A Short History of Cannabis: From Ancient China to Argentina

A short history of cannabis

Cannabis has been part of human history for thousands of years: it most likely originated in Central Asia, was domesticated some 5,000 to 6,000 years ago and shows up early in Chinese medicine, from the legendary emperor Shen Nung to the surgeon Hua Tuo. Over time, many different cultures grew the plant for all kinds of uses. The seeds were eaten as food, the fibers became textiles, rope and other handy materials, and the buds were used both as medicine and in spiritual ceremonies. Legalization is still a hot-button issue in much of the world, but cannabis remains a useful plant that has proven its worth to our ancestors and to us today.

Where did cannabis originate?

The history of cannabis, also known as marijuana, goes back thousands of years. It's believed to have originated in Central Asia, and humans were cultivating it 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Our ancestors used cannabis for all sorts of things, including medicine and spiritual practices.

The Pen-ts'ao Ching (Shennong Bencaojing), one of the oldest pharmacopeias in the world, is attributed to Emperor Shen Nung, a legendary figure said to have lived thousands of years ago, and credits cannabis with benefits for more than 100 ailments. It's considered the oldest record of cannabis as a medicinal drug.

Over time, distinct native varieties, known as landraces, began to develop in specific regions. In China, cannabis was considered a medicine that restored yin and was used for conditions like gout, rheumatic pain, constipation, malaria and gynecological problems.

Who first discovered cannabis?

In 2019, researchers reported wooden braziers from around 500 BC, found at a cemetery in western China, that held cannabis residue, suggesting the plant was burned as part of funeral ceremonies.

Records from the Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) describe cannabis's pain-relieving properties, drawing on the work of the famous surgeon Hua Tuo. He reportedly operated on patients without causing them pain thanks to mafeisan, an anesthetic often described as a mix of cannabis, datura and wine.

Today, cannabis legalization is turning into a global trend. As research into the plant's properties moves forward, we may discover even more ways it can benefit humanity.

What is cannabis and where does it come from?

Cannabis is a plant that has been used for medical and recreational purposes for thousands of years. It's thought to have originated in Central Asia, in parts of what are now China, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and India. Humans started farming about 10,000 years ago, and cannabis is believed to have been cultivated 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. In prehistoric times, as the climate warmed and people migrated, they brought cannabis along and spread the plant far and wide. From Central Asia, it's believed to have reached the Middle East and the east coast of Africa, as well as Southeast Asia. It eventually made its way to Europe and the Americas hundreds of years later. Cannabis has been used medicinally and recreationally by cultures all over the world, and its legal status is still controversial in many countries.

Cannabis legalization in Argentina

Argentina took a big step in 2017 with Law 27.350, which covers medical cannabis use and research only. Unlike Uruguay and Canada, it did not legalize recreational use, which is still not legal in Argentina. The law drew criticism from some, while others see broader legalization as a way to generate revenue and cut down on violence tied to the drug trade.

In short, cannabis has a long history that goes back thousands of years to its first cultivation in Central Asia. Cannabis medicine has been used and documented in Eastern cultures for millennia, and different landrace strains developed in different regions of the world. In 2017, Argentina passed Law 27.350, which legalized medical cannabis only (recreational use is still not legal there), joining the many countries that have moved to regulate the plant.

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