Chapter 2

Greek-Herbal
physician
OShaughnessy
Eli-Lilly

THE HISTORY OF MEDICAL CANNABIS


2.0 - MEDICAL CANNABIS -- A Short Longer Graphical History:
Originally (1st Edition), this chapter was en-titled, "A short Graphical History of Medical Cannabis," and was intended mostly for use by newspaper reporters who needed a quick yet well-documented resource on the subject. However, (now looking back with 20-20 hindsight) this has proven to be a major mistake on our part.

The amount of Dis-Information on the subject is incredible; -- a quick survey of the internet shows that at least 90% of the websites (how shall we politely put it) simply don't have the facts straight. It appears to be that same old story; someone says something out of the top of her head. Someone else repeats it as if it was the gospel truth. Someone else puts it up on the internet, and everyone starts quoting it, etc.

Even the History Channel (a cable TV channel), got most of the facts wrong, during a historical program on the subject. [The author is actually quite mad over that program, I can still see myself jumping up and down, shouting liar, liar. . . ]

And that's what the so-called, nice-guys are saying. I can assure the reader, that those who work for the D.E.A. are anything but nice people. What is it that is said about them; When the narc's are not busy lying, they are busy distorting the truth. And when they ann't busy doing that, they are busy telling only parts of the truth; -- Those parts that are convenient for them to have you know, and totally ignoring those parts of the truth that they don't want you to etc.

TRANSLATION -- A lot of new stuff has had to be added to our historical section, most of it simply to debunk a lot of the false myths now in circulation. Not only have we enlarged on what was previously done, but whole new sections (on Arabic, Indian Medicine etc.) have now been added.

The idea however remains the same, to provide the reader with (as short as possible) a well-documented source of information on the subject. Granted, much more than what is needed (or wanted) by average Antique Cannabis Collector. But hey, when even the History Channel gets it wrong; --- Let's just say that this, "Longer Graphical History (of Medical Cannabis)," is needed.



SECTION I - CANNABIS and PRE-WRITTEN HISTORY:

2.1 - The Neanderthals: --- 40,000 BC:
Cavemen-Cannabis THE NEANDERTHALS:   The thought of having a medicine that was in use long before the first humans had even walked on this planet is interesting indeed; one might say it is the stuff of science fiction writers. But unfortunately, while many web sites "hint" at the possibility, there is no . . .   [MORE]
 

2.2 - Pre-Recorded (Human) History:
pre-history PRE-RECORDED (Human) HISTORY:   The earliest known surviving Afro-Eurasian medical texts, whether ancient Egyptian papyrus scrolls, Mesopotamian clay tablets, Chinese tables etc. All of them speak of its use in the past tense, as if Cannabis had already been in medical use long before . . .   [MORE]
 


SECTION II - CANNABIS AND RELIGION:
NOTE:   As this section consists mostly of religious theology (Did Noah take Cannabis on the ark?   Did Jesus Christ make use of Cannabis in his healing ministry? etc.), it can safely be ignored by the average Antique Cannabis collector.

2.3A - THE CREATION:
Creation GENESIS:   "In the beginning the God created the heavens and the earth" . . .   [MORE]
 

2.3B - THE SECOND CREATION:
Adam & Eve ADAM & EVE:   What happened here on earth just before the coming of the Human Race, we do not know. None of the religions seem to have anything to say on the subject. What is certain is that some time around 80,000 BC, Humans as we know them started to walk the earth. . . .   [MORE]
 

2.3C - AFTER THE FLOOD:
Noah NOAH'S FLOOD:   Did the God create Cannabis before or only after the flood?   Did Noah’s ark carry Hemp seeds . . Medical Cannabis itself?   Did Noah make use Medical Cannabis? Obviously “ALL” of these questions will effect the world of Antiques Cannabis medicines, as we know it today . . .   [MORE]
 

2.4 - THE ANCIENT HEBREWS:
Ancient Hebrews The Ancient Hebrews:   Did they make use of Medical Cannabis in their religious practicies . . .   [MORE]
 

2.5 - JESUS CHRIST AND CANNABIS:
Jesus Jesus Christ:   Did Jesus Christ make use of Medical Cannabis in his healing ministry? . . .   [MORE]
 



SECTION III - CANNABIS AND THE ANCIENTS:

2.6 - ANCIENT EGYPT:
Egypt-Cannabis
ANCIENT EGYPT:
  By far the very vast majority of modern day Egyptologists agree that Medical Cannabis (Medical Marihuana) was used by the ancient Egyptians in their medicines. This is in contradiction to what was thought to be the case right up until the early 1930's. . . .   [MORE]
 

2.7 - MESOPOTAMIA & ASSYRIA -- 3,000 BC:
Assyrian MESOPOTAMIA & ASSYRIA:   Without Question the ancient Assyrians (today central Iraq) made use of Medical Cannabis and it is specifically mentioned on clay tablets found at the library of Assurbanipal, an Assyrian ruler, who lived around 650 BC. It along with another 400 other drugs comprised the whole of the Assyrian pharmacopoeia of its day. . . . [MORE]
 

2.8 - CHINESE MEDICINE -- 2000 BC:
Yellow-Emperor CHINESE HERBAL:   The origin of the Chinese pharmacological book "The Herbal" (also known by various other names) has been lost in history and is now the subject of numerous myths and legends. The most colorful one is that in 2000 BC the Red Emperor himself . . .   [MORE]
 

2.9 - ARABIC Medicine 750-AD:
Averroes MOHAMMEDAN MEDICINE:   At one time Mohammedan Science and Medicine was far in advanced to that of the West. Their state of learning was so far advanced that quite literally, if you were ill and wanted to receive the best health care, your best bet was to travel to the Middle Eastern for treatment. . . .   [MORE]
 



SECTION IV - CANNABIS AND WESTERN MEDICINE:


2.10 - GRECO-ROMAN MEDICINE - 300 BC:
Greco-Roman Greco-Roman Medical:   If West began with the Roman Empire than medical Cannabis can be said to have been there right from the very beginning. Both Galen (the Roman physician whose textbooks on medicine were used throughout the Middle Ages) and Dioscorides (author of the Greek Herbal 50 AD) made references to its medical usage. . .   [MORE]
 

2.11.1 - THE CATHOLIC CHUCH AND MEDICINE:
John Paul Medical Cannabis and the Early Christian Church -- The Truths and the Myths:   Did the early Christian (meaning the Roman Catholic) Church, oppress or did it promote the use of Medical Cannabis. There seems to be no way in which one cannot become emotional about this issue. According to various websites, the following are just some of the most serious crimes “allegedly” committed by the Roman Catholic Church: . .   [MORE]
 

2.11.2 - BURN THE WITCH :
Witch BURN THE WITCH:   Known by numerous names, "The Women's Holocaust", "The Burning Times", "The Great Witch Hunt", this sad chapter in Western History is only now beginning to get the full attention it deserves. . .   [MORE]
 

2.12 - The New Western Medicine:
Cronwell The New Western Medicine:   The following (bit's and pieces) are taken directly from, "The (English Governments) House of Lords, Select Committee on Science and Technology 9th Report." . . .   [MORE]
 

2.13 - INDIAN Medicine:
Hindu Ayurvedic Medicine:   Unlike many European societies, Medical Cannabis itself has never been outlawed and in fact is still considered an integrated part of the modern-day Ayurvedic (native to Indian) Medical system. As such all Indian pharmaceutical students to this day learn about the properties of and the proper dispensing methods of Cannabis. . . .   [MORE]
 

2.14 - W. B. O'Shaughnessy:
Shaughnessy W. B. O'Shaughnessy:   On December 29, 1831, O'Shaughnessy sent to The Lancet "one of the shortest and yet most significant letters ever sent to the journal", presenting the results of his blood analyses. He showed that "the copious diarrhoea of cholera leads to dehydration . . .   [MORE]
 

2.15 - 1837 - 1937 The Golden Age of Medical Cannabis:
ELI-LILLY-CANNABIS The Golden Age of Medical Cannabis   Within a few years would be as common a medical ingredient in medicines as aspirin is today. It can be said that the 100 years between 1837 and 1937 were truly the "Golden Age of Medical Cannabis." Our sister museum has already been able to document well over 600 pre-1937 medical marihuana products on a brand or trade name basis from this era. . . .   [MORE]
 


2.16 - POST-1937 The Dark Ages (part 2):
KKK The Dark Ages (part 2)   Cannabis is unique in one respect; unlike other botanical medicines which were allowed to die a natural death as other better medicines or treatments came along, Cannabis instead was cut down in its prime---literally speaking it was outlawed. . .   [MORE]
 





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