Cannabis has been used as a ritual sacrament by a number of religious groups throughout history. It has also been used as a medicinal plant, an incense, and a good-will offering.
Cannabis is an entheogen – a substance that changes your perception and elicits a mystical experience. It has deep roots in Hinduism, Islam, Rastafarianism and indigenous traditions across Africa and Asia.
Hinduism
Hinduism is a spiritual tradition that focuses on the divine in all its forms. It is a diverse and dynamic religion, with multiple deities and dozens of festivals that celebrate them throughout the year.
Cannabis is an important part of Hindu culture, and is used for both religious and recreational purposes. It is consumed by wandering monks, devotees, and farmers.
In India, ganja is referred to as bhang or “the herb of the gods” and is a key component of many religious ceremonies. It is also a popular psychoactive drink that is consumed during Holi, the Indian festival of colour.
Another important spiritual practice is meditation. In India, it is common for Hindus to smoke a pipe called a chillum before they meditate. They chant mantras to calm their mind and focus their energy on the divine.
Shiva, one of the Hindu gods, is known to enjoy smoking marijuana. He is said to have smoked it before meditation in order to relax and focus his mind.
He is the inspiration behind the Shivaratri festival, a celebration that takes place on March 7 each year. This festival marks the night Shiva married Parvati, an action that saved the universe from darkness.
A number of religious and cultural practices are connected to cannabis in Hinduism, including sacrificial rituals, vegetarianism, and yoga. Marijuana is viewed as a sacred plant in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures.
According to these texts, cannabis is one of the five plants described as “sacred.” It has been associated with the deity Shiva and is a source of happiness. In fact, it is said that a guardian angel resides in the leaves of this plant.
Some Hindus believe that cannabis is a source of power and enlightenment, and it is also believed to be a medicine for the mind. It is often used in a medicinal form as a pain reliever and can help treat illnesses like phlegm, diarrhoea, and migraines.
The Vajrayana school of Hinduism is one of the most lenient when it comes to marijuana use. It promotes the idea of karma, and encourages followers to view all things in terms of purity and good.
Judaism
Cannabis has long been part of Jewish religious and spiritual practices. It has been a key element of the Jewish liturgy and a source of healing throughout history.
The use of cannabis as a religious practice has been widely documented in the Bible and throughout Judaism’s written texts. In particular, it has been used for the incense offering of the Temple. Biblical scholars have noted that kaneh bosm, or cannabis, is mentioned in the text of Exodus 30:22 as one of the ingredients in ketoret, the incense used during the High Holy Days.
There is also an ancient tradition for using kaneh bosm in the wick of Shabbos candles. It has been a component of many other Jewish rituals and ceremonies, including schach (Sukkot roof coverings), tallilot and tzitzit.
It is illegal to smoke marijuana in the United States, and while some Orthodox rabbis have made exceptions for medicinal purposes, others have said it is a taboo. However, under the principle of dina d’malchuta dina, Jews are expected to obey the laws of the land wherever they are.
According to a recent report by the Anti-Defamation League, some Orthodox rabbis now accept the use of medical cannabis in cases where it is not deemed dangerous. This is a major shift from earlier positions that banned cannabis in all circumstances.
Rabbis such as HaRav Chaim Kanievky, the director of the Torah Studies department at the Center for Jewish History/YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, have endorsed this position. He wrote in an article that after smelling the leaves of the plant, he and other Orthodox authorities decided it had a “healing smell,” and therefore, it should be allowed.
The YIVO Institute for Jewish Research has launched an exhibition, Am Yisrael High: The Story of Jews and Cannabis, to explore the role of cannabis in the history of Judaism. The exhibit features numerous examples of how cannabis has played a role in Jewish life from ancient times through the present day.
The exhibit was conceived by Eddy Portnoy, who has curated several successful YIVO exhibitions. He is currently the Academic Advisor for the Max Weinreich Center and an expert on Jewish popular culture. His YIVO exhibitions have won praise from The New York Times, VICE, and other outlets.
Christianity
Cannabis has played a significant role in many religious and spiritual practices throughout history. The most famous of these is Christianity, which was founded by Jesus and traces its roots back to the ancient Hebrews.
While most Christians view marijuana as a weed, some people use it to treat specific conditions, such as pain and nausea. It is also used as a way to relieve social anxiety and as a source of relaxation.
Despite its widespread usage, Christians are divided over whether or not it should be legalized for medical or recreational use. This is largely because of a lack of clear guidelines in the Bible on what is and isn’t morally appropriate.
A number of academics who study the scriptures have taken this argument one step further. They believe that Jesus and his disciples used cannabis in their anointing oil. In the Book of Exodus, God commands Moses to make a holy anointing oil that combines myrrh, sweet cinnamon, and kaneh bosem (an Iranian herb). The term kaneh bosem is interpreted by some scholars as referring to cannabis.
Some researchers believe that cannabis was first used in Scythian cultures, while others point to its origins in Semitic religions, including the Ancient Israelites and their migrations through Asia Minor. Quoting the New Testament, Mr Bennett argues that Jesus anointed his followers with cannabis and suggests this could have been responsible for healing eye and skin diseases referred to in the Gospels.
As a result, some Christian leaders are concerned about the issue. But they are often reluctant to speak publicly about their views. They are more likely to rely on medical experts and government agencies when deciding what is and isn’t morally acceptable, said David Miles, senior pastor of the Faith Community Church in Dallas.
Regardless of what they think about cannabis, Christians should be aware of its dangers and be honest about their use of the drug. They should also be sensitive to how it can affect other people, especially those who are unable to use traditional medicines. Likewise, they should not be insensitive to those who choose to use cannabis for their health or to alleviate anxiety and depression.
Islam
The use of cannabis in religious and spiritual practices is an important topic to consider. It is a matter of personal choice and individual judgment, but many followers of some traditions, such as Buddhism, are using the plant to assist their meditation.
According to Islam, marijuana is haram (forbidden) because it has a tendency to cause harm to the body and spirit. But there are some exceptions, such as a specific hadith that indicates that it is permissible to consume hashish if it is for medicinal purposes or for those who are recovering from an addiction to opioids.
Despite the ban on smoking and possession of cannabis, it remains common among Muslims in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Middle East. However, these countries have harsh laws against drug users and even criminal penalties for those who break the law.
The majority of Muslim scholars are willing to allow the consumption of small amounts of cannabis, as long as it is done for medicinal purposes or for those who have become addicted to opioids. This is because cannabis is a natural remedy for pain and a great deal of people with chronic health conditions such as anxiety or depression have found it to be helpful in relieving their symptoms.
A growing number of people are also using cannabis to facilitate mystical experiences and connect with God. These mystical experiences can be very powerful and are often described as “high.” Some people have reported feelings of bliss, euphoria, and a sense of unity with their creator.
But the question of whether these mystical experiences are halal (allowed) in Islam or not is complex, because there is no consensus among Muslim scholars on the issue. While some believe that mystical experiences can be achieved with the use of cannabis, others argue that they should not be pursued.
In 2014, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyad Mohammad Sadeq Hussaini Rohani ruled that entheogens and psychedelics are halal in Shi’i Islam under supervision. In addition, many Islamic scholars are supportive of the idea that cannabis can be used to help a person achieve a more relaxed and meditative state.
