The Green History of Cannabis: From Ancient Roots to a World-Saving Future

Cannabis has been part of human culture for thousands of years — not as a "drug" to be feared, but as a medicine, a material, and a deeply beneficial natural resource. As a cannabis advocate and founder of GreenJunglez, I believe it’s time we tell the full story — because cannabis isn't just a plant. It's a healer, a builder, and potentially, a world-saver.

Ancient Roots: Cannabis in Early Civilizations

Cannabis has been cultivated since at least 2700 BCE, when Chinese Emperor Shen Nong, known as the “Father of Chinese Medicine,” documented its medical use in his pharmacopeia. Known as "ma" in ancient China, cannabis was used to treat ailments like pain, rheumatism, and digestive issues. It wasn’t just for medicine either — the fibrous stalks were used for clothing, paper, and rope, laying the groundwork for hemp as one of humanity’s earliest industrial crops.

By 1000 BCE, Indian texts like the Atharva Veda called cannabis one of the "five sacred plants." It was used in religious ceremonies, often mixed with milk as bhang, and believed to ward off evil and promote health and joy.

Cannabis spread westward to the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. In ancient Egypt, it was used to treat inflammation and glaucoma. The Greeks and Romans used it for everything from pain relief during childbirth to dressing wounds on horses.

The Science Awakens: THC, CBD, and the Endocannabinoid System

Fast forward to the 20th century, when researchers began unlocking the true complexity of the cannabis plant. In 1964, Israeli scientist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam isolated tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound responsible for the “high” — but also for powerful pain and nausea relief.

Later discoveries revealed cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with its own set of therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and seizure-reducing properties.

Perhaps the biggest breakthrough came in the 1990s, when scientists discovered the endocannabinoid system (ECS) — a network of receptors in the human body that helps regulate sleep, mood, pain, appetite, and immune response. Cannabinoids from cannabis interact directly with this system, proving that our bodies are literally built to work with this plant.

🧬 Cannabis for Healing: From Epilepsy to Cancer

The modern medical cannabis movement gained momentum thanks to stories of real lives changed. In the early 2000s, parents of children with epilepsy began using high-CBD strains to reduce life-threatening seizures. One of the most famous cases is Charlotte Figi, a young girl whose seizures dropped from hundreds a week to just a few a month thanks to CBD oil, now widely known as Charlotte’s Web.

Cannabis has also shown powerful potential in cancer care. Rick Simpson, a Canadian engineer, famously used a concentrated THC oil — now known as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) — to treat his own skin cancer in 2003. While not a cure-all, RSO and other full-spectrum extracts have helped many patients manage pain, improve appetite, and reduce side effects of chemotherapy.

Studies also suggest cannabis aids in protein synthesis, which helps with muscle repair and recovery. For athletes and active individuals, that’s huge — especially for people managing chronic pain or inflammation without resorting to opioids or doping mechanisms.

🏛️ Legalization and the Hemp Revolution

After nearly a century of prohibition, things are finally turning around. In 1996, California became the first U.S. state to legalize cannabis for medical use. Since then, dozens of countries and U.S. states have followed suit — including the legalization of hemp with the 2018 U.S. Farm Bill, unlocking its potential as a sustainable resource.

Hemp can be turned into biodegradable plastic, building materials (like hempcrete), textiles, fuel, and paper — all without the environmental damage caused by traditional manufacturing. It's a low-water, carbon-sequestering crop that could play a massive role in the fight against climate change.

Why I Believe Cannabis Can Save the World

As someone who’s personally experienced the healing power of medical cannabis, I’m not just advocating for a plant — I’m standing up for the truth. Cannabis is not a threat. It’s an opportunity. For health, for sustainability, and for justice.

The stigma around cannabis is fading, but there's still work to do. That’s why at GreenJunglez, we’re not just growing high-quality, ethical products — we’re spreading awareness. We believe in a future where cannabis is celebrated, not criminalized. Where pain is treated naturally, and where hemp helps build the next generation of sustainable solutions.

Let’s reclaim this ancient plant, not just for profit, but for people and the planet.

Got more questions? Join the conversation in the GreenJunglez forum and help us rewrite the future, leaf by leaf 🌱