While marijuana has been on the world’s stage for 7,000 years or so, hashish took a bow about 900 AD.  Its comparative late arrival could be due to the painstaking manner in which it is produced.  The earliest method had workers rub marijuana plants between their palms, slowly collecting the most potent resins until a certain thickness developed and could be scraped away.  This they would form into balls, bricks or slabs to be eaten or smoked by aficionados.  As an intoxicant, hashish is to marijuana what single malt scotch is to Wild Turkey: same basic stuff but a connoisseur’s conceit.

Hashish consumption was then a popular pleasure throughout Persia and Arabia, and soon made its way around the neighborhood.  It was not without controversy, even then.  Scholarly debates as to the wisdom of its use were held over many decades.  Common sense prevailed nearly 500 years before some Ottoman Emir decided otherwise, issuing the first known edict against hashish.  It didn’t work, of course.  Much like today.

One of the more colorful stories regarding hashish has origins in the early 11th century, when a mercenary nutcase by the name of al-Hassan ibn-al-Sabbah recruited followers for the primary purpose of committing assassinations.  To get the men in the enlistment mood, al-Hassan purportedly gave them liquid hashish, knocking them out.  They awoke in lush, secret gardens, surrounded by beautiful naked women and told it was paradise.  It was all wine women and song for several blissful hours.

Then it was more liquid hashish and lights out, only to wake back at the base camp very disappointed.  Was it all a dream?  No, said al-Hassan, just a glimpse of Paradise only his powers could provide.  And if they wanted more, all they need do was what they were told.  Which was to assassinate al-Hassan’s enemies or die trying.  Either way, it was paradise on a three-day pass.  And the perfect signing bonus.  Or so the story goes…