How Was Cannabis Used in Native American Culture?
With Indigenous People’s Day just behind us, and Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, we thought we’d take the opportunity to dive into Native American use of cannabis. People often wonder if Native Americans used cannabis and, if so, how did they use it. It’s an interesting topic, and the Native American relationship to cannabis is of great interest to us.
You already know that cannabis serves a lot of different purposes, that different populations use it in different ways. From pain management to dealing with anxiety to enjoying the euphoric feeling of being high, cannabis has a lot to offer today. It was really no different in early Native American culture (though the methods of ingestion certainly weren’t as diverse as our offerings!).
Native Americans Did Grow Cannabis
The cannabis plants that Native Americans grew were not the same that we grow today, but they did have many uses for marijuana in their culture. Different tribes had different relationships with marijuana. Not all of them considered it to be some type of sacred herb, but it did often find its way into tribal rituals and spiritual uses.
How Native Americans Used Cannabis
Early Native Americans recognized the medicinal potential of marijuana, just like more and more people are today. Everything from headaches to eye irritation and even syphilis was treated with cannabis in various Native American tribes, and a liquid made by crushing its leaves was sometimes used as a topical ointment to help with skin issues.
Interestingly, Native Americans were ahead of the curve on the psychological benefits of cannabis, as well. While our culture stigmatized the effects of marijuana to a degree where it’s been difficult to shed that stigma in many places, Native Americans saw marijuana as a helpful tool for maintaining one’s psychological health. It could be used on its own in daily meditation practices, or as part of a more intricate ritual. And, while the term “peace pipe” is a European invention, cannabis was often an ingredient in the mix when such sacred pipes were smoked socially.
What Did Native American Cannabis Look Like?
We mentioned above that early Native American cannabis wasn’t exactly the same as the strains we use today. Their cannabis more closely resembled our hemp plants. Native Americans would use these plants in many different ways, including making rope and different textiles. The plant fibers were also quite strong, and proved a great material for making netting and durable clothing. In fact, the word “canvas” itself comes from the Latin word for “hemp,” which is cannabis.
Where Did Native Americans’ Cannabis Come From?
There are a few competing schools of thought as to how Native Americans came into possession of cannabis. Some believe that it came to North America as travelers crossed the Bering Strait from Asia. This is supposedly where cannabis originated, so the theory seems to hold water on the surface. And, because cannabis was used for everything from fiber to wood and oil, it makes sense that it would have been packed for such voyages.
Another theory is that Native Americans didn’t actually have cannabis or hemp until the colonizers arrived with it. They had something akin to it, perhaps, but not cannabis or hemp as we know it. Regardless of when what we know as cannabis was actually introduced to the Americas, its history of use among Native American tribes is fascinating nonetheless.
Native Americans and Cannabis Today
Native American culture still has a place for cannabis and its many uses today, but its acceptance is far from universal. While the Lakota tribe used to use the plant’s sap to remove warts, they actually oppose the use of marijuana today. The Dakota do as well. The modern Cherokee Nation doesn’t allow the use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational use.
However, they have a legend that tells the story of cannabis being brought to our planet by beings they call the “Star People.” These beings populated our world with humanity, and believed that cannabis was absolutely necessary for human beings to survive as a species - according to the legend, of course.
Many Mexican tribes still regard cannabis as being sacred, a gift from Rosa Maria or Santa Rosa. They consider it not just a plant, but a type of earth deity, seeing in it part of God’s heart. Tribes in Veracruz use the plant in a curing ceremony.
Cannabis Holds a Meaningful Place in Our Culture
It’s exciting to see more and more widespread acceptance of cannabis products in our modern culture. If you have any questions, or you’d like to schedule an Expert Appointment to learn more about how cannabis can help you, reach out to The Vault today. Educating our customers and ensuring they have a great cannabis experience is our top priority.