The oldest known written record of cannabis use comes from ancient China:
Earliest Written Record of Cannabis Use
- The oldest known written record on cannabis use comes from the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2727 BC. Shen Nung is credited as one of the fathers of Chinese medicine and is said to have chronicled the use of cannabis as a medicinal and psychoactive substance.
- In addition to this early Chinese record, the classical Greek historian Herodotus (around 480 BC) also described the ritual use of cannabis by the Scythians, a nomadic tribe living on the Caspian Steppe. Herodotus wrote about how the Scythians would inhale the vapors of burning cannabis seeds and flowers to induce trance-like states.
- Other ancient texts from India, Egypt, Greece and Rome also document the use of cannabis for medicinal, spiritual and recreational purposes dating back thousands of years.
So in summary, the earliest known written record of cannabis use comes from ancient China in the 27th century BC, with additional early references to cannabis in Greek and other ancient texts from the 1st millennium BC. The archaeological evidence further supports the long history of human interaction with this versatile plant.
Explore more:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/earliest-evidence-cannabis-marijuana-smoking-china-tombs
https://museum.dea.gov/exhibits/online-exhibits/cannabis-coca-and-poppy-natures-addictive-plants/cannabis