The History of Cannabis and Hemp

A coil of rope, a length of sailcloth, a handful of seeds and a page from an old herbal text. Each tells a different part of the cannabis story. 🌿

Cannabis is among humanity’s oldest cultivated plants. Across centuries and continents, people have used it in many ways: for fibre, food, traditional medicine, ritual and, in some settings, intoxication. The story is bigger than any one use, and much more varied than modern stereotypes suggest.

🌱 One Plant, Many Uses

“Hemp” and “cannabis” are often used to describe plants grown for different purposes. Hemp usually refers to varieties cultivated for fibre or seed, while cannabis is commonly used when discussing flowers and their intoxicating or medicinal potential.

That distinction is useful, but it isn’t a simple botanical divide. The words have shifted over time, and legal definitions vary by place and period.

For everyday life, the plant offered practical materials:

• 🧵 Fibre could be made into rope, nets, cloth and sailcloth.
• 🌰 Seeds were eaten and pressed for oil.
• 📜 Hemp fibre was also used in paper-making.
• 🌿 Different preparations appeared in traditional medicine and cultural or religious practices.

Think of it as a plant with several jobs, rather than one fixed identity. What people valued depended on the place, the period and the part of the plant being used.

🏺 Early Traditions Across Asia

Some of the earliest written references to cannabis come from China. Cannabis appears in early Chinese pharmacopoeia traditions, including texts associated with the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing. The text is traditionally linked to the legendary figure Shen Nong, but the surviving work was compiled much later than the ancient era it describes. It’s a helpful reminder that old medical texts can preserve long traditions without giving us a neat, exact starting date.

In India, cannabis became part of a rich range of cultural and religious traditions. Bhang, a preparation often made from the plant’s leaves and other parts, has been associated with festivals and worship, including traditions linked to Shiva. Its use varied between communities and contexts; it wasn’t one uniform practice across the whole region.

Cannabis and hemp also moved through Central Asian and Middle Eastern networks of trade and exchange. Knowledge, materials and preparations travelled with people, goods and ideas. Those histories were never identical from one place to another, and they shouldn’t be folded into a single story.

⚓ Hemp, Ships and a Growing Empire

In Europe, hemp was especially valued as a useful crop. Its strong fibres suited the demands of sailing and seafaring: ships needed rope, rigging, nets and durable cloth. A vessel’s ropes were as essential as its sails, and hemp helped keep fleets working.

In England, the state encouraged hemp production to support those needs. Henry VIII-era orders are commonly described as requiring landholders to grow hemp or flax. Later measures also promoted cultivation. These policies were about supplying the navy and textile industries, not about modern ideas of recreational cannabis.

Hemp travelled across the Atlantic with European colonists. In colonial America, it was grown for practical goods, including rope and cloth, and was promoted as a useful crop. In both Europe and America, hemp’s story was closely tied to trade, farming and maritime power. 🚢

🕰️ A Short Timeline of Changing Attitudes

Cannabis history doesn’t move in a straight line from acceptance to prohibition, or back again. Here are a few signposts:

• 🏺 Ancient China and India: Hemp fibre, seed and cannabis preparations appear in longstanding traditions, including early Chinese medicinal writing and Indian cultural practices.
• ⚓ Tudor England and colonial America: Hemp is encouraged as a valuable source of fibre, particularly for ships and trade.
• 🩺 Nineteenth-century medicine: Reports of Indian cannabis preparations attract interest among some Western doctors. In 1839, Irish physician William O’Shaughnessy published observations on cannabis use in India.
• 🇺🇸 1937 in the United States: The Marihuana Tax Act introduced restrictive tax and registration requirements around cannabis transactions, forming an important part of a wider prohibition movement.
• 🇬🇧 1971 in the UK: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 established a major part of the modern controlled-drugs framework. It received Royal Assent in 1971 and came fully into force in 1973.
• 🌾 From 1993: The UK began licensing industrial hemp cultivation again, subject to controls and specific permitted purposes.
• 🩺 November 2018: Regulations created a legal route for qualifying cannabis-based products for medicinal use to be prescribed in strictly controlled circumstances. This was not general legalisation.
• 🧪 From 2019: The UK Food Standards Agency confirmed that CBD extracts and isolates used in foods fall under novel food rules. The detail continues to matter: see the current FSA CBD guidance.

For current industrial hemp rules, the Home Office’s industrial hemp licensing guidance explains that a licence is required and that the permitted industrial use is limited to seed and fibre. The flowers and leaves are not covered by that licence.

🗣️ Words Matter: “Marijuana” and Stigma

The word “marijuana” became especially prominent in US public debate during the early twentieth century. It was often used in campaigns that framed cannabis as a threat, and the language was entangled with racialised portrayals of Mexican and immigrant communities. The history of the word’s origins is debated, but its political use helped shape the stigma that followed.

Words influence what we picture when we hear a subject discussed. When we talk about cannabis, it helps to be precise: hemp fibre, CBD, prescribed medical cannabis and recreational cannabis are not interchangeable terms. Clear language makes for a clearer conversation. 💬

Buddy Says 🌱
“When we learn the whole story, we make more room for curiosity and less room for stigma. Let’s grow knowledge, not judgement.”

🔍 What the History Can, and Can’t, Tell Us

History gives us useful context. It shows how one plant could be a farm crop, a material for shipbuilding, part of a food tradition, or a subject of traditional medicine. It also shows how laws and cultural attitudes can change over time.

But a long history of use is not proof that every modern product is safe or effective for every person. Traditional use and contemporary clinical evidence are different kinds of information. Current laws and product rules also matter, especially because CBD foods, controlled cannabinoids and prescribed medicines can be subject to different requirements.

💡 Buddy Tip: Keep Curiosity Grounded

If you’re reading about cannabis, pause to check what the source is referring to: hemp fibre, CBD, a traditional preparation or a prescribed medicine. Then check the relevant current guidance before making decisions about products or the law.

For more about how we approach education, have a look at our About Us page. Our FAQ is another place to start, and you can contact us if you have a question.

The story of cannabis and hemp is still unfolding. Research continues, and public attitudes keep shifting. Understanding where we’ve been can help us approach what comes next with a little more care, context and curiosity. ✨

Stay balanced, Mary-Jane 🌿

Educational-Only Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not recommend cannabis, CBD or any other product as a treatment. Historical use does not prove that a product is safe or effective. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about medical concerns, especially if you take medication, and check current official guidance for legal and product requirements. Nature’s No.1 products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.