Chapter 2
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:
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-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:
GENESIS: "In the beginning the God created the
heavens and the earth" . . .
[MORE]
2.3B - THE SECOND CREATION:
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'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:
The Ancient Hebrews:
Did they make use of Medical Cannabis in their religious practicies
. . .
[MORE]
2.5 - JESUS CHRIST AND CANNABIS:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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 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:
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 :
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:
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:
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:
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:
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):
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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