I know that he grew hemp, and might have smoked the flowers/buds due to his tooth pain? I have not been able to find a definitive answer to this question. If anyone could give some insight that would be great!
EDIT: Thanks for the quick replies. I am aware that hemp and marijuana are related but different. My wording was a little bit off. I guess a more proper question that could be asked is: Is it possible that George Washington also grew marijuana and smoked that?
Hemp and Marijuana are both cannabis plants, but are different species. Hemp is considered "high growing" and it's fibers can be 8-10 feet long. Marijuana comes from a low growing cannabis that has much higher content of cannabinoids. Hemp as was grown at that time was used for many things including strong industrial fabrics (useful for canvas), ropes, resins, an oil similar to linseed oil, paper, etc. The colonies did a lot of experimentation with textile production during that time, most of which amounted to no more than small scale amounts used within the same plantation. A good deal of flax was grown for seed to be provided to the next years crops in Ireland and England as well as for linseed oil (good linen needs to be harvested before the flax plant goes to seed). Some silk was even grown in the Carolinas. Since hemp fibers and other plant products are useful as an industrial fiber as well as good for the soil it made sense to try growing it, but it never made it much past hobby levels in the colonies. We didn't have the necessary industry to process the fibers or to produce a great deal of finished good to sell, the same reason it took about 40 years after the cotton gin was invented for American cotton before it became the massive industry we think of.
There is no evidence that I am aware of that Washington smoked marijuana.
He did grow hemp.
Hemp was very important in the colonial and early American economy. It was vital for making rope for ship's rigging. America generally did not grow enough hemp to make rope for American built ships, and had to import it. After the Revolution, Russia was a main source of imported hemp.
American trade with Russia was first recorded between the port of Salem Massachusetts, and St. Petersburg, by the bark Light Horse in 1784. She carried a cargo of sugar from the West Indies, to trade in St. Petersburg.
From then until the end of the trade, 289 ships arrived in Salem from Russia. The busiest period was between 1797 and 1811, when 162 ships arrived in Salem from Russia (Archangel, as well as St. Petersburg, was a popular Russian port).
Popular cargoes acquired in Russia included; sailcloth, sheeting, hemp, cordage, iron (not all for import to the Americas, many were shipped on to the West Indies, or the Orient.)
Hemp (used to make rope for ships), flax canvas (for sailcloth), and iron, were the most important Russian imports for the Americans.
Hemp was essential for rigging until Manila rope began to be produced later in the 19th century. America grew only a small fraction of the hemp needed to support it's shipping industry.
Flax canvas was needed for sailcloth until the cotton industry boomed in the US South (after about 1800) and cotton canvas replaced flax on American ships.
Iron was in short supply near the American coast, and it was cheaper to ship it from Russia than from the American interior until the Erie canal and railroads lowered shipping costs.
Popular cargoes to carry to Russia included; tar, turpentine, tobacco, rice, rum, tea.
You can learn more about this trade from:
America, Russia, Hemp and Napoleon; American trade with Russia and the Baltic 1783-1812, by Alfred W. Crosby Jr.
This 336 page book is available as a free pdf from:
https://kb.osu.edu/.../AMERICA_RUSSIA_HEMP_AND_NAPOLEON.p...