The Fascinating History of Cannabis: From Ancient Japan to the Modern World
The history of cannabis usage dates back thousands of years, with evidence of its use found in various cultures across the globe.
One of the earliest known instances of cannabis use was discovered in a Jomon-era Japanese archaeological excavation, where 10,000-year-old dried cannabis flower specimens were found in a clay jar. This remarkable find sheds light on the long-standing relationship between humans and this versatile plant.
According to researcher Dave Olson, a neolithic cave painting from coastal Kyushu in southwest Japan provides further evidence of early cannabis use. The painting depicts tall stalks with hemp-shaped leaves, alongside strangely dressed people, horses, and waves.
It is believed that this scene represents Korean traders bringing hemp to Japan. Interestingly, the hemp plant figure in the painting reflects the sun/plant image, similar to the hieroglyphic likenesses used by Mediterranean cultures (Olson).
Cannabis has been cultivated for various purposes, including fibre, medicine, and inebriation, for at least 12,000 years, since the end of the last Ice Age (Basic Medical Key). The plant is believed to have first emerged around 36 million years ago in Central Asia, near the Altai Mountains, where Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan converge (Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics).
As human populations grew and migrated, so did the use and cultivation of cannabis.
One of the earliest written accounts of cannabis used as medicine can be traced back to ancient China, where it was part of an oral tradition passed down through generations.
This tradition extends back to the legendary Emperor Shen-Nung, who reigned 4,700 years ago and cited cannabis as an important herbal remedy, along with ginseng and ephedra (Sydney University). By the first century CE, Chinese oral traditions concerning medicinal cannabis had expanded to cover over 100 medical conditions, and this knowledge was later incorporated into the first Chinese pharmacopeia, Pen-ts’ao Ching.
Cannabis also played a significant role in the Mediterranean region, Egypt, Greece, and India between 1500 and 200 BCE (Drug Library). In ancient Persia, the religious text of Zoroastrianism, the Avesta, ranked cannabis as the most important of all known medicinal plants.
Furthermore, Polish anthropologist Sula Benet controversially claimed that cannabis provided a key ingredient — q’neh bosm — in the holy anointing oil recipe recounted in the Hebrew Old Testament’s book of Exodus (Basic Medical Key).
As the use of cannabis spread throughout the world, its applications and methods of consumption evolved. In India, for example, cannabis was typically consumed orally in the form of bhang lassi, a drink consisting of milk, spices, and ground marijuana, which had been present in the Indian subcontinent for over 1,000 years (National Geographic).
Today, cannabis continues to be a subject of interest and debate, with its properties being researched and utilized in various forms of treatment. The long history of cannabis use, from ancient Japan to the modern world, serves as a testament to the enduring relationship between humans and this remarkable plant.
