What Is the Origin of Marijuana?

The term “marijuana” has got a secure place in the American lexicon. The reason behind this is the recent drive to legalize the drug for the medicinal purposes. What's more, the marijuana legalization campaigns for its usage as recreational purposes in Columbia and the Washington state also have an effect on it. But have you ever thought that, where does marijuana come from? Read this article to know this and other historical facts about it.

What Is Marijuana?

Marijuana, also known as weed, herb, bud, ganja, grass, Mary Jan and vast number of other slang terms, is a greenish gray mixture of shredded, dried leaves and flowers of Cannabis sativa. Some people use it in the cigarettes, some use in pipes, and some use marijuana in cigars. It can also be used to brew tea, especially when it is sold or consumed for some medicinal purposes. Itis also mixed into foods such as brownies, candies and cookies.

The main psychoactive ingredient of the marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC). The cannabis plant also contains more 100 such compounds which are chemically related to THC. These compounds affect the central nervous system and relieve the depression and pain; hence marijuana can be utilized as medicinal and recreational purposes.

Where Does Marijuana Come From?

The marijuana cultivation can be traced back to at least 12,000 years, which makes it an oldest growing crop of the human history. The region of evolution of the cannabis is thought to be in the Central Asia, specifically in the regions of Mongolia and Southern Siberia.

The earliest evidence of cannabis at cultural level comes from the oldest known Neolithic culture (Yangshao) in China,which appeared along theyellow river valley. It is believed that the Yanshao economy in 5000 to 3000 BC was cannabis-driven. The evidences obtained from archeological sourced directly shows that they wore hemp clothing and produced hemp pottery.

The marijuana was first used as a medicine in 2737 BC by the Emperor of China, ShenNung. Then the marijuana was taken to the Korea by the coastal farmers in 2000 BC or earlier. The entry of marijuana in India is recorded with the arrival of the Aryans, who spoke an archaic Indo-European language in 2000-1000 BC. The introduction of marijuana to Middle East happened between 2000 BC and 1440 BC, where it was used by the Scythians, a nomadic Indo-European group. The Scythians also brought marijuana to the Europe from the mountains of Altai to Germany about 2800 years ago. The Greeks then used it as a remedy for edema, earache and inflammation in 200 BC. After that, it moved to the England in fifth century during the invasion of Anglo-Saxon. Hence, this weed traveled a various regions of the world including Africa and South America in 19th century and then was carried to the North America afterwards. Hope the question "Where does marijuana come from?" is answered now.

When and How Did Marijuana Come to United States?

The cannabis reached the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century, after its arrival in the southwest from the Mexico, and by the entry of immigrants in the country after the Mexican revolution in 1910-1911.

Legalization of Marijuana in United States

In the early 1900's, many state and local laws began prohibiting the usage of marijuana in United States. A federal law known as Marijuana Tax Act banned the usage and sale of it in 1937. Prior to the ban by US government in 1937 (and in UK in 1928), the marijuana weed had enjoyed a 5000 years run as a medicinal plant with no history of illegality.

Now, the federal government of US classifies marijuana as a Schedule I control substance, alongside ecstasy, heroin and LSD. In the recent years, the support for the legalization of marijuana has increased on the national level. Currently, and in fact, 23 states and districts of Columbia have the laws legalizing marijuana. And moreover, 4 states of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational usage as well.

  • In Alaska, adults of 21 years age and older can transport, buy or possess marijuana up to an ounce and six plants.
  • The voters of Oregon approved a similar measure, in which they allowed the adults to possess marijuana up to one ounce in public and up to eight ounce in home.
  • The Washington and Colorado passed similar ballot measures previously legalizing marijuana in 2012.

To learn more, you will find the exact effect of marijuana on our brain by watching the video: