Fact: Humans Used Pot For At Least 9,000 Years

[G_j]

http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2013/08/19/fact-humans-used-pot-for-at-least-9000-years/

Fact: Humans Used Pot For At Least 9,000 Years

Posted on August 19, 2013 at 7:53 am by David Downs

2,700 year-old Chinese shaman found with about two pounds of bud

Drug warriors would have you believe marijuana is some mysterious devil plant invented by Mexicans in the 19th Century that humanity is somehow unfamiliar with. In fact, cannabis has been used for at least 9,000 years as a food, fuel, fiber and botanical medicine.

“Humans have cultivated and consumed the flowering tops of the female cannabis plant since virtually the beginning of recorded history,” writes TheAnswerPage.com this week, as part of their ongoing continuing medical education of doctors and the public. The AnswerPage.com is sponsored by The Massachusetts Medical Society, publisher of the New England Journal of Medicine.

“Cannabis-based textiles dating to 7,000 B.C. have been recovered in northern China, and the plant’s use as a medicinal and euphoric agent date back nearly as far. In 2008, archeologists in Central Asia discovered over two pounds of cannabis in the 2,700-year-old grave of an ancient mummified shaman. After scientists conducted extensive testing on the material’s potency, they affirmed, “The most probable conclusion … is that [ancient] culture[s] cultivated cannabis for pharmaceutical, psychoactive, and divinatory purposes.”

[CBGLuthier]

1. Yeah, but it's felt like 14,000 years, man

Yes used pretty much until the bastard pharmaceutical companies came along with a pill for everything.

[Safetykitten]

2. Sadly, the munchie plant was driven (eaten) into extinction.

[Scuba]

3. Only 48 years for me. Guess I'm a newbie.

[KittyWampus]

6. thanks for the smile. That was cute

[russspeakeasy]

4. And some of the original offenders are still in jail.

[MineralMan]

5. People have used all sorts of medicinal herbs for thousands of years.

They've also used psychoactive herbs for the same length of time, since they are also medicinal.

Opium and its byproducts are among them, as is marijuana, Jimson Weed, Stramonium, Digitalis, and many, many others. In fact, only in the past century or so have modern pharmaceuticals existed at all. Before that, plants were the only medicines.

However, that does not necessarily mean that all such plants are good things to consume. Some are. Some are distinctly not or are dangerous when used unwisely.

It is not a good argument to simply say that something has been used by humans for thousands of years. The argument must go beyond that to actual argue for continued use. There's nothing wrong with smoking some weed, but saying that is because humans have used it for thousands of years is not an argument that is convincing, frankly.

[Zorra]

7. Wow. 700 BC Herbage Hindu Kush. A classic. Superb bouquet, skunky aroma with fruity overtones,

full bodied and balanced, with a delightfully smooth, heady finish.

Altogether a fine, priceless heirloom herbage.

I wonder if any seeds are available?

(Actually, I quit smoking the herb back in the 80's, but I'd definitely give some 2700 yr old Kush a whirl)