Which historical figure is credited with introducing marijuana to Europe after obtaining it as spoil of war?

• A. Hitler
• B. Queen Elizabeth I
• C. Napoleon
• D. Cortez

Answer: (C)

Cannabis spreading to Europe is often linked to cross-cultural exchange during major military campaigns, especially the late 18th to early 19th centuries. Napoleon Bonaparte’s Egyptian campaign is the instance most commonly cited for this idea: as his troops moved through the Middle East, cannabis products and knowledge encountered by soldiers were carried back or discussed in European circles, sometimes described as spoils of war. This exposure helped spark European interest in cannabis that grew throughout the 19th century, even though hemp for rope had been cultivated in Europe long before. The other figures aren’t associated with introducing marijuana: one is tied to tobacco in the Americas, another to hemp for fiber in earlier periods, and the remaining option isn’t linked to cannabis at all.