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History of cannabis: hemp through the ages
From early hemp discoveries and medical use to modern research
Author: Dipl.-Chem. Mohammad Reza Talebnasab
Editorially updated: 12 October 2026
The history of cannabis connects agriculture, crafts, medicine and social change. Hemp has been used for fibre and food; other preparations have played a role in ritual and medical settings. Prohibitions and international control agreements later shaped how the plant was handled. Today, industrial hemp, medicinal cannabis and research into individual cannabinoids exist alongside one another, with different properties and legal frameworks.
Early traces: hemp as a cultivated and useful plant
Cannabis sativa has accompanied people for thousands of years. Archaeological research examines seeds, plant fibres and chemical residues, among other evidence, to reconstruct its different uses. However, very old finds cannot always be identified conclusively: a plant impression alone, for example, does not establish with certainty that a textile was made of hemp. Claims giving apparently exact dates for its ‘first use’ should therefore be treated cautiously. Archaeobotanical investigation of Haimenkou
A particularly illustrative finding comes from the Jirzankal cemetery in the Pamir Mountains. Researchers found residues in wooden incense burners approximately 2,500 years old that indicate cannabis was burned during burial rituals. This establishes a historical use, but does not on its own establish medical efficacy. Ren and colleagues, 2019
Hemp in the Middle Ages: fibres for everyday life
Im mittelalterlichen Europa war Hanf ein vielseitiger Rohstoff. Seine Fasern wurden für Seile und Textilien verarbeitet; auch für die Schifffahrt waren Hanfprodukte von Bedeutung. Untersuchungen historischer Gewebe aus Skandinavien weisen Hanffasern in Textilien der Wikingerzeit und des frühen Mittelalters nach. Damit wird die Geschichte des Hanfs nicht nur durch schriftliche Überlieferungen, sondern auch durch Materialanalysen greifbar. Untersuchung historischer Hanftextilien
Dabei lohnt sich die Trennung von belegter Nutzung und populären Erzählungen. So besteht die unterzeichnete amerikanische Unabhängigkeitserklärung von 1776 aus Pergament. Sie sollte deshalb nicht als Beispiel für ein erhaltenes Original auf Hanfpapier angeführt werden. US-Nationalarchiv
Cannabis in the 20th century: restrictions and international control
In the 20th century, government regulation significantly changed the use of cannabis. In the USA, the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 introduced tax and administrative restrictions. The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs made cannabis part of an international control system. This development should not be reduced to a single businessperson, one industry or a worldwide prohibition decision taken at the same time. US legislative records from 1937 · UN Convention of 1961
In 2020, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs decided to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of that Convention. This did not mean worldwide legalisation: international control and national rules remained relevant. Official UN Commission report
Henry Ford's ‘hemp car’: what the evidence actually shows
In 1941, Henry Ford presented an experimental vehicle with plastic body panels. It is often called the ‘Hemp Car’. However, according to The Henry Ford museum, the precise material formulation is not conclusively documented. Contemporary accounts of the plant fibres used differ. The claim that the entire car, including its windows and fuel, was made of hemp would therefore not be reliable. The project is better understood as an early example of interest in plant-based materials for vehicle construction. The Henry Ford: Soybean Car
Hemp today: medicine, research and changing laws
In Germany, the ‘Cannabis as Medicine’ law expanded access to cannabis medicines in 2017. Since 1 April 2024, medicinal cannabis has been regulated separately by the German Medicinal Cannabis Act. This development should be distinguished from the rules for recreational cannabis and the classification of other hemp products. A single THC figure does not establish that every product can lawfully be marketed. German Federal Ministry of Health: Cannabis as medicine
Research is also deepening our understanding of the plant and its constituents. For a factual assessment, it is important to distinguish traditional use, laboratory findings, human studies and authorised medicines.
Cannabis in medicine: historical use and current evidence
The medical use of cannabis is part of its history and can be traced through historical publications. In the 19th century, physician William Brooke O’Shaughnessy reported on Indian hemp preparations and their medical testing at the time. An 1843 edition of his work is preserved in the Wellcome Collection. Such sources document the knowledge and treatment practices of their time; they do not meet the requirements of modern clinical studies. Historical original publication
Cannabis also has a place in medicine today. However, the treatment that may be considered depends on the condition, preparation, composition and medical assessment. One specific example is the prescription cannabidiol medicine Epidyolex for certain forms of epilepsy. Its authorisation does not establish the efficacy of any CBD product or other cannabinoids. European Medicines Agency
Hemp as a raw material: possibilities and environmental limitations
Industrial hemp provides fibres, seeds and other plant components for various uses, including textiles, insulation and composite materials. Hemp-lime mainly combines woody shiv with a suitable binder; hemp-fibre insulation is a different material group. European Commission: Hemp
Hemp can form part of resource-efficient production. Its actual environmental performance depends, among other things, on cultivation, processing, transport routes and the use of the finished product. ‘Always pesticide-free’ or ‘inherently climate-neutral’ would therefore be overly broad descriptions.
Understanding cannabis
The history of cannabis shows how differently the same plant can be used and viewed. To put its constituents in context, you can find the biological background on our page about the endocannabinoid system. We also explain the differences between cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabinol (CBN). Additional information pages explain cannabichromene (CBC) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Note: This article provides historical and scientific information. It does not replace medical or legal advice and contains no recommendation for using a specific product.