Enjoying the benefits of marijuana has an incredibly long history. We have become accustomed to celebrities and people who just want to have a good time, but this has not always been the case and even heads of state have smoked cannabis! There are some notable historical figures who have made significant contributions to the development of the common use of cannabis. In addition to this, they also made groundbreaking cultural or economic changes. Not everyone of them smoked every day, however, we will find lovers of the herb in both ancient and medieval times. We can learn a lot from these smokers!
1. William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was the most popular English playwright in the 16th century, and he is still widely regarded today as one of the greatest and most important writers of all time. His plays, which include such classics as "Romeo and Juliet," "King Lear," and "Hamlet," continue to be performed and inspire the same awe as they did several hundred years ago.
How do we know that Shakespeare smoked at all? Scientists have discovered traces of cannabis on clay pots in the garden of his home in Stratford-upon-Avon. The barrels date to the 17th century. (Shakespeare died in 1616), so it is highly likely that they belonged to the author. Shakespeare himself wrote about "using the herb" in one of his sonnets.
Most of what Shakespeare wrote became a big hit right away. If smoking helped him even a little bit in creating multi-generational masterpieces, it's not surprising that other writers also began to turn to marijuana to awaken their imaginations. And so, thanks to him, from simply smoking "for fun," the herb has become a favorite drug of artists when they are struggling with creative block.
2 Queen Victoria
Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire from 1837 until 1901. Although she came to the throne as a young girl of 18, she ruled with a strong hand from the start and during her reign the sun never set on the empire - the colonies she conquered were spread across the globe.
She was therefore an extremely influential woman who could not afford to have mood swings or painful periods. Despite the fact that she had a whole staff of doctors at her disposal, the only solution turned out to be marijuana, which was prescribed to her by her private physician Sir Russell Reynolds.
Why does this matter? Because everyone has heard of the Victorian era, and the Queen's achievements were more spectacular than those of any king ever to sit on the throne. In addition, Victoria was considered an extremely virtuous and shameful woman, nudity and sex were taboo subjects for her. It is therefore all the more amazing that a woman who did not even want to hear about bodily functions secretly used marijuana to deal with PMS.
3 Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc is a French heroine and Catholic saint responsible for several French victories in the Hundred Years War. When she was a young girl she claimed to have received a message from the Archangel Michael and St. Catherine telling her that she must help King Charles VII win the war. They sent her to Orleans, where she helped end the siege in just nine days. However, she was captured and handed over to the English for slavery, where she was captured in 1430 and burned at the stake.
In the 15th century, a woman could be burned at the stake for virtually anything. However, if someone was caught smoking marijuana they were automatically considered a witch. Amazing victory, boosting morale and the soldiers' obedience additionally increased fear among men, so well... Joan had to be burned.
Joan of Arc came from a small town in France where burning was quite popular. You could buy herbs from "witches" that had strong hallucinogenic effects. Thus, it is possible that the visions experienced by Joan were simply a simple "high". The herb was also used in many religious ceremonies to promote an open mind and spiritual revelation.
4 Ramses II
Or rather, most of the Egyptian pharaohs. The pharaohs presided over a great civilization on the banks of the Nile. The dynasties in ancient Egypt gained power in 3150 B.C. and held it in various lineages and kingdoms until the beginning of our era.
During the long reign of the dynasties of ancient Egypt, it is difficult to determine when the pharaohs began using cannabis, but it certainly occurred during the reign of Ramses II (1279-1213 BC). Cannabis pollen was found on his mummy. Ancient papyri from this period contain numerous references to the medical uses of cannabis, including the treatment of hemorrhoids and sore eyes.
Ancient Egypt is a whole string of mysteries. It is still difficult for us to understand, for example, how the pyramids were built, how the people had such a great knowledge of astrology or medicine. However, if it is certain that even the pharaohs used cannabis, if only for medicinal purposes, it is a shame that we - the contemporaries, have any problem with it.
5 George Washington
George Washington was a general who led the American colonies in the fight for independence from Britain. After the war successfully ended, America became an independent country and Washington was elected the first president of the United States of America.
In retrospect, George Washington can be considered such a peculiar fellow. In addition to his duties as president and general, he was also a farmer and investor. Early on, he was involved in tobacco and hops production, but later Washington also grew hemp on his Mount Vernon farm - this was his main crop in 1797. Washington was interested in the medicinal properties of marijuana. He even kept a special journal, which shows that he tried to create a strain with high THC content.
George Washington is one of America's Founding Fathers. In the USA he is considered the greatest man in their history, he is surrounded by a kind of cult there. Tens of thousands of books have been written about him, but the fact that he smoked marijuana is rather concealed. It's a shame, because maybe smoking weed is a good way to successfully lead a country.
