Cannabis has been a very sensitive topic. Many people have been to jail, and many families have been torn apart over this plant called Cannabis. This is largely due to this plant having very strong properties that have been misused on a societal level, or is it? Cannabis has been deemed as illegal since 1931 by president Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was done as a way to tax Cannabis, which failed due to individuals incriminating themselves in the process. In order for people to use Cannabis, they needed a tax stamp, which entailed them reporting their location, and how much Cannabis they have. In other words, there was no real way of taxing Cannabis, so they incriminated anyone who was using it. Generally, we all know the damage that’s been done behind the idea and usage of cannabis. I personally believe that cannabis has been widely misused in modern society. That is due to the lack of practice, and education behind cannabis.
I do not want to focus on that side of history. Let’s focus on the side of history that further shows the importance of cannabis. Cannabis can be traced back as an herb being used for food, fiber, oils, and medicine before we even developed the idea of Christ. History can trace Cannabis being used in China. Cannabis was a plant used for its therapeutic properties. According to Mathre, 2012, “if taken in excess will produce hallucinations. Over a long period of time, it makes one communicate with spirits and lightens one’s body”. There have been hundreds of ailments treated through the use of Cannabis such as malaria, boils, gout, absent mindedness, hemorrhages, diarrhea and constipation. Cannabis has been used strategically as a powerful healing herb. Cannabis was used to stimulate the appetite of sick people and make them sleep (Mathre, 2012, pg 36).
According to the Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry, Cannabis has been widespread for centuries, as early as the 1500s, the plant was used in Africa for snake bites, to facilitate childbirth, malaria, fever, blood poisoning, anthrax, and asthma.
In India, Cannabis has been used for thousands of years. Cannabis was named as one of the five sacred plants, and was used as freedom of distress. Hemp, another form of Cannabis was used as a magical rite to overcome enemies. Cannabis in today’s society has been used much differently due to the ban of Cannabis, and the lack of education and practice. In the late 1800s, there were hundreds of testimonies from people being seen by doctors who used Hemp for treatments such as:
Cramps
Spasms
Headaches
Brain Fevers
Gonorrhea
Asthma
Bronchitis
Tuberculosis
Diabetes
Fevers
Digestion
Toothaches
Tooth Extractions
Chronic Pain
Anesthetics for minor surgery
This is just to name some of the major ailments we are familiar of. Cannabis was used for many other treatments. As we look at our relationship with cannabis in today’s society, it is much different than ancient practices. Cannabis was used to connect to the spiritual world. It was also used for healing, sickness, and food. In today’s society, more and more studies are being done by scientist. They are discovering the different strands of Cannabis, and the properties of Cannabis as well. Cannabis, as we have seen throughout history is a therapeutic plant, and should be used for its therapeutic and healing properties.
How can you take this knowledge, and apply it to how you use cannabis?