Cannabis throughout history: from sacred plant to social issue

Origins: hemp, an ancestral resource

When we talk about cannabis history, it all began long before modern debates. The earliest traces of hemp cultivation date back several millennia, particularly in Asia. Hemp was then used for very practical purposes: making fabrics, ropes, paper and oils.

In some ancient traditions, the plant is mentioned in religious or philosophical texts. Without entering into the medical sphere, we know that it was sometimes associated with ritual or spiritual uses, as well as preparations intended for comfort and well-being according to the knowledge of the time. These uses belong to specific historical contexts and should not be confused with current approaches based on modern research.

Over the course of trade routes, hemp reached Europe. It was adopted for its durability: a strong, resistant fibre capable of withstanding the demands of maritime transport, construction and crafts. At this stage in the history of cannabis, the plant was primarily seen as an agricultural and industrial resource.

Cannabis in the great historical civilisations

In several civilisations, cannabis appeared as one element among many plants and raw materials. In some societies, it was studied and recorded in historical pharmacopoeias, often alongside other plants used for comfort or hygiene. These documents reflect observations and traditions more than scientific processes in the modern sense.

At the same time, hemp became strategically important. Boat sails, ropes and certain papers were made from its fibres. The plant became part of everyday life: clothing, textiles and materials. During this period of the history of cannabis, its industrial dimension largely shaped how societies viewed hemp.

In some spiritual traditions, the plant was also surrounded by particular symbolism. Here again, these are specific cultural and religious contexts that cannot be directly transposed to our time. They nevertheless help show that cannabis has occupied varied positions throughout history: a practical resource, but sometimes also a plant invested with meaning.

From useful hemp to controversial plant

From the Renaissance through the 19^th century, hemp remained widespread in Europe. It was used to produce paper, fabrics, oils and ropes. Some institutions even encouraged its cultivation, given its importance to the economy and infrastructure.

In the 19^th century and at the beginning of the 20^th, cannabis also attracted the interest of doctors and researchers of the time, who occasionally included it in their observations. However, these historical approaches must be placed in context, long before today’s scientific assessment standards.

The major turning point came in the 20^th century, when various countries adopted prohibition policies. In this movement, industrial hemp was often conflated with cannabis for psychotropic use. The plant then became broadly associated with prohibition, and its public image was reduced to this repressive dimension. Much of the history of cannabis was thus simplified, or even obscured, in collective perceptions.

The contemporary rediscovery of hemp and CBD

From the end of the 20^th century onwards, interest in hemp as a resource began to return. Several countries redefined a distinct legal framework for industrial hemp, particularly according to its THC content. Its advantages for textiles, insulation, certain food products and, more recently, CBD-based products were rediscovered.

In Switzerland, the legal framework permits the sale of cannabis-based products containing less than 1% THC, in compliance with the regulations in force. This particularity places Switzerland among the pioneering countries in the field of cannabis with low THC content. It has enabled the emergence of a structured local industry: growers, laboratories, specialist shops and advisory organisations.

Gaiabis operates within this context, with an approach focused on quality, product information and compliance with standards. The aim is not to present cannabis as a miracle solution, but to offer hemp and CBD products within a clear, regulated and responsible framework, in line with the reality of cannabis history in Switzerland.

If you would like to discover this modern world of hemp in practical terms, you can, for example, browse our selection of CBD flowers and CBD oils on our website, or discuss it directly with our team in store. Personalised guidance is often the best way to find products suited to your needs, while respecting the legal framework.

Looking at cannabis from a historical perspective

Exploring cannabis throughout history shows just how differently the same plant can be perceived depending on the period: an essential agricultural fibre, a strategic raw material, a plant associated with certain rituals, a subject of prohibition, and then an object of regulated rediscovery through CBD.

Today, in Switzerland, discussions around cannabis take place in a more informed and structured environment. Authorities, businesses and consumers have clearer points of reference, particularly regarding THC content and product quality. This development makes it possible to approach hemp with greater nuance, far from the extremes of demonisation or exaggerated promises.