According to a newly published study, researchers have found traces of the marijuana compounds THC and CBD in the femurs of two skeletons from 1600s Milan.
The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, found traces of the marijuana compounds in a woman who researchers say was in her 50s, as well as in her teenage son.
“In this paper, we reported the results obtained from toxicological investigations on bone samples collected from human remains of the 17th century in Milano (Italy)”, says researchers. “The aim of this study was to search for analytical signs of the administration of medical or recreative plants in the population of Milano during the 17th century.”
For the study, nine femoral bone samples “were extracted via Solid-Phase Extraction and analyzed via Thermo Scientific™ TSQ Fortis™ II Triple-Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer.”
As a result, “archeotoxicological analyses revealed the presence of two cannabinoids (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol) of the cannabis plant present in two out of nine bone samples (that correspond to 22% of the biological samples analyzed).”
The study states that the “presence of these two alkaloids evidences the use of the cannabis plant in the Italian population during the 17th century.”
The documentation related to the pharmacopeia used to treat patients in the Ca’ Granda is still present in the archives of the hospital. However, “this plant was not listed inside the pharmacopeia, suggesting that the plant was not administered as medical treatment at the time in the hospital.”
Thus, researchers hypothesize that “the subjects under investigation used cannabis as a recreational substance, although other sources of exposure, such as self-medication, administration as a medical plant by other doctors outside of the Ca’ Granda, occupational and involuntary exposure, cannot be excluded.”
In conclusion, “this study reports the first physical evidence of cannabis use in Modern Age in Italy but also in Europe.”
For the full study, click here.
