Marijuana, ganja or cannabis as it is referred to in many cultures is one of the world’s oldest crops used for thousands of years across the world and on many continents. It is not a simple plant, yet it is a social object that has determined societies, inspired art and music, and possibly, spiritual practices.
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This is a story of ganja which started from the roots of its civilization in central Asia and has traveled through continents to get accepted.
The Sacred Roots of Ganja in Rastafarian Culture:
To the Fraternity, Ganja is not only the plant but much more than that. They are holy plants and have religious connotations in many cultures.
Ganja has its roots in India, where the use of cannabis was considered to be sacred and aimed at healing.
Thus we find that the very word “ganja” is derived from the Sanskrit language which was used in ancient Indian texts.
Used for pain and inflammation, for stomach aches and pains, ancient Indian medicine couldn’t quite function without it, or rather, without cannabis.
The Migration of Ganja to Jamaican Soil:
In the middle of the nineteenth century, the British settled Indians in Jamaica to act as labourers on sugar estates.
Immigrating laborers also came with their belief systems of work, which included the use of ganja.
In the long run, ganja was adopted by Jamaicans especially the black Africans in Jamaica.
The Evolution of Cannabis Legislation Globally:
From Prohibition to Acceptance
Cannabis has been banned or heavily restricted in most of the world for most of the twentieth century. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was signed into law in the United States and effectively banned the plant, laying the foundation for linking it to crime and moral depravity. In 1996, Californians leading the legalization charge approved the Compassionate Use Act, the first law in the country allowing for the medical use of marijuana. Since then, ever-increasing numbers of countries have started to soften their stance on cannabis.
Cannabis in Traditional Medicine and Modern Therapeutics:
The Contributions of Sir William Brooke O’Shaughnessy
William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, an Irish physician, is most prominent in connection to the story of medical cannabis. During the 1830s, O’Shaughnessy also developed an interest in the employment of cannabis for its antiepileptic effect when he practised in India.
He studied deeply the plant and the impacts it had and later brought it into the Western world realm of pharmacy. As he was preparing the plans, he endeavoured to demonstrate how useful marijuana is in garnering an extensive range of looming health issues.
The Cultural Tapestry of Cannabis Across Societies:
Cannabis has been interwoven through several cultures and traditions for thousands of years, and each civilization placed its cultural spin on it.
In the 1960-70s young people started using cannabis to rebel against conventionality and conformity.
The beat movement, and the hippie culture in particular loved cannabis because the substance flattened consciousness, and made people more peaceful and artistic.
There exists evidence that cannabis has been in use among populations since prehistoric times for religious and medical purposes (Amazon and African tribal populations).
Rastafarianism also uses cannabis for religious purposes – as a connection to the divine; Hindu associates’ cannabis with the god Shiva, and uses it in celebrations; some African cultures also use it to travel to the ancestral realm.