Cannabis 101 Cannabis education and information on ways to consume how to grow or harvest and more. Cannabis 101 Cannabis in History: The Journey of the Joint S. Desiree While humans have been consuming cannabis for thousands of years it has historically been smoked through a pipe hookah or chillum. A relatively new innovation the humble marijuana cigarette has managed to find its way into the heart of countless cultures around the world. Heres a brief overview of its rise to fame. When Was the First Joint Consumed Recreationally? The first recorded use of a joint was in Mexico. Though cannabis had been used as a medicine for a long time it seems that the joint was first used for recreational purposes. It was a pharmacist at University of Guadalajara who first mentioned that laborers were mixing cannabis with tobacco in their cigarettes. Though it probably started much earlier the practice had begun by at least 1856. RELATED STORY How Mexican Herbolarias Transformed Hemp into Psychoactive Marijuana You dont have to look far to spot the cultural ties that still linger from cannabiss Mexican roots. In fact the word roach got its name from the Mexican song La Cucaracha which tells the story of a cockroach who cant get up because he has no marijuana to smoke. The earliest record of a commercial cannabis cigarette can be found in an 1870 publication of The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal. Grimaults Indian Cigarettes- marketed as a treatment for respiratory ailments- was a powerful mixture of cannabis resin belladonna leaves (also known as deadly nightshade a powerful and sometimes deadly muscle relaxant) and a small amount of potassium nitrate. This combination would have acted to deconstrict the bronchial tubes in the event of an asthma attack allowing the patient to increase oxygen flow to the lungs. 1907 advertisement for Grimaults Indian Cigarettes. Marketed 10 years before the advent of the cigarette rolling machine each joint had to be individually hand-rolled. Joints in the Early 20th Century Spurred on by the precursor of Marcus Garveys Rastafarian movement cannabis gained a more widespread popularity throughout black communities. Jazz musicians especially preferred cannabis to alcohol as it enhanced creativity without affecting their motor control. RELATED STORY Whats the Significance of the Lion and Cannabis in Rastafarian Culture? Many nicknames for the cannabis cigarettes were birthed in the 20s and 30s some of which are still used to this day. The words reefer and joint originated in this era. As did the term muggle since popularized by the Harry Potter franchise. Some words havent stood the test of time so well. Ever heard of a killer goof butt or joy smoke? The prohibition of alcohol in 1920 had a big hand in cannabiss widespread usage. Speakeasies were springing up around the country providing an illegal underground hub where patrons could sip on the finest bathtub whiskey and listen to jazz. New Orleans musicians began touring over the country bringing with them their iconic jazz cigarettes. Popularity for the drug boomed its legal status in most states meant that a Viper (the term for cannabis smoker) could roll a reefer in public and face no repercussions. After a series of increased restrictions and Reefer Madness style propaganda the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed federally essentially outlawing the possession and sale of the plant. Joints were especially targeted in the media with newspapers and even school textbooks from this era claiming that harmless cigarettes were being spiked with cannabis in order to drug children and drive them insane. Popularity of Marijuana Cigarettes Skyrockets The 1960s represented a major shift in peoples attitudes towards authority. The conflict in Vietnam was gaining a reputation as an unjust war and adults who had been raised to believe Reefer Madness propaganda realized they had been deceived. Cannabis was not a plant which drove people to homicidal madness nor would it make a person see demons or become a sex-crazed maniac. Smoking a joint represented an act of non-violent protest against a broken system and brought people together under the banner of peace love and a counter-cultural revolution. Hippies were quick to develop their own fashion trends with many accessories being targeted specifically to stoners. Jewelry and belt buckles were manufactured to include disguised roach clips allowing the average toker to always be prepared for a surprise spliff and giving a nod to those in the know. Rolling paper manufacturers were quick to cash in on this new market too. Companies created wider styles of papers to accommodate the stoner market who traditionally rolled much thicker cigarettes than tobacco users. Packets of rolling paper were decorated with psychedelic patterns and pro-marijuana quotes. A company called Randys even invented the Insta-Roach wired rolling papers which gave users a stainless steel wire to hold on to as they finished off the last of their joint. Cannabis became popular in some pretty unlikely places. Soldiers in Vietnam smoked pot in previously unheard of quantities with some commanders asserting that 70%-80% of their troops had tried it. Marijuana usage was an open secret in many bases with some officers even allowing under-the-counter sales of joints on PX facilities. For just two dollars a soldier could buy a packet of real cigarettes that had been emptied out and filled with cannabis. Many even had the original cellophane seal reapplied. Discreet and unassuming these disguised doobies became especially useful when the military decided to search your quarters. Modern Day Joints Todays discerning cannabis connoisseurs can customize their rolling experience to a degree thats never been seen before. Consumers can choose from a huge selection of strains treat themselves to special papers and even purchase power-packed pre-rolls. RELATED STORY Whats in a Pre-Roll? Thanks to the internet were also starting to see some incredible art emerge from professional joint rollers. Check out Tony Greenhand currently the biggest pro roller in the scene. Simple convenient and a time-honored tradition its easy to appreciate a joint. So get out there and roll yourself a nice goof butt Viper! historyjoints S. Desiree S. Desiree is a freelance writer for Leafly specializing in history. She became inspired to write about cannabis after witnessing the life-changing effects of medical cannabis on her loved ones. Cannabis 101 A Peoples History of Cannabis Consumption Differences in Growing Sativa Indica and Hybrid Cannabis What is a Grinder and How Do You Use It for Cannabis? How to Clean and Take Care of a Bong or Bubbler Related Articles Pop Culture There's a Cannabis-Related Interpretation of 'La Cucaracha' Pop Culture Jamaicas Cannabis Roots: The History of Ganja on the Island Pop Culture Celebrating Louis Armstrong's Lifelong Love of "the Gage" Cannabis 101 What's the Difference Between Joints Blunts and Spliffs? The post Cannabis in History: The Journey of the Joint appeared first on Leafly. by S. Desiree at Leafly