National Breaking News
The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION
Researchers find oldest-ever stash of marijuana
OTTAWA - Researchers say they have located the world's oldest stash of marijuana, in a tomb in a remote part of China.
The cache of cannabis is about 2,700 years old and was clearly "cultivated for psychoactive purposes," rather than as fibre for clothing or as food, says a research paper in the Journal of Experimental Botany.
The 789 grams of dried cannabis was buried alongside a light-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian man, likely a shaman of the Gushi culture, near Turpan in northwestern China.
The extremely dry conditions and alkaline soil acted as preservatives, allowing a team of scientists to carefully analyze the stash, which still looked green though it had lost its distinctive odour.
"To our knowledge, these investigations provide the oldest documentation of cannabis as a pharmacologically active agent," says the newly published paper, whose lead author was American neurologist Dr. Ethan B. Russo.
Remnants of cannabis have been found in ancient Egypt and other sites, and the substance has been referred to by authors such as the Greek historian Herodotus. But the tomb stash is the oldest so far that could be thoroughly tested for its properties.
The 18 researchers, most of them based in China, subjected the cannabis to a battery of tests, including carbon dating and genetic analysis. Scientists also tried to germinate 100 of the seeds found in the cache, without success.
The marijuana was found to have a relatively high content of THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis, but the sample was too old to determine a precise percentage.
Researchers also could not determine whether the cannabis was smoked or ingested, as there were no pipes or other clues in the tomb of the shaman, who was about 45 years old.
The large cache was contained in a leather basket and in a wooden bowl, and was likely meant to be used by the shaman in the afterlife.
"This materially is unequivocally cannabis, and no material has previously had this degree of analysis possible," Russo said in an interview from Missoula, Mont.
"It was common practice in burials to provide materials needed for the afterlife. No hemp or seeds were provided for fabric or food. Rather, cannabis as medicine or for visionary purposes was supplied."
The tomb also contained bridles, archery equipment and a harp, confirming the man's high social standing.
Russo is a full-time consultant with GW Pharmaceuticals, which makes Sativex, a cannabis-based medicine approved in Canada for pain linked to multiple sclerosis and cancer.
The company operates a cannabis-testing laboratory at a secret location in southern England to monitor crop quality for producing Sativex, and allowed Russo use of the facility for tests on 11 grams of the tomb cannabis.
Researchers needed about 10 months to cut red tape barring the transfer of the cannabis to England from China, Russo said.
The inter-disciplinary study was published this week by the British-based botany journal, which uses independent reviewers to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of all submitted papers.
The substance has been found in two of the 500 Gushi tombs excavated so far in northwestern China, indicating that cannabis was either restricted for use by a few individuals or was administered as a medicine to others through shamans, Russo said.
"It certainly does indicate that cannabis has been used by man for a variety of purposes for thousands of years."
Russo, who had a neurology practice for 20 years, has previously published studies examining the history of cannabis.
"I hope we can avoid some of the political liabilities of the issue," he said, referring to his latest paper.
The region of China where the tomb is located, Xinjiang, is considered an original source of many cannabis strains worldwide.
- Rate this

-
-
We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.
You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.
There are no comments at the moment. Be the first to post a comment below.
Post Your Comment
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comments, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
-
Miss Lonelyhearts
Maureen Scurfield offers life advice
-
Tour de France
Follow the cyclists day by day with our interactive map.
-
Bite-sized Doug
Need more Doug? Buy his new book here
-
Blue Bomber Report
All of the latest on the Big Blue
-
Send us your videos
Upload videos to our site
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and news feeds on Twitter
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins
-
RSS Feeds
Sign up for your favourites
- Back to Top
- Return to National Breaking News
Advertisement
Most Popular
- Cruisers resent crackdown
- Another Manitoban dies from H1N1
- REVIEW: Jonas Brothers a cultural phenomenon
- Body pulled from Red River at Waterfront Drive
- B.C. man ready to die 21 years after Ont. fire burned 90 per cent of his body
- He shaped a world: Leo Mol dies
- Police officer leaps out of the way as motorist accelerates through check-stop
- Armstrong missing from practice for second straight day
- Bomber wide receiver Derick Armstrong absent from practice
- Armstrong cooling his heels
- Cruisers resent crackdown
- Bomber wide receiver Derick Armstrong absent from practice
- Outraged by violence
- The Winnipeg Drama Club
- He shaped a world: Leo Mol dies
- Police officer leaps out of the way as motorist accelerates through check-stop
- REVIEW: Jonas Brothers a cultural phenomenon
- Why is rapist in Canada?
- Two men shot on Ross Avenue
- Countryfest keeps Dauphin RCMP busy
- He shaped a world: Leo Mol dies
- Sunday Special: Triumph over tragedy
- Good counsel
- Flying by the seat of their pants
- REVIEW: Jonas Brothers a cultural phenomenon
- Dreaming in techie-colour
- Body pulled from Red River at Waterfront Drive
- Peregrine falcon chicks take flight
- Peregrine falcon chicks feel wind beneath wings
- Two men shot on Ross Avenue
Ads by Google
PREVIOUS

0 Comments