ted as the first reference to marijuana. Through out the history of man in just about every culture the mention of this substance is found used both as a fiber and a drug. The first definite mention of the marijuana plant in the New World, dates from 1545 A.D. when the Spaniards introduced it into Chile. The Jamestown settlers brought the plant to Virginia and cultivated it for its fiber. In 1762 “Virginia awarded bounties for hemp culture and imposed penalties on those who did not produce it.” George Washington was growing hemp at Mount Vernon three years later – presumably for its fiber, though it has been argued that Washington was also concerned in increasing the medicinal or intoxicating potency of his marijuana plants. The argument depends on a curious tradition, which may or may not be sound - that the quality or quantity of marijuana resin (hashish) is enhanced if the male and female are separated before the females are pollinated. There can be no doubt that Washington separated the males from the females. Two entries in his diary supply the evidence. May 12-13, 1765: “Sewed hemp at muddy hole by swamp” August 7, 1765 “- began to separate (sic) the male from the female hemp at do- rather too late”. George Andrews has argued in the Book of Grass (1967): an anthology of Indian hemp that Washington’s August 7 diary entry “clearly indicates that he was cultivating the plant for medicinal purposes as well as for its fiber”. He might have separated the males from the females to get better fiber, Andrews concedes – but his phrase “rather too late” suggests that he wanted to complete the separation before the female plants were fertilized – and this was a practice relating to drug potency rather than to fiber cultureBrecher, Edward M. and the Editors of Consumer Reports Licit and Illicit Drugs 1st ed. Mount Vernon, New York: Consumers Union, ...
