ANTH106 Lecture 3: ANTH106 - Cannabis
5 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
ANTH6
Cannabis
Cannabis: A Brief History
• Originated in central Asia
• Mentioned in ancient medical and religious Chinese and Indian texts
• Cannabis initially used for practical purposed in the West (e.g. ship sail and rope and
cloth
• W.B. O'Shaughnessy is credited with introduction of medical use of cannabis.
Between 1842-1900, over 100 reports published on therapeutic qualities of cannabis.
• Recreational use in the West: a. French Hashish Club b. Hashish bars in Europe
and USE
• They used cannabis for depression, opium addition, etc. Doctors were looking into the
medicinal of cannabis
• Cannabis loss popularity in the medical field 1) Very considerable variability - hard
to judge the precise dosage 2) Insoluble in water, meaning the effect were slow and
delayed
• After 1900, it was replaced by synthetic drugs in the medical field - there has only
been a resurgence recently
• It was introduced in the west and south west in American in 1910
• It was introduced into mainstream use by poor immigrant Mexican communities: This
causes there to be a rise of stereotypes surrounding the drug
• This stereotype continued as the drug become popular with African americans and
poor White people.
• The stereotypes that cannabis has for modern people are completely different to wha
they thought about it in the early 20th century.
Symbolic Dimensions of Cannabis Legislation
Himmelstein: From Killer Week to Drop-out Drug
• 'Moral entreprenures'- Refers to moral crusades who play a key role in drug
legislation by influencing public images of a drug- e.g. Harry Anslinger: the FBN
Commissioner, had an influential government position. He used his influence to
portray cannabis as a dangerous drug responsible for social issues
• 'Social locus'
- The social position of the drug users (class, ethnicity, generational)
• 'Symbolic politics'
- Drugs and drug prohibition as 'symbolic counters in wider social conflicts'
- Drugs as political scapegoats for wider social fears; as if the drugs are the cause of
those fears
Rubin and Comitas: The Ganja Complex (1975)
• Introduced to Jamaica by indentured Indian laborers in 1930's and quickly spread to
black population (former slaves)
• Ganja (cannabis) was not smoked, but taken as tea by the Jamaicans. This removed
the negative stigma from it
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Cannabis: a brief history: originated in central asia, mentioned in ancient medical and religious chinese and indian texts, cannabis initially used for practical purposed in the west (e. g. ship sail and rope and cloth, w. b. O"shaughnessy is credited with introduction of medical use of cannabis. Between 1842-1900, over 100 reports published on therapeutic qualities of cannabis: recreational use in the west: a. french hashish club b. hashish bars in europe and use, they used cannabis for depression, opium addition, etc. It was introduced in the west and south west in american in 1910. "moral entreprenures" - refers to moral crusades who play a key role in drug legislation by influencing public images of a drug - e. g. harry anslinger: the fbn. He used his influence to portray cannabis as a dangerous drug responsible for social issues. The social position of the drug users (class, ethnicity, generational) Drugs and drug prohibition as "symbolic counters in wider social conflicts"
