Beyond medicinal: Is cannabis canonical?

Photo by Ame Huckelheim

Now that governmental policy is more in tune with the medicinal benefits of marijuana, the larger question remains: Are there spiritual benefits, as well?

Some say that the answer to this question lies within the Bible itself.

Chris Bennet points out that, right up front in Genesis One, Yahweh declares: I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth, and every tree that has fruit in it.

N. J. Weedman cites the 1936 etymological research of Sula Benet (aka Sara Benetowa) from the Institute of Anthropological Sciences in Warsaw.  He quotes Benet as stating in 1975: In the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament there are references to hemp, both as incense, which was an integral pat of religious celebration, and as an intoxicant.

Such references focus upon usage of the Aramaic term "kaneh bosm," as well as the Hebrew term "kannabos" (or "kannabus").  The root "kan" in these terms is said to mean "reed" or "hemp," and the addition "bosm" is said to mean "aromatic."

Although many scholars continue to interpret "kaneh bosm" as "calamus" (an aromatic reed) or as "cane," Weedman cites the Hebrew University in Israel (along with "numerous etymologists") as confirming in 1980 that Benet's interpretation was indeed correct.

Both Chris Bennet and N. J. Weedman cite a number of Biblical references to "kaneh bosm."  These include the following: Exodus 30:23 (showing "kaneh bosm" to be a key ingredient of holy anointing oil), Song of Songs 4:14, Jeremiah 6:20, Ezekiel 27:19 and Isaiah 43:24.

As etymologists and biblical scholars continue to sort things out, policy makers might want to add this to their list of concerns: Is marijuana illegality an infringement upon religious freedoms of any kind?

Resources

http://www.cannabisculture.com/backissues/cc05/kanehb.html

http://www.njweedman.com/kanebosm.html