Was Cannabis The Secret To Jesus' Healing Miracles? Study Uncovers Ancient Remedies

Jesus Christ and his apostles could have used a cannabis-based anointing oil to help heal people with disabling diseases. A study exploring biblical texts has sparked a provocative discussion about the potential use of cannabis in ancient religious practices, specifically those associated with Jesus and his disciples. This research indicates that cannabis was likely a key ingredient in the anointing oils used during biblical times, supporting claims that Jesus may have utilized the plant for its medicinal properties.

Cannabis In Biblical Anointing Oils

According to Chris Bennett, writing for High Times, the substance known as kaneh-bosem, referenced in scripture, is now believed to be cannabis extract. Bennett cites various scholars who support this claim, suggesting that the oils used for anointing during Jesus’ time contained this potent substance. "There can be little doubt about a role for cannabis in Judaic religion," Carl Ruck, a professor of classical mythology at Boston University, told The Guardian. Ruck elaborated: "Obviously the easy availability and long-established tradition of cannabis in early Judaism would inevitably have included it in the [Christian] mixtures."

Bennet recovered the research of Polish anthropologist Sula Benet, who in 1936 discovered the translation error in the Old Testament, and then demonstrated in her essays "Tracing One Word Through Different Languages" (1936) and "Early Diffusions and Folk Uses of Hemp" (1975), that the Hebrew terms "kaneh" and "kaneh-bosm" identified cannabis.

Healing Practices And Miraculous Effects

The research posits that the anointing oils not only played a ceremonial role but also served practical healing purposes. Bennett argued that those anointed with these oils were "literally drenched in this potent mixture." While many contemporary cannabis users prefer smoking or ingesting the plant, the ancient method of oil infusion allowed for absorption through the skin, potentially enhancing its therapeutic effects.

Bennett drew connections between these practices and the healing miracles attributed to Jesus in the Gospels, particularly those involving skin and eye diseases. "If cannabis was one of the main ingredients of the ancient anointing oil, and receiving this oil is what made Jesus the Christ and his followers Christians, then persecuting those who use cannabis could be considered anti-Christ," he concluded.

Implications For Modern Perspectives On Cannabis

This perspective invites a reevaluation of how cannabis is viewed in both historical and contemporary contexts. As public opinion shifts toward more favorable views on cannabis, the implications of these findings could influence discussions about its place in religious and therapeutic practices today.

With ongoing debates about cannabis legalization and its medicinal benefits, the intersection of ancient traditions and modern science may help reshape conversations surrounding this historically significant plant.

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