, but before booking a plane ticket and hotel, remember it’s probably nothing like the hybrid strains you’re used to!
Experts say marijuana evolved 28 million years ago on the Tibetan Plateau. It’s tough to know exactly when people started using cannabis, but archaeologists can make a pretty good guess, thanks to research.
Early Marijuana Use
So, when was marijuana discovered? The first documented case of marijuana use dates back to 2,800 B.C. when it was listed in Emperor Shen Nung’s pharmacopeia. This compendium, titled Divine Husbandman’s Materia Medica, includes 365 medicines from plants, animals, and minerals.
You may see Shen Nung referred to as the father of Chinese medicine, and for good reason. He introduced the technique of acupuncture and taught people how to cultivate grains for food. He also tasted medical herbs to test them until one of those herbs killed him from a toxic overdose.
Archaeologists know people burned marijuana for rituals about 5,000 years ago but that it had very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), so they are not likely to have used it for its mind-altering properties. Researchers found evidence of cannabis with higher THC levels in the Pamir Mountains of Western China. It’s thought that people started using cannabis recreationally about 2,500 years ago.
A Brief History of Marijuana
Once early peoples discovered marijuana’s effects, cultivation and use of the plant skyrocketed. Outlining the entire history of cannabis would take quite a while, so instead, here’s a condensed timeline:
- 129-200 A.D.: Galen of Pergamum used cannabis for its mood-enhancing and therapeutic properties.
- 1849: William Brooke O’Shaughnessy introduced cannabis to Western medicine and described the therapeutic uses of marijuana to medical experts.
- 1898: Dunstan and Henry isolated cannabinol (CBN).
- 1936: The movie Reefer Madness was released, which demonized marijuana as a dangerous, highly addictive drug.
- 1937: The U.S. Marijuana Tax Act made it nearly impossible for people to obtain cannabis for medical or recreational purposes.
- 1964: Raphael Mechoulam isolated THC from cannabis.
- 1970: U.S. federal law introduced the Controlled Substance Act, which listed cannabis as having “no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
- 1988: Allyn Howlett discovered CB1 receptors in rat brains.
- 1992: Mechoulam and William Devane discovered anandamide, a lipid mediator that plays a part in the psychoactive effects of THC.
- 1993: Researchers discovered CB2 receptors.
- 1996: With the passing of the Compassionate Use Act, California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana.
- 2012: Researchers proved that CBD could alleviate schizophrenic symptoms.
- 2016: Australia decided to legalize marijuana for medical purposes.
- 2017: Scientists determined that CBD could reduce seizures related to childhood epilepsy.
Check Out Our Selection of Marijuana and Glass Today
Now that you know the answer to “When was marijuana discovered?” we welcome you to head over to Cannabis & Glass today! We have a fantastic selection of hybrid, indica, and sativa cannabis strains from popular brands such as 420 Gold, Cedar Creek Cannabis, Double Delicious, and Forbidden Farms.
If you can’t make it to one of our pot shops, check out our online inventory, where you’ll find more than 800 marijuana products for recreational and medical use.
