HISTORICAL HINTS

MARIJUANA (CANNABIS SATIVA)

ANILKUMAR

Consultant Psychologist

K.M.M Hospital, Puthanpally  Malapuram Dt.
The plant Cannabis Sativa, otherwise called Marijuana or Indian hemp grows about six feet in height. It has got male and female forms. The plant has a variety of uses ranging from medicinal to that for making textiles. Cannabis Sativa was classified in 1753 by Linnaeus. Since centuries the stocks from the male from have been used for making rope and fiber and the flowering resinous tops of the female from have been used for hallucinogenic and medicinal purposes
USE IN TEXTILES AND SALES
There are archaeological evidences suggesting cultivation of hemp in China for textiles by about 3000B.C. by 500B.C taxes to the emperor were paid in hemp stalks. As per Assyrian literature, 'Azallu' (Cannabis) was used in spinning and rope making as early as 650 B/C Greeks and Romans used it for sails and textiles. Tribals of Germany used hemp from about 500 B.C to make clothes. Such clothes became common in central and southern Europe by thirteenth century. By seventeenth century cultivation of hemp plant in large scale for fibre flourished in many states of North America. Cannabis began to play a significant role in the colonial clothing industry. But soon did cotton replace hemp in clothing industry and stream power did replace it in sails.
MEDICINAL USE
 Anaesthetic use of Cannabis in surgery was described by early Chinese physicians. Hua TO used hemp during the second century as an anaesthetic. The chinese term for Cannabis is 'ma'. Galen in about 200A.D. mentioned the analgesic effects of Cannabis. Arabian physicians employed it for numerous ailments as early as A.D.400. Barcia do Orta, a Portugese physician documented a scientific account of its medical use in 1563. In 1839 Dr. W.B. O'Shaughnessy introduced the therapeutic values of Cannabis onto western medicine as an analgesic and tranquiliser. Around the same time Dr. J. Moreau, a French physician attempted to treat mental disorders with Cannabis.
RECREATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS USES
  Atharva Veda mention Cannabis as 'Bhangas' and in India hemp is still called as 'Bhang'. Its use as an euphoriant had almost a science in occury. there are various grades of Cannabis preparations namely 'Bhang", adrink; 'ganja' which is either smoked or made into a candy and 'charas' the highest grade which again is smoked or orally consumed. Bhange and Ganja are primarily used by economically weaker sections of the society, whereas, Hashish is used by the more well-to-do-individuals. Cannabis is still used in India during festive occasions like Holi, marriage ceremonies (in Bangal) and during various religious gatherings.
  The tales of the Arabian nights describe lurid stories of the about A.D. 1090 a revolutionary religious order later known as 'Assassins' trained young men to be secret killers, who used to consume Hashish mixed with optium and Datura. IN Africa by therteenth century triabals discovered the intoxicating effects of the drug by inhaling the vapours arising from throwing the weed into the fire. Later they Modified the smoking practice by using a 'Hookah'. In North Africa Hashish is known as 'Kif".
  In the nineteenth century in France, intellectuals like Balzac, Flaubert, Dumas and Baudelaire enjoyed the use of Hashish in s desert from. Similarly in late 1800s fascination for hemp became fashionable with North American writers and intellectuals. During the early part of the twentieth century Cannabis became popular among the labourers. Concern about its overuse and harmful effects gathered momentum side by side. Around 1960, the drug was primarily used by adolescents especially student population. Currently Cannabis abuse has became a social menace around the world.