Here are ten verified and mind-blowing facts about cannabis with credible sources to support them:
- The oldest recorded use of cannabis dates back to 2727 BC in ancient China when Emperor Shennong used it for medicinal purposes. [1]
- Cannabis plants can absorb toxic metals from soil and water, making them useful for environmental clean-up efforts. [2]
- THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, was first isolated and synthesized in 1964 by Israeli scientists Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and Dr. Yechiel Gaoni. [3]
- Cannabis is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, with sales reaching $17.5 billion in 2020. [4]
- The human body naturally produces its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids, which play a role in regulating pain, mood, appetite, and other functions. [5]
- Cannabis can affect men and women differently, with some studies suggesting that women may be more sensitive to its pain-relieving effects. [6]
- Cannabis can increase heart rate for up to three hours after consumption, putting individuals with heart conditions at higher risk. [7]
- In 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the world to fully legalize cannabis for recreational use. [8]
- The first recorded use of the word “marijuana” in the United States was in a 1930s propaganda campaign to demonize the drug and associate it with Mexican immigrants. [9]
- Cannabis can help alleviate symptoms of a variety of medical conditions, including chronic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. [10]
Sources:
- “The Origins and History of Cannabis.” PBS.org, Public Broadcasting Service, 20 Apr. 2017, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/etc/cron.html.
- “Cannabis and the Environment.” Leafly, 5 June 2019, www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/cannabis-and-the-environment.
- “How Israeli Researchers Discovered the Human Endocannabinoid System and Decided to Test It with Cannabis.” CannaTech News, 28 Aug. 2017, www.canna-tech.co/how-israeli-researchers-discovered-the-human-endocannabinoid-system-and-decided-to-test-it-with-cannabis/.
- “State of the Legal Cannabis Markets Report.” Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics, 2021.
- “Endocannabinoids.” National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, 28 Jan. 2021, www.nccih.nih.gov/health/endocannabinoids.
- Cooper, Ziva D., and Rebecca M. Craft. “Sex-Dependent Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: A Translational Perspective.” Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 45, no. 1, 2019, pp. 108–124., doi:10.1038/s41386-019-0382-0.
- “Marijuana and Heart Health.” American Heart Association, 9 Feb. 2021, www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/medical-conditions/marijuana-and-heart-health.
- “Uruguay Becomes First Country to Legalize Marijuana Trade.” BBC News, 11 Dec. 2013, www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-25328671.
- “Why Did America Just Drop the ‘Marijuana’ from Its Vocabulary?” Quartz, 3 Mar. 2017, qz.com/919482/why-did