50 Insane Facts About Weed

**Sanitized Transcript:**

How will cannabis survive the apocalypse? Did William Shakespeare use cannabis before he wrote a play? Why do you get the munchies after using cannabis? Which Presidents enjoyed cannabis in their downtime? And can you consume so much cannabis that it becomes dangerous? These are fifty fascinating facts about cannabis!

**Fact Fifty!** Cannabis is believed to be one of the earliest plants cultivated by humans. Mentions of it have been found in writings from as far back as 3000 BC, and possible evidence of cannabis use has been identified in neolithic archaeological sites over 10,000 years old. Most early evidence of cannabis use comes from Asia, with prehistoric residues and hemp fiber imprints found across China, Japan, India, and the Middle East. Ancient cultures likely used the plant not just for its psychoactive properties, but also to make rope, clothes, shoes, paper, and even as a food source!

**Fact Forty-Nine!** Have you ever wondered where the word ‘marijuana’ comes from? There are a couple of theories. One popular story suggests it comes from a Nahuatl word meaning ‘prisoner,’ but this explanation is likely not true. A more likely explanation is that it comes from the Chinese term ‘ma ren hua,’ meaning hemp flower. ‘Ganja,’ another popular nickname, comes from the Sanskrit word for the hemp plant.

**Fact Forty-Eight!** People have had concerns about cannabis for over 700 years! Throughout history, cannabis has been mainly used for medicinal and spiritual purposes, but it has always been a controversial substance. The first known laws restricting cannabis use date back to the Middle Ages, with the earliest anti-cannabis legislation believed to be a law passed in the 1300s by an Arabian emir. Cannabis use was also made illegal by Napoleon Bonaparte and was widely outlawed throughout the British Empire.

**Fact Forty-Seven!** The United States has a complicated relationship with hemp. America started restricting the sale of cannabis in 1906, but it became outright illegal in 1937 with the Marihuana Tax Act. Hemp was outlawed alongside cannabis, but this changed during World War II when the government encouraged hemp cultivation for war efforts. Hemp was banned again in the 1970s under the Controlled Substances Act and remained illegal until the Act was revised in 2018. In 2019, the US became the world’s third-largest hemp producer after China and Canada.

**Fact Forty-Six!** Actor Jaleel White launched his own cannabis brand called ItsPurpl in 2021, a variant of the Purple Urkel strain. White, known for his role as Steve Urkel on the sitcom Family Matters, started the business to gain control over his character’s name and likeness.

**Fact Forty-Five!** Music legend Bob Marley was buried with cannabis! When he died in 1981, he was reportedly buried with a football, his beloved guitar, and a bud of cannabis.

**Fact Forty-Four!** There are over a thousand slang terms for cannabis! Time Magazine reported that there are over 1200 popularly used terms. Some favorites include weed, bud, ganja, chronic, grass, and pot.

**Fact Forty-Three!** After Tupac’s passing in 1996, his friends claimed to have honored him by mixing some of his ashes with cannabis and smoking it. While some doubt this claim, his friends have maintained their story.

**Fact Forty-Two!** The term “420” originated from a group of high schoolers in California in the early 1970s who used it as a code while searching for a legendary cannabis farm. Their story gained popularity through the magazine High Times and the band Grateful Dead.

**Fact Forty-One!** Washington was the first US state to legalize recreational cannabis use, which is poetic given that George Washington cultivated hemp. He mentioned it frequently in his diaries, although there’s no evidence he used it for its psychoactive effects.

**Fact Forty!** Many celebrities are known to use cannabis, including Jennifer Lawrence, Miley Cyrus, and Snoop Dogg, among others.

**Fact Thirty-Nine!** Other Presidents have also had histories with cannabis. George W. Bush admitted to using it, and Barack Obama was part of a group called the “Choom Gang” in his youth.

**Fact Thirty-Eight!** The government could potentially generate billions in tax revenue from cannabis. Estimates suggest that the federal government could make $8.5 billion in tax revenue if cannabis were legalized nationwide.

**Fact Thirty-Seven!** The US Military once experimented with a potent cannabinoid agent for potential use in crowd control, but the project was abandoned due to health risks.

**Fact Thirty-Six!** In some countries, cannabis use is recognized as a religious practice. For example, in Italy, Rastafarians can possess cannabis for personal use as a religious sacrament.

**Fact Thirty-Five!** In Denver, cannabis dispensaries outnumbered Starbucks locations in 2011.

**Fact Thirty-Four!** Cannabis is the world’s most popular “illicit” drug, with millions of users globally.

**Fact Thirty-Three!** One of the first online sales was allegedly for cannabis, conducted between students over ARPANET in 1971.

**Fact Thirty-Two!** There are no recorded deaths from cannabis overdose, making it one of the safer drugs compared to others.

**Fact Thirty-One!** Some have proposed using medical cannabis for dogs, but most veterinarians are skeptical due to the risks of toxicity.

**Fact Thirty!** A study in Italy found trace amounts of cannabis and cocaine in the air of several cities.

**Fact Twenty-Nine!** A North Carolina hospital investigated newborns showing trace amounts of cannabis, only to find it was due to chemicals in baby soaps causing false positives.

**Fact Twenty-Eight!** Illegal cannabis operations have harmed local ecosystems, including the deaths of rare owls due to rat poison used in cultivation.

**Fact Twenty-Seven!** Research shows that the potency of cannabis has increased over the years, while the amount of CBD has decreased.

**Fact Twenty-Six!** People can be allergic to cannabis, experiencing symptoms like sneezing and hives.

**Fact Twenty-Five!** Cannabis dependency can be influenced by genetics, with certain markers indicating a likelihood of dependence.

**Fact Twenty-Four!** Chronic cannabis users may experience cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, leading to severe nausea and vomiting.

**Fact Twenty-Three!** Drug traffickers have used creative methods to smuggle cannabis, including hiding it in various food items.

**Fact Twenty-Two!** There is ongoing debate about whether Shakespeare used cannabis, with some evidence suggesting he may have.

**Fact Twenty-One!** Cannabis can affect how individuals perceive money and motivation due to its impact on brain chemistry.

**Fact Twenty!** The munchies are caused by THC stimulating appetite-regulating receptors in the brain, which can be beneficial for those undergoing treatments that reduce appetite.

**Fact Nineteen!** Other religious groups, such as some Hindus, also use cannabis in ceremonies, particularly during festivals.

**Fact Eighteen!** Cannabis has shown promise in treating certain forms of epilepsy, with FDA-approved medications derived from it.

**Fact Seventeen!** Cannabis use can help reduce cravings for other addictive substances.

**Fact Sixteen!** Individuals genetically predisposed to schizophrenia should avoid cannabis, as it may exacerbate symptoms.

**Fact Fifteen!** Richard Nixon’s war on drugs has had lasting impacts on cannabis legalization and racial disparities in arrests.

**Fact Fourteen!** The effects of cannabis edibles differ from smoking, often leading to a more intense and longer-lasting high.

**Fact Thirteen!** Cannabis seeds are stored in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to preserve them in case of ecological collapse.

**Fact Twelve!** Mary Jane Rathbun, known as “Brownie Mary,” was a pioneer in cannabis activism and baked cannabis-infused brownies for AIDS patients.

**Fact Eleven!** Cannabis grows naturally in Bhutan, despite being illegal to cultivate as a drug.

**Fact Ten!** Contrary to popular belief, North Korea has strict laws against cannabis, classifying it similarly to heroin.

**Fact Nine!** Japan has the world’s most expensive cannabis, while Ecuador has the cheapest.

**Fact Eight!** Malaysia has severe penalties for cannabis-related offenses, including life imprisonment for planting a single seed.

**Fact Seven!** Carl’s Jr. once offered a cannabis-infused burger as part of a promotional event.

**Fact Six!** Joints, spliffs, and blunts differ in composition, with joints being pure cannabis, spliffs containing tobacco, and blunts being larger amounts wrapped in cigar paper.

**Fact Five!** Willie Nelson famously smoked cannabis on the roof of the White House during the Carter Administration.

**Fact Four!** Cannabis has inspired numerous Hollywood films, starting with the 1936 film “Reefer Madness.”

**Fact Three!** There are scientifically proven negative side effects of cannabis use, including increased heart rate and respiratory issues.

**Fact Two!** Some individuals may experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using cannabis.

**Fact One!** The US Coast Guard seized 54 tons of cannabis in a single bust in 1977, marking one of the largest drug seizures in history.

Now check out “What Happens To Your Brain If You Use Cannabis for 30 Days.” Or watch this video instead!