What is hash?

Hashish has been mentioned in stories since ancient times. Exotic places like Tangier, Egypt, the Far East… all with a whiff of smoky clouds and a chilled air. But what is hashish and is it still consumed today?

Hashish, also known as hashish, is a concentrated form of cannabis that has been used for its psychoactive effects for centuries.

Cannabis has a long history of cultivation and consumption, dating back thousands of years. The use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes can be traced back to ancient civilizations in Asia, including China and India. Specifically, hashish originated in the Middle East and North Africa, where it was traditionally made by collecting the resinous material from cannabis plants.

The person who popularized hashish in Europe was Napoleon Bonaparte. The famous French military and political leader. In 1798, Napoleon invaded Egypt with a scientific expeditionary team. They conquered the country and plundered treasures to bring back to the Louvre. He transformed it into the art treasure we know today.

They made another discovery of hashish that had a major impact on European culture and literary thought. Before the French campaign in Egypt, hashish was not well known in Europe, much less consumed. However, the 40,000 French troops stationed in Egypt quickly learned of this. Hashish was ubiquitous in Egypt. Hashish was ubiquitous, being bought and sold in cafes, markets and smoking lounges. Lacking access to standard French wines and spirits, many French troops were encouraged to embrace Egyptian culture by Napoleon. So they turned to hashish. When they returned to France and Europe with hashish, it was introduced to a new audience. The audience loved it.

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Despite efforts by authorities in Europe to portray hashish as an unstable and dangerous substance, many of the most successful artists and writers of the Romantic era were brought together over cannabis. Luminaries such as Théophile Gautier, Charles Baudelaire, Gérard de Nerval, Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac and Alexandre Dumas, who call themselves “Le Club des Hachichins” (Hash Eaters Club), meet an award-winning hash. The creative kit helped normalize marijuana use and popularize the unconventional credo of the Romantic era: l’art pour l’art (art for art’s sake). Some things never change.

Photo by Elsa Olofsson via Unsplash

Today it is considered a form of cannabis that contains concentrated amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound. It is often made by collecting the resinous material from the cannabis plant and then drying and pressing it into various shapes. Because it is a potent form, it is not recommended for new cannabis users.

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Smoking hash can be done in a number of ways, but the pipe remains the most preferred method of all. Whistles have been around for hundreds of years and were used by the ancient Egyptians. Another easy option is to take your “hash” and roll it into a joint.

Hash is an ancient and powerful cannabis so be ready for the journey.