Biblical Context:

8th-century BCE Judah: Residue analysis at Tel Arad’s altar revealed cannabis mixed with frankincense, burned during worship (Arie et al., 2020).

Assyrian Medical Texts (7th century BCE): Mention qunnabu (cannabis) as a remedy for neurological conditions and mood disorders (BAM 202).

Egypt’s Ebers Papyrus (1550 BCE): Lists cannabis for inflammation and childbirth.

Scythian Rituals (5th century BCE): Described by Herodotus inhaling cannabis vapor in funerary rites (Histories 4.75).

Vedic Traditions (1500–500 BCE India): Bhanga (cannabis) praised as a "liberator" & "joy-giver" in the Atharva Veda (11.6.15). Used in Soma rituals and by sadhus in Shiva worship.

Ancient China (2800 BCE–220 CE): Ma-fen (cannabis) recorded in Shen Nung’s pharmacopeia for pain and female ailments. Taoist texts note its use to commune with spirits.

Greco-Roman World (5th BCE–4th CE): Dioscorides and Galen documented cannabis for euphoria, earaches, and appetite.

Historical Use of Cannabis

Here's an analysis of the historical use of cannabis across various ancient cultures:

Ancient Civilizations and Cannabis Use

The use of cannabis dates back thousands of years and has been documented across numerous ancient cultures for various purposes, including religious, medicinal, and recreational uses.

The historical evidence suggests that cannabis was widely used across different cultures for various purposes, including religious, medicinal, and recreational activities.

  • Ancient China: Cannabis, known as "ma-fen," was recorded in the Shen Nung's pharmacopeia, dating back to 2800 BCE, and was used for pain relief and treating female ailments. Taoist texts also mention its use in spiritual practices to commune with spirits.[1]
  • Vedic Traditions (India): In the Atharva Veda (1500–500 BCE), cannabis, referred to as "bhanga," was praised as a "liberator" and "joy-giver." It was used in Soma rituals and by sadhus in Shiva worship.[2]
  • Ancient Egypt: The Ebers Papyrus (1550 BCE) lists cannabis as a treatment for inflammation and childbirth.[3]
  • Ancient Assyria: Assyrian medical texts from the 7th century BCE mention "qunnabu" (cannabis) as a remedy for neurological conditions and mood disorders (BAM 202).[4]
  • Ancient Judah: Residue analysis at Tel Arad's altar revealed cannabis mixed with frankincense, which was burned during worship in the 8th century BCE (Arie et al., 2020).[5]
  • Ancient Greece and Rome: Dioscorides and Galen documented cannabis use for euphoria, earaches, and appetite in the Greco-Roman world (5th BCE–4th CE).[6]
  • Scythians: Herodotus described Scythians inhaling cannabis vapor in funerary rites in the 5th century BCE (Histories 4.75).[7]

Authoritative Sources

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