Cannabis use is historic. The cannabis plant has been used by humans for thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of years. While Cannabis was placed in the Cannabaceae family by Stephan Endlicher, an Austrian botanist in 1837, recent evidence suggests it was first used at least 30,000 years ago. As more and more sacred sites across the globe are discovered and researched, cannabis is showing up in temples, altars, and tombs of ancient times. The latest discovery shows not only burning cannabis as ceremonial but potentially used as an intentional mind-altering substance.
Recently, a well-preserved substance found in a 2,700-year-old temple in Tel Arad, Israel has been identified as cannabis. Thanks in part to the dry climate, and to the burial, the remains of burnt offerings were preserved on top of these altars. The sample cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) with THC intact. The shrine in Arad was part of a hilltop fortress at the southern frontier of the Kingdom of Judah, and it is said to match a scaled-down version of Biblical descriptions of the First Temple in Jerusalem.
The temple was first discovered in the Negev desert, about 95km (59 miles) south of Tel Aviv, in the 1960s. While the oldest Cannabis genus was found in China and was approximately 20 million years old, this is the first evidence of psychotropic drugs being used in early Jewish worship, Israeli media reported. The religious and spiritual uses of ancient cannabis being uncovered show this plant has been more versatile than once imagined.
In the latest study, published in Tel Aviv University’s archaeological journal, archaeologists say two limestone altars had been buried within the shrine. Researchers concluded that cannabis may have been burned in order to induce a high among worshippers. While many faiths across the world use or have used psychotropic drugs to induce states of ecstasy, hallucinations, or other effects, this is the first evidence to emerge that the practice was part of the early history of Judaism.
“We know from all around the Ancient Near East and around the world that many cultures used hallucinogenic materials and ingredients in order to get into some kind of religious ecstasy,” says Eran Arie, the study’s lead author and curator of Iron Age and Persian Periods archaeology in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Although the Hebrew Bible does not mention cannabis use, people in the Kingdom of Judah were nevertheless known to use other ingredients known to alter one’s state of mind, such as alcohol from grape wine.
Cannabis has been used medically, spiritually, ceremoniously, and recreationally throughout history in nearly every corner of the globe. The sheer multitude of ancient sites and newly developing research culminates into some of the greatest historic and modern information on the history and future of cannabis. It can be slightly mind-blowing to think that cannabis is still struggling to be recognized in all its biodiversity while such an eclectic history of use.
In recent months, the world has been taken by storm by a virus known as Covid-19. This variance of the coronavirus has caused mass panic, significant economic losses, and a new normal way of life to emerge. With such a severe outbreak of the virus and very minimal known about what can be done to…
The fact that cannabis can be used for dealing with anxiety effectively is well known. However, a recent study shows that regular consumption of cannabis with high concentrations of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) could lead to the opposite and then some. Reducing anxiety and preventing the increase thereof as it is accommodated by adverse effects and leaves…
Amid the nationwide unrest and the protests of the Black Lives Matter movement, many in positions of power are examining systemic issues that have led to the oppression of Black people and harmed Black communities over the years. One such issue is the War on Drugs. Officially instituted in 1971 by President Nixon, the War…
As the Black Lives Matter movement gathers steam, Americans are finding ways to show their support. While many have taken to the streets to participate in protests, others have found quieter ways to contribute to the cause, such as making donations to non-profit organizations that benefit the Black community. And one method many have chosen…
Summer is upon us, and according to just about everyone everywhere, it’s going to be a hot one. So far, 2020 has been an extremely bumpy roller coaster ride. Midway through the year, we shouldn’t expect anything less than an exceptionally hotter than normal summer. This means a change in the way we get our…
A new study on cannabidiol (CBD) products across the country has shown that a considerable amount of the available products would have…
As cannabis and hemp ramp up production capabilities, the term ”vertically integrated” is popping up as a major accomplishment. But what does…
Just about everybody knows that THC can be detected in blood, saliva, and urine. But here is a strange cannabis fact that…
