Cultivated Cannabis Origins

The origins of Cannabis: How Hemp spread across the world.

The history of cannabis otherwise known as “weed” is a long and complicated one, with the plant having been used for both medicinal and recreational purposes by cultures around the world for thousands of years.

The exact origins of cannabis are unknown, but it is thought to have originated in Central Asia, specifically in the region known as the Tarim Basin. From there, it is believed to have spread to China, India, Africa, Europe, and finally the Americas.

Cannabis has been used medicinally by cultures across the globe for centuries. In China, for example, it was used to treat various conditions such as gout, rheumatism, malaria, and poor circulation.

In India, meanwhile, cannabis was an integral part of the traditional medical system of Ayurveda. It was used to treat a wide range of conditions, including pain, inflammation, anxiety, and depression.

Cannabis continued to be used medicinally in Europe and the Americas up until the early 20th century when its use began to be discouraged by Western medicine.

In recent years, however, there has been a resurgence of interest in medical cannabis as studies have begun to show its potential efficacy in treating a variety of conditions.

While cannabis has been used for both medicinal and recreational purposes throughout history, it was not until the early 20th century that its use became widespread in the West. This was due largely to the increased availability of the plant following its introduction to North America by Spanish and Portuguese immigrants.

Cannabis use really took off in the 1960s and 1970s with the rise of the counterculture movement. This was when the plant began to be associated with rebelliousness and non-conformity. Since then, cannabis has gone through something of a cultural shift in the West, with its use becoming more mainstream in recent years.

This is evident in the increasing number of states in the US that have legalized cannabis for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Cannabis is now legal for medicinal purposes in 33 states, while 10 states have legalized it for recreational use.

With public attitudes towards cannabis shifting, it seems likely that its history will continue to be written in the years to come.