Researchers have found the world’s oldest stash of marijuana in a tomb in the remote north west of China.
The cannabis was in the grave of a shaman or holy man and was clearly “cultivated for psychoactive purposes” rather than for fibre or as food according to researchers.
It is the oldest example of cannabis being used as a drug and reportedly had a high THC content, the main psychoactive ingredient in the plant.
It is not clear if the cannabis would have been smoked or taken orally with no pipes or other clues found in the tomb of the 45-year-old shaman.
“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,” said neurolgoist Dr Ethan Russo.
The 789 grams of dried cannabis was buried alongside a light-haired, blue-eyed Caucasian man a member of the Gushi culture based around Turpan in north-western China.
The cannabis was in such good condition due to the regions dry conditions and alkaline soil that acted as a preservative. While it remained green it had lost its distinctive smell.
The tomb also contained bridles, archery equipment and a harp, confirming the man was of a high social standing.
The substance has only been found in two of the 500 Gushi tombs so far excavated indicating the substance was restricted for use by only a few individuals or was used as a medicine.
It is not known if researchers have tried to smoke the stash to see if it has retained it’s psychoactive properties.
