Cannabis has a long and complex history, dating back thousands of years across cultures and continents. One of the earliest records of its use comes from ancient China around 2700 BCE, where Emperor Shen Nung documented its medicinal properties. In India, it became deeply embedded in spiritual practices, particularly in Hindu traditions where it was revered as one of the five sacred plants. Ancient texts describe its use in rituals, for pain relief, and as a source of inspiration.

By the first millennium BCE, cannabis had spread to the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. The Scythians, a nomadic Indo-European people, used it ceremonially, while ancient Greeks noted its use for easing inflammation and earaches. In the Islamic world, cannabis—particularly in the form of hashish—gained popularity from the 8th century onwards, praised for its psychoactive effects in both medical and recreational contexts.

During the colonial era, European powers cultivated hemp for its fiber, essential in making ropes and sails. In early America, hemp was a legal crop, grown by figures like George Washington. At the same time, knowledge of the plant’s psychoactive properties persisted but remained secondary to its industrial value.

Cannabis’s reputation shifted dramatically in the early 20th century. Following increased migration from Mexico to the United States after the Mexican Revolution, cannabis became associated with marginalized communities and was renamed “marijuana” in political discourse to stoke xenophobic fears. Sensationalist campaigns, such as the infamous 1936 film Reefer Madness, portrayed it as a dangerous drug that incited violence and moral decay.

This shift culminated in the U.S. Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, effectively criminalizing cannabis nationwide. Globally, the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs categorized it as a Schedule I substance, reinforcing prohibition across many countries. These legal frameworks were rooted more in social and political motivations than scientific evidence.

Today, after decades of stigma, the historical narrative of cannabis is being reevaluated. A growing body of research and changing public opinion have led many nations to revisit its legal status, returning attention to its ancient uses in medicine, industry, and culture.