There is evidence of cannabis use dating back over 5000 years, found in what is now Romania, though its purpose remains uncertain. Other archaeological evidence of marijuana exists in China, Egypt, and the Middle East. The first description of its medicinal properties comes from 16th-century Egypt, followed by mentions in Assyrian, Greek, and Roman texts. It was widely used as medicine in Europe and North America during the 19th and 20th centuries. 

In 1850, it was listed for the first time in the United States Pharmacopoeia as a beneficial sleep aid, appetite stimulant, aphrodisiac, analgesic, and anti-spasmodic. However, it was dropped from the United States Pharmacopoeia in 1937. Legal repercussions for the possession of the plant began to take effect in the 1950s across the US, and prohibition in the US officially went into effect in 1970. In the 2000s, legislation for medical marijuana started to spread across the US and around the globe.

Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) has a long history of use for medicinal, ceremonial, and industrial purposes. The plant contains at least 113 cannabinoids and 100 known terpenes, each thought to have unique medicinal value. Research into medical marijuana is in the preliminary stages, but significant segments of society officially and unofficially use it. It is not a globally accepted natural therapy; regulations and acceptance vary globally, ranging from well-integrated healthcare programs to prohibition.