In an era where the legal status of cannabis is rapidly changing, the plant is experiencing a Renaissance of sorts. In the United States alone, half of the population now resides in states where marijuana is legal, and a staggering 90 percent support legalization in some form. This widespread acceptance and enthusiasm for marijuana stand in stark contrast to the era of prohibition that once blanketed the entire nation.

As various parts of the world, including Malta, Uruguay, Canada, and potentially Germany, embrace legal recreational cannabis, and with medical marijuana finding recognition in even more countries like the UK and Australia, one must wonder: how did we arrive at this milestone? What does science tell us about the effects of cannabis, and how might our relationship with this seemingly humble plant evolve in the coming decades?

In the first episode of New Scientist’s special three-part podcast series, Christie Taylor and the team delve into the deep history of cannabis. They trace its journey from 27.8 million years ago when hops and hemp parted ways within family Cannabaceae to a million years ago when Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa diverged into two distinct strains. Then moving to 12,000 years ago, humans first found domestic utility for cannabis, far from imagining the euphoric uses that would come to be associated with it.

However, as Christie Taylor explains, the quest to understand the euphoric effects of cannabis traces back much further, at least to 500 BC. A thousand years on, evidence suggests the first instances of rituals similar to hotboxing.

This fascinating podcast promises to illuminate the journey of cannabis from its early beginnings as a wild plant on the Tibetan plateau to a domesticated staple of human society, subjected to prohibition and now experiencing a surge in legalization for both medical and recreational use.

To unravel the tale of cannabis, listen to New Scientist Weekly or visit their podcast page for a compelling narrative that spans millennia.

Journey back in time with Christie Taylor and New Scientist as they explore:

• The ancient use of cannabis and its genetic divergence from hops.
• The historical evidence of cannabis consumption for euphoric effects.
• The evolution of the plant’s domestication and its application across various cultures.

The podcast provides a rare window into one of the oldest relationships between a domesticated plant and humans, leading to a present where walking into a dispensary and discussing cannabis wares has become normalized. The once-stigmatized leaf has risen to promise relief from ailments, creative inspiration, and leisurely pleasure, all while shifting scientific understanding and policies worldwide.

Stay tuned for the next episodes as New Scientist peels back the layers on our brains’ interaction with cannabis, and an in-depth look at the rigorous scientific and medical exploration of this versatile plant. This expansive journalistic endeavor is just part of a comprehensive month-long reporting effort by New Scientist, which you can explore further at newscientist.com/cannabis.

Take a deep dive into the science of cannabis with Christie Taylor and unwrap the complex fabric of cannabis’s changing place in our world—from stringent regulations to a potentially promising therapeutic ally and a cultural staple.

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