A plant with a history you don't often hear about
When people think of cannabis today, they often think of taboo, drugs, or CBD products. But did you know this plant has been around for thousands of years? That it was once one of the most versatile and revered plants in the world?
Let's start at the beginning. Some 4,700 years ago, the Chinese Emperor Shennong described cannabis as medicinally valuable in one of the oldest herbal books. Not as a fad, but as part of a common apothecary. And he wasn't alone. In India, the plant was revered as a sacred herb, used in Ayurvedic medicine. In Egypt and the Middle East, archaeologists have found recipes and applications in which cannabis was used to treat all sorts of ailments.
From there, the plant spread via trade routes to Europe and Africa. Each culture gave it its own meaning, sometimes medicinal, sometimes spiritual, sometimes purely practical.
Hemp: The Workhorse of Civilization
Before the ban on cannabis and everything related to it, hemp was ubiquitous in Europe, Asia, and North America. The plant grew quickly, was disease-resistant, and required minimal pesticides or irrigation. Farmers saw it as a gift: easy to grow and versatile.
Textiles? Made from hemp. Ship rope? Hemp. Sailcloth? Hemp. Did you know that the Dutch East India Company (VOC) ships sailed the world under hemp sails? Or that Levi Strauss's first jeans were made from hemp fiber? And for good reason: hemp was strong, durable, and sustainable.
Even Gutenberg's first Bible was printed on hemp paper. And in farming communities, hemp seeds were an important source of oil and protein.
Hemp wasn't an alternative – it was the standard.
What went wrong?
How can a plant with so many uses suddenly disappear from our streets? Why was something once considered indispensable suddenly banned?
For this, we must look back to the early 20th century. In the United States, where interests were growing and new industries emerged. Petrochemicals, cotton, synthetic fabrics... all these new sectors saw hemp as a threat.
Then came the campaign. Media giants like William Hearst, who had major interests in logging and paper, used their newspapers to portray cannabis in a negative light. Films like "Reefer Madness" portrayed cannabis users as violent fringe figures. The nuance disappeared.
In 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act followed, which heavily taxed cannabis. A few years later, international treaties made it prohibited worldwide. Cannabis, including hemp, became taboo. In Belgium, it officially disappeared from pharmacies, fields, and everyday life.
A new appreciation
Fortunately, things are changing. Since the 1990s, scientific interest has been growing again. We're learning more and more about the endocannabinoid system —an internal regulatory system in our bodies that is influenced by substances like CBD and THC.
At the same time, the ecological imperative is growing. Hemp stores CO₂, requires no pesticides, and can be used for sustainable building materials, clothing, or bioplastics. And consumers are seeking natural alternatives for pain, stress, and skincare.
In Belgium, companies are now allowed to cultivate industrial hemp again , as long as the THC content remains below 0.3%. CBD products, such as oils or balms, are legal as long as they don't make medical claims.
At House Jane, we believe that cannabis, and especially CBD, plays a role in well-being, awareness, and connection with natural rhythms. But we do this transparently, legally, and without empty promises.
Why this story is important
Because it shows that cannabis prohibition wasn't purely a health issue, but a mix of politics, economic interests, and social anxiety. And because today, just as in the past, we make choices about which plants we allow into our lives.
Cannabis is neither a miracle cure nor a demon. It's a complex, powerful plant that deserves its place again. Not just as an oil or flower, but as a topic of conversation, a raw material, and a vehicle for culture.
