Holiday parties can get monotonous. Liven up the conversation with these fun facts about marijuana in the United States and around the world.

Cannabis Facts: The Word “Marijuana”

No one knows for sure where the term “marijuana” comes from. Some trace it to the Spanish language, originating in Mexico. Others trace it to the Chinese term for hemp flower, “ma ren hua.” What’s certain is that marijuana opponent Harry Anslinger popularized the term in the 1930s in an attempt to associate it in a negative way with Mexicans.  Previously, the term “cannabis” was the primary name for the weed.

Fun Facts: Are You Experienced?

Donald Trump is the first president since 1992 to say he has never used marijuana. The list includes Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama. Trump also says he’s never smoked a cigarette and doesn’t like the taste of alcohol, either.

The First E-commerce Transaction

Legend has it that the first sale made over the Internet was between students at Stanford University and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The product? An undisclosed amount of marijuana.

The Baked Bard

The greatest writer in the history of the English language might have been partaking when crafting some of his famous plays. According to research published in the South African Journal of Science, 24 fragments from Shakespeare’s pipes were tested. Some had been unearthed from his garden. Eight of the pipes showed residue from cannabis. One can now imagine the Bard in his garden, pipe in hand, dreaming up “Hamlet” and “Romeo and Juliet.”

The Land Of The Ice and Snow

Certainly, the United States likes its cannabis. But are they the highest users of marijuana? No. According to numbers from the United Nations, the country with the highest percentage of its population who marijuana is Iceland (18.3 percent). Iceland is followed by the U.S. (16.3 percent), Nigeria (14.3 percent), Canada (12.7 percent) and Chile (11.83 percent). Interestingly, none of these countries have completely legalized marijuana nationwide, although Canada plans to in the summer of 2018.

In The Italian Air

It’s a common joke that there is a “purple haze” at rock concerts. As it turns out, that’s an everyday thing in Italy. Scientists at the Italian Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research found traces of cannabis in the air over eight major cities in the country. They are Rome, Naples, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Palermo, Turin and Verona. The highest concentrations were in Turin.

Historical Facts

Here are some interesting historical facts about marijuana reported in Discovery.

• Humans have cultivated cannabis for at least 6,000 years
• Most scientists agree it likely originated in Asia
• Traces of cannabis oil or pollen has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, including the one for Ramses II
• The Scythians, a nomadic tribe, likely brought the plant to Europe. Greek historian Herodotus writes about them using marijuana in funereal rites as far back as 450 B.C.

Why talk about office politics or who is dating who when you can bring this stuff up? Put these marijuana fun facts to use, and have a happy holiday season.