Cannabis sativa is from either central Europe or central Asia. But as an anthropophilous species, it already had become widespread during the Neolithic period. Today, it is found almost everywhere in the world and has adapted to very different soil types and climate zones. It is unknown as a wild plant.

Medicinal Use

In central Europe, it may already have been in use in shamanic contexts during the Neolithic period. It is certain that shamans in ancient China knew of hemp, which they used to produce a shamanic state of consciousness so they could divine and heal. Ancient Chinese literature is filled with information about hemp’s medicinal use. In the earliest sources on the Chinese use of herbs, it is said that chronic use of ma-fen (“hemp fruits”) will enable one to “see devils” that can then be pressed into service. Unfortunately, these sources do not say how the hemp was ingested, i.e., whether it was eaten, drunk, or burned as incense.
Pipes intended for hemp smoking have been found in Gallo-Romanic graves. Celtic and Germanic graves have yielded inflorescences of Cannabis sativa (cf. Papaver somniferum).
Hemp products had a cultic significance among the ancient Greeks. The Greek archaeologist Sotiris Dakaris, who has been investigating the oracle of the dead at Acheron since 1959, discovered “bags full of black clumps of hashish” in Ephyra. It is entirely possible that the temple sleepers at Acheron were administered a hemp preparation so that their dreams would be especially vivid. It is also possible that hemp, as “Scythian fire” (cf. Cannabis ruderalis), was used as an incense in the cult of Asclepius, the god of healing.
Remnants of hemp were recovered from the ancient Egyptian grave of Amenophis IV (Akhenaten; 1550-1070 B.C.E.) in Tell el-’Amarna. Hemp pollen has been identified on the mummy of Ramses II. Egyptian mummies were stuffed with hashish (Balabanova et al. 1992). Thus, the ritual use (death cult) of hemp during the dynastic period in Egypt (New Kingdom) has been demonstrated for the second millennium B.C.E. This has also made it possible to identify the ancient Egyptian word smsmt as “hemp.” In Egypt, hashish continues to possess a ritual significance as a socio-integrative element at social events. People smoke out of the water pipe together after meals and at concerts and dance performances.
In medieval Islamic society, hemp products were used primarily as sacred plants to support meditation in various Sufi and dervish orders. The plant became so closely identified with its mystical use by the Sufis that it became known as the “hashish of the poor”.
In South Africa, where the plant is known as dagga, hemp is now usually smoked for hedonistic purposes. In times past, however, it played an important role in numerous tribal rituals. Its smoke was inhaled for divination, and it was sometimes smoked collectively for healing dances. Dagga was often used ritually together with other psychoactive plants (see Mesembryanthemum spp., Sceletium tortuosum, Tabernanthe iboga).
In Switzerland, the hemp fields in the allmend (the collective fields of a community) were once the site for various pagan and erotic rituals that the authorities interpreted as “witches’ dances” or the “witches’ sabbath”.
In modern Germany, ritualized hemp use based upon traditional shamanic patterns (cf. Cannabis indica) is becoming increasingly common. Because of the legal situation, however, these so-called hemp healing circles have not yet been described in any detail.

Psychoactive Material

The chemistry of Cannabis sativa is very complex but is now quite well understood (Lehmann 1995). The main psychoactive constituent is THC (cf. Cannabis indica), which is contained primarily in the resin and the female flowers and, in lower concentrations, in the leaves. The most highly concentrated product is hashish oil, which contains approximately 70% THC. The resin contains up to 25% THC. Studies of older material have demonstrated that, even when stored for long periods, THC only very slowly oxidizes into the much less active CBD.
The essential oil contained in the plant, and especially the hashish, contains caryophyllene oxide. This odoriferous substance has been used to train police dogs to detect the drug. Hemp’s essential oil usually either is devoid of THC or contains only trace amounts.
The seeds contain an oil rich in lignan, proteins, and the enzyme edestinase. The growth hormone zeatin has been found in immature seeds. The seeds also contain the alkaloids cannabamine A, B, C, and D, piperidine, trigonelline, and L-(+)-isoleucine-betaine (Bercht et al. 1973). Hemp seed oil, which is obtained by cold pressing the seeds, is very rich in unsaturated fatty acids (vitamin F).
The pollen contains A9-THC as well as THCA, an alkaloid-like substance, flavones, and phenolic compounds.
The leaves of Cannabis saliva have be shown to contain choline, trigonelline, muscarine, an unidentified betaine, and, astonishingly, hordenine, a p-phenethylamine alkaloid present in many cacti. The leaves of Thai and African populations have yielded water- soluble glycoproteins, serine-O-galactoside, and hydroxyproline.
The roots of Cannabis saliva have been found to contain friedelin, epifriedelinol, N-(p-hydroxy-3-phenethyl)-p-hydroxy-frarts-cinnamamide, choline, and neurine as well as the steroids stigmast-5-en-3|3-ol-7-on
(= 7-keto-|3-sitosterol), campest-5-en-3|3-ol-7-on, and stigmast-5,22-dien- 3|3-ol-7-on.