Christopher Columbus and cannabis – fresh toast

He feels honored that he helped open up the new world… and a certain plant helped him greatly.

There are so many myths and stories surrounding Columbus. Did he discover North America (spoiler – looked like the Vikings defeated him on the continent)? He wasn't about gold and fame, he was about bringing religion to the world in honor of Catholic Spain. The other big myth is that he was Italian, but now it is believed that he was Spanish and Jewish and hid this to avoid prosecution. But what about Christopher Columbus and cannabis?

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Cannabis played a significant role in 16th century society, particularly in England and Europe. It was considered the “golden age of hemp”, particularly under the reign of King Henry VIII. In 1533, the king introduced a hemp cultivation law that required landowners to set aside 1/4 acre for every 60 acres for hemp cultivation or face fines . European herbal books and pharmacopoeias of the time listed various medicinal uses of cannabis. The number of reported medicinal uses of cannabis doubled during this period as travelers brought information from the East. And it helped make Columbus' voyage possible.

Hemp fiber was in high demand for making durable sails, ropes and nets for the expanding English navy… and the Spanish took notice. The sails and ropes of his three ships, La Santa Clara (Niña), La Pinta and La Santa Gallega (Santa Maria), were made of hemp. The cracks between the planks were filled with hemp to make the ships waterproof. No other natural fiber can withstand the forces of the open ocean and the stresses of salt water.

The hold of the Santa Maria, his flagship, was filled with hemp seeds. The ship had a supply of food, including cured meats, dried fish, biscuits, beans, lentils and cheese, to last the duration of the voyage. And hemp served The hemp seeds could also be planted in any newly discovered regions as a protein-rich, nutritious snack for the crew.

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The ship's lamps were powered by hemp oil and these lamps illuminated the way and most of the clothing was made of hemp fiber. But it's doubtful they were using the cannabis hemp for fun. The ships were about 60 feet long and 20 feet wide. And they had carried around 88 men. So there was a lot of focus on the open sea… and very little privacy.

Hemp's contribution is displayed in Barcelona at the foot of the statue honoring the researchers. It has cannabis leaves. So this Columbus Day, the humble cannabis plant helped quite a bit.