Cannabis is one of the oldest cultivated plants, used by humankind for thousands of years – for medicine, textiles, food, as well as spiritual and recreational purposes.
Prehistory and Antiquity (10,000 BCE – 500 CE)
The oldest finds of cannabis come from present-day China and Taiwan, where it was used around 10,000 BCE for making ropes, clothing, and nets.
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Ancient China (2700 BCE): The first records of medicinal cannabis use appear in the Shennong Ben Cao Jing, the oldest Chinese pharmacopeia. Cannabis was used to treat pain, malaria, and rheumatism.
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India (1500 BCE): Vedic texts describe cannabis as a “sacred plant.” It was used in religious rituals (bhang), meditation, and as medicine.
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Ancient Egypt: Medical papyri describe cannabis extracts used for inflammation and eye disorders.
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Greece and Rome: Physicians such as Dioscorides and Galen prescribed cannabis for earaches, digestive issues, and pain relief.
Middle Ages and the Islamic World (500–1500 CE)
Islamic medicine valued cannabis for its therapeutic properties. Hashish was widely known and used in Arab countries, even though alcohol was forbidden.
In medieval Europe, cannabis was commonly cultivated for textiles, rope, paper, and oil. Physicians recommended it for ailments such as gout and joint pain.
Early Modern Period and the Industrial Era (1500–1900)
In the 16th–18th centuries, cannabis was a vital crop for European and colonial powers. Sails, ropes, sacks, uniforms, and paper were made from hemp.
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USA (18th–19th centuries): George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp. Cannabis tinctures were a standard part of pharmacies.
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Medical use: Cannabis extracts were widely included in remedies for pain, cramps, insomnia, and nervous disorders.
The 20th Century: Criminalization and Prohibition
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1930s: In the USA, an anti-cannabis campaign began (targeting Mexican “marihuana”), fueled by racist and economic motives. This culminated in the Marihuana Tax Act (1937).
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1960s–70s: Cannabis became a symbol of counterculture, the hippie movement, and opposition to the Vietnam War.
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Consequences of prohibition: Medicinal use of cannabis disappeared from pharmacies. Many countries classified it as an illegal drug.
The Present Day: Cannabis Returns to the Spotlight
Since the 1990s, cannabis has experienced a renaissance thanks to research on the endocannabinoid system and its medical potential.
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Legalization: Both medical and recreational cannabis use has been legalized in countries such as Canada, the USA, Germany, Uruguay, Thailand, and others.
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Medical research: Cannabis is now studied and prescribed for a wide range of conditions, including epilepsy, chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and more.
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Industrial hemp (technical): Experiencing a boom in bioplastics, construction materials, nutrition, and cosmetics.
Cannabis in the Czech Republic
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History of cultivation: In the Czech lands, cannabis was long a common agricultural crop, especially for textiles and industrial uses. It was used to produce ropes, fabrics, and oils.
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Socialist era: Cultivation was heavily restricted under socialism but did not completely disappear. Medicinal use was minimal.
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After 1989: Following the fall of communism, cannabis became a subject of legalization debates. In the 1990s, home growing and activism spread.
Laws and legislation:
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Act No. 167/1998 Coll.: Legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp with THC content up to 0.3%.
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Since 2013: Medical cannabis has been legal in the Czech Republic on prescription, distributed through pharmacies.
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Since 2022: The THC limit for industrial hemp was raised to 1%.
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Recreational use remains illegal, but decriminalized: possession of a small amount (up to 10 g) is a misdemeanor.
Current developments:
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The number of patients using prescribed medical cannabis is growing.
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Public debates on recreational legalization are becoming more frequent.
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An active cannabis community supports education, policy reform, and home cultivation.
