International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 51-63 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 55 In religion, cannabis is widely used in the religious field because of its simple cultivation, psychoactive, and widely used to cure diseases and save lives.Religiously, cannabis played a role in burial rituals, as evidenced by the discovery of cannabinoid oils in wooden braziers at a cemetery on the Pamir Plateau, dating back to 500 BCE (Clauset and Post, 2019). This suggests that cannabis was used for its psychoactive effects in religious ceremonies.In 730 AD, Meng Shen, a Chinese physician, proposed in his book "Diet Medicine" that people who took cannabis for 100 days could pass through the mind of the gods. Taoist alchemist Tao Hongjing said in the book of Famous Doctors that if cannabis and ginseng are eaten together, it can give people magic powers to see the future. The most widespread use of religion is still in India, as evidenced by the Vedas in Hinduism. In Vedic times, monks used cannabis to enter a meditative and transcendental state. In Africa, tribal people in Congo, East Africa, Lake Additionally, the plant was a significant commodity in ancient trade, with its fibers being extensively used for textiles and its seeds for nutrition (Martinez et al., 2023). 4.2 Legal status and societal perceptions through the ages The legal status and societal perceptions of cannabis have fluctuated significantly throughout history. In ancient times, cannabis was widely accepted and utilized for its medicinal and practical applications. However, its perception began to shift in the early 20th century when cannabis was banned in many countries as part of a broader movement to control addictive substances. Despite its prohibition, cannabis remained a popular illicit drug, and its therapeutic potential continued to be recognized. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the late 20th century marked a turning point, providing a scientific basis for the medicinal use of cannabis and leading to a renewed interest in its therapeutic properties (Ren et al., 2021). In recent years, there has been a significant shift in societal perceptions, with several countries legalizing cannabis for medical and recreational use. This change has been driven by accumulating evidence supporting its therapeutic benefits and a growing recognition of its potential to treat various medical conditions (Bonini et al., 2018). The legalization of cannabis in some jurisdictions has also spurred new research into its applications, further influencing public opinion and policy (Moon et al., 2023). 5 Global Spread from East to West 5.1 Routes of cannabis spread across continents The spread of cannabis from its origins in Eurasia to other parts of the world is a complex process influenced by various factors, including human migration, trade, and cultural exchanges. Cannabis is believed to have been first domesticated in East Asia during the early Neolithic period, with evidence suggesting that all current hemp and drug cultivars diverged from an ancestral gene pool in China (Ren et al., 2021). The plant's spread across Eurasia is marked by its appearance in both Europe and East Asia around the same time, indicating a multiregional origin of human use (Long et al., 2017). The Hexi Corridor region played a significant role as a hub for the spread of domesticated plants, animals, and cultural elements, including cannabis, from Southwest Asia and Europe to East Asia (Long et al., 2017). This trans-Eurasian exchange network facilitated the movement of cannabis across the continent, with a marked increase in cannabis achene records in East Asia between 5 000 and 4 000 years ago. Cannabis seeds accompanied the migration of nomadic peoples, further aiding its spread. Historical records indicate the presence of cannabis in Central Asia around 12 000 years ago, and its medicinal use was documented in ancient China, Egypt, Greece, and later in the Roman Empire (Crocq, 2020). The plant's spread to Europe and the Iberian Peninsula is believed to have occurred during the European Copper/Bronze ages, with earlier signs of cultivation dating to the Early Medieval Ages (Figure 2) (Rull, 2021a; Rull, 2021b). 5.2 Influence of trade routes Trade routes have significantly influenced the global spread of cannabis. The Silk Road, a network of trade routes connecting the East and West, played a crucial role in the dissemination of cannabis. The Hexi Corridor, part of
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