Abstract
An Associated Press dispatch, headlined “Pot the Health Food,” reported that a young man charged with possession of ten pounds of marihuana claimed that he was a vegetarian and protested the seizure of his food supply. This was described in the news item as “a novel defense” (New York Post, August 13, 1975).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
Francois Rabelais learned about cannabis cultivation on the estate of his father who “grew much hemp on his property” (Stearn, in press).
The “fictionalized version of the plant (named) after his giant hero” Pantagruel (Grinspoon, 1971: 33).
Cannabis sativa is known by many names in different world areas. Ganja, the Hindi term, is prevalent in areas where the plant, and possibly the complex surrounding its multipurpose uses, was diffused from India.
O’shaughnessy (1842) and other 19th-century Western physicians reported on the beneficial therapeutic effects of cannabis as an anticonvulsant. Reports which “suggest that marijuana may possess an anticonvulsant effect in human epilepsy” are cited in a recent article by Consroe, Wood, and Buchsbaum (1975).
This information appears in a Russian publication, by L. V. Antzyferov, “Hashish in Central Asia,” Journal of Socialist Health Care in Uzbekstan (1934).
Some of the medicinal uses reported are for: aches/pains, arthritis, asthma, “blood pressure,” breathing difficulties, constipation, chest pains, eardrops, “bad eyes,” fever, “fits,” gonorrhea (also taken as a prophylactic), “heart,” headaches, indigestion, kidneys, malaria (with other “bush”), marasmus (in newborn), “bad skin,” swellings and yaws. Poultices made of dried leaves of ganja ashes are used to treat open wounds/ulcers. Tea/tonic users may consume as much as the equivalent of 2–3 spliffs (ganja cigarettes) daily. Healing practices by Fundamentalist cult leaders include medication with folk herbals, of which ganja is a “secret” ingredient, although ganja use per se is proscribed.
The term “hemp,” generally associated with the use of cannabis for manufactured products, is a generic synonym for cannabis in Eastern Europe.
As is well known, it was also extensively used in Western medicine during the nineteenth century and was included in the pharmacopoeia of the United States (extractum cannabis) from 1850 until 1942.
Dr. Kabelik notes that “the male bushy types of hemp with big headed blooms” are suitable for hashish and seeds, “and especially for antibiotic properties.” He adds, “It is interesting to note that in older times they considered that the hemp which carried seeds was the female type” (Kabelik, 1955: 7).
Louis Harris has suggested that THC “may lead to new drugs to prevent transplant rejection and to combat cancer” (Newsweek, September 2, 1974). Dr. Sallan (Harvard University) has used THC effectively as an anti-emetic agent in cancer therapy (Philadelphia Inquirer, September 14, 1975), and Drs. Butler and Regelson have demonstrated the anti-depressant effects in delta-9-THC in terminal cancer patients (New York Post, September 20, 1974).
However, the full report of the study of chronic marihuana use by Dr. Jack H. Mendelson (Harvard University), funded by the U. S. Army, which has now been released, refutes the “amotivational” allegations: “No impairment in motivation to work for money even when users smoked a large number of marijuana cigarettes” is one of the conclusions listed in the abstract. The Journal notes that the Mendelson report “clearly substantiates many of the conclusions drawn in the Jamaica-Ganja study.” (The Journal, November 1, 1975, published by the Addiction Research Foundation, Toronto).
References
Benet, S. Early diffusion of folk uses of hemp. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Benoist, J. Réunion: Cannabis in a pluricultural and polyethnic society. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Consroe, P. F., Wood, G. C, & Buchsbaum, H. Anticonvulsant nature of marihuana smoking. Journal of the American Medical Association, 1975, 234 (3), 306–307.
de Pinho, A. R. Social and medical aspects of the use of cannabis in Brazil. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Elejalde, B. R. Marihuana and genetic studies in Colombia: The problem in the city and country. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Emboden, W. A., Jr. Ritual use of Cannabis sativa L.: A historical-ethnographic survey. In P. Furst (Ed.), Flesh of the gods. New York: Praeger, 1972.
Fisher, J. Cannabis in Nepal: an overview. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Great Britain. Indian Hemp Drugs Commission, 1893–1894. Marijuana report. Silver Springs, Md.: Thomas Jefferson, 1969.
Grinspoon, L. Marihuana reconsidered. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1971.
Hutchinson, H. W. Patterns of marihuana use in Brazil. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Kabelik, J. (Ed.). Hemp as medicine. Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis, 1955, 6(2), 27–114
Khan, M. A., Abbas, A., & Jensen, K. Cannabis usoge in Pakistan: a pilot study of long-term effects on social status and physical health. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Li, H. The origin and use of cannabis in Eastern Asia: their linguistic-cultural implications. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Martin, M. A. Ethnobotanical aspects of cannabis in Southeast Asia. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Mikuriya, T. H. (Ed.). Marijuana medical papers 1839–1972. Oakland, Calif.: Medi-Comp Press, 1973.
O’shaughnessy, W. B. On the preparation of the Indian hemp orgunjah (Cannabis indica): The effects on the animal system in health, and their utility in the treatment of tetanus and other convulsive diseases. Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Bombay, 1842, 8, 421–461.
Partridge, W. L. Cannabis and cultural groups in a Colombian municipio. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Radosevic, A., Kupinic, M., & Grlic, L. Antibiotic activity of various types of cannabis resin. Nature, 1962, 195, 1007–1009.
Rubin, V. Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Rubin, V. & Comitas, L. Effects of chronic smoking of cannabis in Jamaica. Report, 1972, Research Institute for the Study of Man, Contract No. HSM-42-70-97, National Institute of Mental Health.
Rubin, V. & Comitas, L. Ganja in Jamaica: A medical anthropological study of chronic marihuana use. The Hague: Mouton, 1975.
Schultes, R. E. Plant kingdom and hallucinogens. Bulletin on Narcotics, 1969, 21(3), 3–16.
Schultes, R. E. Man and marihuana. Natural History, 1973, 82, 59–68, 78, 82.
Schultes, R. E., Klein, W. M., Plowman, T., and Lockwood, T. E. Cannabis: An example of taxonomic neglect. In V. Rubin (Ed.) Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Snyder, S. H. Uses of marijuana. New York: Oxford University Press, 1971.
Stearn, W. T. Typification of Cannabis sativa L. In V. Rubin (Ed.), Cannabis and culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1975, in press.
Appendix
Krejci, Z.: “The Antibiotic Effect of Cannabis indica,” Dissertation, Masaryk University, Brno, 1950.
Krejci, Z.: “The Antibacterial Effect of Cannabis indica,” Lekarske listy 1, 20, 500–503 (1952).
Kabelik, J.: “Hemp — its History — Traditional and Popular Application,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 6, 31–41 (1955).
Krejci, Z. “The Antibacterial Effect of Cannabis indica.” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 6, 43–57 (1955).
Krejci, Z., Santavy, F.: “Isolation of Other Substances from the Leaves of the Indian Hemp,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 6, 59–66 (1955).
Klabusay, L., Lenfeld, J.: “Pharmacodynamic Effect of Substances Isolated from Cannabis indica,” Acta Univ. Olomuc, Fac. Med. 6, 67–72 (1955).
Soldan, J.: “Therapeutical Results in Stomatology after Application of Substances Obtained from Cannabis indica,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 6, 73–78 (1955).
Simek, J., et al: “Application of the Cannabis indica Extract in Preserving Stomatology,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 6, 79–82 (1955).
Hubacek, J.: “Study on the Effect of Cannabis indica in Oto-Rhino-Laryngology,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 6, 83–86 (1955).
Navratil, J.: “Effectiveness of Cannabis indica on Chronic Otitis Media,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 6, 87–89 (1955).
Procek, J.: “Preliminary Study on the Local Effect of Cannabis indica: A Remedy for Specific Fistulas,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 6, 91–92 (1955).
Sirek, J.: “Importance of Hempseeds in the Tuburculosis Therapy,” Acta Univ. Olomuc Fac. Med. 6, 93–108 (1955).
Krejci, Z., Heczko, P.: “On the Treatment of the Papilla Rhagadae in Suckling Puerperial Mothers and on the Prevention of Mastitis Caused by Staphylococci,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 14, 277–282 (1958).
Krejci, Z., Horak, M., Santavy, F.: “Constitution of the Cannabidiol Acid and of an Acid of the M. P. 133°C Isolated from Cannabis setiva L.,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 16, 9–17 (1958).
Kabelik, J.: “Hanf (Cannabis sativa) — antibiotishes Heilmittel.” 1. Mitteilung: Hanf in der Alt — und Volksmedizin. Die Pharmazie 12, 439 (1957).
Krejci, Z.: “Hanf (Cannabis sativa) — antibiotishes Heilmittel.” 2. Mitteilung: Methodik und Ergebnisse der bakteriologishen Untersuchung und vorlaufige klinishe Erfahrugen. Die Pharmazie 13, Heft 3. 155–166 (1958).
Krejci, Z., Horak, M., Santavy, F.: “Hanf (Cannabis sativa) — antibiotishes Heilmittel.” 3. Mitteilung: Isolierung und Konstitution zweier aus Cannabis sativa gewonnener sauren. Die Pharmazie 14, Heft 6, 349–355 (1959).
Kabelik, J., Krejci, Z., Santavy, F.: “Hemp as a Medicament,” Bullet, on Narcotics 12, No. 3, 5–19 (1960).
Part — Kabelik, J.: “Treatment with Cannabis in Ancient Folk and Official Medicine up to the beginning of the 20th Century,” Pp 5–8.
Part — Santavy, F., Krejci, Z.: “A Brief Survey of the Methods of Isolation and the Physical and Clinical Properties and Structure of the Isolated Antibacterial Substances,” Pp 8-12.
Part — Krejci, Z.: “Methods and Results of the Bacteriological Experiments,” Pp 12–19.
Part — Krejci, Z.: “Survey of Clinical Experiences,” Pp 19–22.
Krejci, Z.: “To the Problem of Substances with Antibacterial and Hashish Effect in Hemp,” Cas. lek. ces. 43, 1351–1354 (1961).
Krejci, Z.: “Antibacterial Substances of Cannabis Used in the Prevention and Therapy of Infections,” Dissertation, 259 Pp (1961).
Krejci, Z., Vybiral, L.: “Thin Layer (Aluminum Oxide) Chromatographic Isolation of Biologically Active Substances from Cannabis sativa L. and the Biological Detection of Antibacterially Active Substances,” Scr. M e d. Brno 35, 71–72 (1962).
Santavy, F.: “Notes on the Structure of Cannabidiol Compounds (Absolute Configuration),” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 35, 5–9 (1964).
Krejci, Z.: “Applications de la chromatographie sur couches minces a l’analyse du cannabis,” United Nations Document ST (SOA) SER. S/13, 1–15 (1965).
Krejci, Z.: “L’analyse du hachiche et du chanvre indien a l’aide de la chromatographie sur couche mince,” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. 43, 111–124 (1966).
Krejci, Z.: “Micro-method of Thin-layer Chromatography Adapted for the Analysis of Cannabis,” United Nations ST (SOA) SER.S/16 (1967).
Krejci, Z.: “Changes with Maturation in the Amounts of Biologically Interesting Substances of Cannabis,” The Botany and Chemistry of Cannabis, J. A. Churchill, London (1970).
Hrbek, J., Krejci, Z., Komenda, J., Siroka, L., Navratil, J.: “Influence of Smoking Hashish on Higher Nervous Activity in Man, ”(Symposium on the Chemistry and Biological Activity of Cannabis), Acta Pharmaceutica Suecica 8, 689–690 (1971).
Navritil, J., Medek, A., Hrbek, J., Krejci, Z., Komenda, S., Dvorak, M.: “The Effect of Cannabis on the Conditioned Alimentary Motor Reflexes in Cats,” Activitas Nervosa Superior 14/2, 109 (1972).
Hrbek, J., Komenda, S., Siroka, L., Krejci, Z., Navratil, J., Medek, A.: “Acute Effect of THC (4, 18, 16 mg) on Verbal Associations,” Activitas Nervosa Superior 14/2, 107–108 (1972).
Hrbek, J., Komenda, S., Krejci, Z., Siroka, A., Navratil, J.: “On the Effect of Some Drugs on the Higher Nervous Activity in Man. Tetrahydrocannabinol (4, 8, 16 mg)” Acta Univ. Olomuc. Fac. Med. (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1976 Plenum Publishing Corporation
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Rubin, V. (1976). Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis. In: Cohen, S., Stillman, R.C. (eds) The Therapeutic Potential Of Marihuana. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4286-1_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4286-1_1
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4288-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-4286-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive