There is no doubt that the benefits of cannabis and the magical plant in general deserve praise. From its abilities to induce euphoria and enhance mood to its pain-relieving and various symptom-alleviating properties, the potential of cannabis is truly diverse. We have gathered some fun facts about cannabis to give credit where credit is due, and to let you broaden your knowledge.

Cannabis Is About 2 500 Years Old

Cannabis has been around for a long time, and the first records of cannabis can be traced to the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Chinese farmers would often grow cannabis for fibre and oil, which they would use to make clothing, ropes, and paper.

The first psychoactive cannabis use cases were reported about 2 500 years ago in the Pamir Mountains in Western China. The Chinese would add cannabis flowers to their boiling tea water. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the Scythians in 440 B.C.E., saying they made tents filled with heated rocks. They smoked hemp there, which Herodotus mentions caused them to “shout for joy.”

Cannabis is a close relative of hops found in beer, and it still grows wild in many places across Central Asia.

George Washington Grew Hemp

George Washington can be described as an avid hemp farmer, mentioning the plant about 90 times in all his writings and diaries. He mostly writes about procuring, sowing, and harvesting high quality hemp seeds. There is no evidence that Washington smoked any of his products, but we do know that he often used hemp to form heavy-duty ropes for his fishing ships.

You Can Only Experience Psychoactive Effects From Female Cannabis Plants

Male cannabis plants cannot produce potent buds that are high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). On the other hand, female cannabis plants produce buds that growers can harvest for their psychoactive effects. 

Growers start to remove male cannabis plants from grow areas before they start to flower and release pollen. This is due to the fact that male flowers can pollinate the females in a grow area, causing them to flower prematurely and essentially ruining the harvest.

Morocco Is The Largest Hashish Producer In The World

Morocco is the largest producer of cannabis resin, or hashish, in the world. They contribute to 19% of the global total for all types of cannabis production, technically making them the largest cannabis producer in the world. Hashish production has been key in the country’s economy for many years. After it was banned during independence, hashish soon became well-tolerated when it contributed to Morocco’s GDP.

The other countries in the top five include Afghanistan, Spain, Lebanon and Pakistan.

The Cannabis Plant Contains More Than 100 Cannabinoids

Cannabinoids are compounds that can be found in the cannabis plant that have their own effects, but also work together to enhance each strain’s best qualities. The main cannabinoids include:

• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – Used for nausea / boosting appetite / insomnia / pain.
• Cannabidiol (CBD) – Used for anxiety / sleep / stress / PTSD / inflammation.
• Cannabigerol (CBG) – Used for anxiety / depression / inflammation / psoriasis.
• Cannabinol (CBN) – Used for sleep / inflammation.
• Cannabichromene (CBC) – Used for pain / gut inflammation.
• Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) – Used for nausea / inflammation / pain / epilepsy.

The two main cannabinoids are THC and CBD, with THC being the psychoactive cannabinoid that produces a “high” and CBD being non-psychoactive, even moderating the side effects that might be produced by THC (such as paranoia).

Bob Marley Was Buried With Cannabis

The famous Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, and guitarist was buried with his guitar, Bible, and a “stalk of ganja,” which was added by his wife. He did not smoke cannabis recreationally – it was part of his Rastafarian beliefs. This religion considers cannabis to be a religious sacrament that calms the mind to bring users closer to God. Marley saw cannabis as a vital part of religion that made him philosophise and become wiser.

Chocolate Might Have Similar Effects On A Lower Scale

Research shows that there are three chemicals in chocolate that influence the same areas of brian cells that are activated by cannabis. The study conducted on mice found that these chemicals increase dopamine levels. Eating chocolate, drinking cocoa, and consuming cannabis all had this effect. These effects were more intense than consuming caffeine, and lasted longer than when the mice were given cocaine.

The First Thing Ever Sold Over The Internet Was A Bag Of Cannabis

More than 40 years ago, a bunch of Stanford students made use of the Arpanet account at their AI-lab to make a purchase. Using this early form of the internet, they bought a bag of cannabis from other students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). 

You Cannot Overdose From Cannabis

There have been no recorded deaths from cannabis, and you cannot overdose on it like you would on other drugs. However, you can take too much and end up with a bad reaction, experiencing paranoia, dizziness, nausea, and more. Luckily, there are a few ways to get yourself out of a bad high, and it is good to know that you are never really in any real danger; it is mostly a mental reaction.

For the record, scientists have estimated that you would have to consume about 226 kg of cannabis within 15 minutes to qualify for an overdose.

Shakespeare Might Have Indulged

Cannabis residue along with four residue-coated pipes were found in William Shakespeare’s house, which many believe to be an aid in writing his famous screenplays and poems. Although we do not know if the pipes belonged to Shakespeare let alone if he used them, it is interesting to note that they were found in his living space.

There Are More Cannabis Dispensaries In Colorado Than McDonald’s And Starbucks Combined

Being one of the first states to legalise the use of recreational cannabis, it might not be that much of a surprise to know that Colorado has significantly more cannabis dispensaries than it has McDonald’s and Starbucks combined. The statistics are as follows:

• Total medical dispensaries: 195
• Total recreational dispensaries: 169
• TOTAL CANNABIS DISPENSARIES: 364

• Total McDonalds: 80
• Total Starbucks: 31
• TOTAL MCDONALD’S & STARBUCKS: 111

Well done to Colorado for the cannabis-forward thinking!

We hope you learned something new from our top fun cannabis facts. As always, remember to consume cannabis responsibly and to purchase your products from a reputable source. There is always more to learn, so be sure to check out our blog for all the newest information on all things related to cannabis.

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