Medical Marijuana, Bubble Hash, and Dispensaries in Denver

Those fighting for marijuana legalization finally have a couple of victories. The recent legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado has set the stage for not only expanded medical marijuana dispensaries, but also full on legalization.

The decision to legalize marijuana may seem controversial, but marijuana has been used for centuries. The first known marijuana users were the ancient Chinese. The earliest mention of marijuana was made by Emperor Fu Hsi in 2900 B.C. He said that Ma, the Chinese word for Cannabis, possessed both yin and yang. The Chinese consumed medicinal marijuana for thousands of years though no one knows whether or dispensaries existed in ancient China. From there, it spread to Egypt, where it was used as a pain reliever for people with hemorrhoids. Then there are the claims that Jesus' anointing oil was made with cannabis.

It would take another 2000 years before Jamestown settlers shipped marijuana to the Americas. Famously, George Washington harvested hemp and according to his agricultural ledgers, he was particularly interested in marijuana's medicinal uses.

It wasn't until the 20th century that the drug became known for recreational use. Something needed to be done, or at least, that was the common opinion back then. The decades long war on drugs began. It took decades for medicinal marijuana to be used again. Of course, dispensaries in California became ubiquitous. And then a watershed moment: Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana. Now, not only medical dispensaries are all over Denver, but there are head shops that sell bubble hash to anyone.