Medical Cannabis in 19th and early 20th Century America.

As the use of cannabis as a treatment rises within the United States, it is important for medical professionals to have a foundational understanding of the history of cannabis, access to research around cannabis as a medical treatment, knowledge about the differences between the two main psychoactive cannabinoids within cannabis –Cannabidiol (CBD) vs. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and an understanding of the effects that these have on a patient. Doing so will ensure that medical professionals will better be able to consult and educate their patients on cannabis as a medical treatment.

This instruction follows a timeline that begins with cannabis use in early American history. The timeline traces changes in cannabis dispensing in parallel with the technical progress revolutionizing the drug industry. Much of this knowledge and all of these images are based on the unique collection of the Cannabis Museum in Athens, Ohio. These are all authenticated, historical artifacts and not illustrations.

At the time of the Revolutionary War, America’s largest industry was cordage. Cordage was rope made from hemp, Cannabis sativa. Cordage was needed for ships, industrial use, and on the farm.

Cannabis was also an important ingredient in traditional folk medicines. The cutoff of British imports during the Revolutionary War sparked the development of a domestic drug industry. Cannabis was a common ingredient in these early potents, but only European strains were known. Cannabis products, fiber, grain and seed oil remained important for industry and medicine.

At the turn of the 19th Century, a new kind of cannabis was introduced from Asia. These “indica” plants were distinct and offered a drug profile previously unknown in the west. We will explore the distinction between these chemotypes and how practitioners of the day learned to use them as medicine. We will cover concepts like tincturing, concentrates and decarboxylation. We hope to leave you with the knowledge that cannabis had mainstream accepted use for over 100 years in American history. Its use was considered safe and effective. And we have a lot to learn from the practitioners of 100 years ago.

When completed, you will know the history, medicinal uses, and characteristics of the sativa cannabis variety, which was the only variety available in early America before hashish and cannabis indica arrived.

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