History of Medical Cannabis

Medical cannabis has a long history dating back thousands of years, and it was not until the 19th century that cannabis entered the realm of western medicine. Some of the earliest evidence of cannabis as medicine is found in the Pen-ts’ao ching, the oldest pharmacopoeia compiled in China around AD 100 based on oral traditions passed down from as early as 2700 BC. Cannabis is thought to have disseminated in India, where it became widely used for medical purposes—including as an analgesic, anti-convulsant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and many others—around 1000 BC. There is also evidence of cannabis use in Persian medicine for the treatment of infectious wounds and gout, and in Arabic medicine as a treatment for epilepsy. By the 15th century, it was used throughout Africa to facilitate childbirth, as well as for diseases including malaria and dysentery. Cannabis is thought to have reached the Americas by the 16th century.