Indigenous denominations of the marijuana in Mexico. Documentary research of the relationship between the pipiltzintzintli and the cannabis plant (XVI-XIX centuries)
Objetivo. Analizar las posibles denominaciones indígenas del cannabis durante el período novohispano, así como las probables continuidades de esta concepción durante el siglo XIX. Metodología. Se revisaron fuentes documentales y etnográficas que sugieren que la denominación indígena del cannabis se relacionó con el término pipiltzintzintli, cuya concepción transitó ―de manera subrepticia― de un cultivo industrial traído a América por los españoles hacia una droga psicoactiva. Resultados y conclusiones. El análisis de estas evidencias nos muestra que la relación existente entre estas denominaciones presenta algunas inconsistencias. Desde la perspectiva historiográfica se trata de un tema confuso, poco explorado y distante aún de conclusiones definitivas.Objective. To analyze the possible indigenous denominations of cannabis during the Novo Hispanic period, as well as the probable continuities of this designation during the 19th century. Methodology. Documentary and ethnographic sources were reviewed that suggest that the indigenous denomination of cannabis was related to the term pipiltzintzintli, whose conception passed ―surreptitiously― from an industrial crop brought to the Americas by the Spaniards to a psychoactive drug. Results and conclusions. The analysis of this evidence shows that the relationship between those denominations shows some inconsistencies. From a historiographical perspective, this is a confusing and little explored subject, still far from allowing for definitive conclusions
