In this work a historic synthesis among cannabis use in the different
civilizations is carried out, distinguishing among the utilization with magical,
playful, and therapeutic purposes. The evolution of the legal dispositions that the
different governments have carried out to limit or to regulate its use is revised.
The rates of cannabis consumption have experienced a notable increment in
the last decades, being initiated each time to earlier age. This fact, united al
discovery of the endogenous cannabinoide system has stirred out a great interest
in the debate on the therapeutic uses of the cannabis and the controversy on its
status of illegal drug. The present theoretical revision carries out an analysis
of the different uses of this substance through the history. The evolution in
the trends of consumption is analyzed, purposes of its use and legislation,
discussing the implications in the concrete case of Spain.