Christ and Cannabis
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap radius”]C[/dropcap]hristmas is the day that many people celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and the events surrounding his life, including how he was miraculously born from a virgin named Mary in a quaint little stable in Bethlehem and how the angel Gabriel appeared to the shepherds telling them to visit the son of God. Although there are many beliefs revolving around Christ, one little known anecdote is that the anointing oil Christ used to bless and cure many people was infused with cannabis.
According to Exodus: 30, 22-23, the holy anointing oil used by Christ, consisted of “500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of q’aneh-bosm, 500 shekels of cassia and a hind of olive oil.” The word q’aneh bosm was translated in the early 20th century by Polish scholar, Sara Benetowa. The term translated to English is kaneh-bosm, which in turn means “hemp,” according to The Herb Museum of Vancouver, revealing that “the anointed one” was actively administering cannabis to heal his people.
Other hints that Jesus’ anointing oil was infused with cannabis are the references to psychoactive experiences mentioned in the Bible. As stated in author Chris Bennett’s book, Sex, Drugs, Violence, and the Bible: Origins of the Judaic Christian Traditions, “From the time of Moses until that of the later prophet Samuel, the holy anointing oil was used by the shamanic Levite priesthood to receive the ‘revelations of the Lord,’” while later, certain kings would use the oil to become “possessed with the holy spirit.” Such references suggest that the holy oil was creating some kind of mind-altering effect on those blessed by it.
Although the discovery of the Book of the Law made use of the anointing oil prohibited, and was associated only with those conducting Pagan rituals, the holy anointing oil re-emerged, along with the Jewish Messiah-kings, under the ministry of Jesus. Although the New Testament does not talk much of Christ’s use of the anointing oil, the discovery of Gnostic texts, ancient documents found hidden in a cave in Egypt revealed that Jesus may have been more of a Greek Dionysus or Indian Shiva, ignoring the laws of kings in order to share this magical oil with all the people of the land. Not only did these texts reveal the true nature of Jesus Christ, they revealed that the anointing ceremony was the highest rite of passage in Christianity, according to Bennett.
While religious scholars like Lytton John Musselman, author of A Dictionary of Bible Plants, believe that kaneh-bosm is indeed calamus, which has the ability to achieve the same medicinal effects as described in the Bible, we know the truth: Cannabis is the key to “unfading bliss” and the cure for many illnesses that are otherwise untreatable. So when you’re celebrating this Christmas, remember that Jesus Christ may have been one of the first cannabis advocates, and fully supported the healing power of the cannabis plant.
Sources:
http://www.herbmuseum.ca/node/1565
http://articles.latimes.com/2002/aug/11/news/adfg-narcs11
http://www.vice.com/read/did-jesus-perform-his-miracles-with-cannabis-oil
