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Perspective
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God and ganja
Jennifer L.G. Wallace, Rev. Dennis Shields, Stan White, and Chris Buors
Boulder Weekly (CO)
Thursday, March 22, 2001
There is no need to search the Bible for mention of cannabis or its use
to attack the prohibition of marijuana from a biblical perspective (
Re: Letters, "Rev. Pothead," March 15-21 ).
The seed-bearing plant we call marijuana has been in existence since the
third day of Creation, with God declaring it good. He then gave
it to man along with all the other seed-bearing plants and trees on the
sixth day, and declared it and them not only as good, but very good.
Later in Genesis, he also confirms that he gave all green plants to man
for food when he made his convenant with Noah.
While this may not coincide with the so-called knowledge that comes from
our modern day technology, let God be true and all men be liars.
The issue of how it is consumed is mere nit picking and the laws of prohibition
actually prevent it from being consumed in a more proper manner.
While it may be true there are no direct references to cannabis in the
Bible, we are told how we are to treat the people in the world and each
other, in regards to all things of issue. We are told not to judge
those in the world or those in Christ. The consumption of anything
falls under the category of debatable issues which we are specifically
instructed not to condemn.
Criminalizing cannabis use is undoubtedly evidence of judgement and condemnation.
The end does not justify the means. Not that the end could be justified
anyway. There is no earthly good that has been or ever will be accomplished
by supporting the laws that prohibit marijuana, that can even begin to
justify the earthly and eternal harm that has been done and continues
to be done. For those that will be held accountable, the responsibility
will be great.
Jennifer L.G. Wallace, ChristiansForCannabis.Com
Several misconceptions need be addressed which were raised by Jeremy Erhart's
letter about Rev. Pothead. First, according to references
such as Smith's Bible Dictionary, the Hebrew words "Kaneh" and "Bosem"
meaning aromatic reed, are found in Exodus 30:23, and refer to the recipe
for the Holy Anointing Oil of Israel. Kaneh Bosem is the Semitic
root origin of the word "Kannabus" ( Greek ) and "Cannabis"
( Latin ). The rewriting of history to which Jeremy refers
was actually done in 300 BC when Cannabis was mistranslated from the Hebrew
Kaneh Bosem to the Greek meaning calamus. This recipe was revealed
to Moses at the same time as the Ten Commandments. In modern units
of measure it calls for nearly 8 pounds of Cannabis, along with other
spices, for its preparation.
This oil was used to anoint all of the ceremonial vestments of the Hebrew
tabernacle and the members of the Aaronic priesthood, as well as prophets
and kings. Someone whose hair was anointed with this oil in the
hot Sinai desert would contrast the earthly fragrances of desert nomads
and would automatically seem ‘special'. Also the fat soluble THC
in the Cannabis would be absorbed through the scalp and "inspire" such
an individual, so blessedly anointed, with enhanced spiritual receptivity,
as is the effect of Cannabis. Anointing was extremely important
to the Hebrew ceremonial, so much so that the Greeks have a special term
for someone anointed-that term is "Christ," and in Hebrew that term is
Messiah.
As to the use of Cannabis in drug treatment, studies have shown that Cannabis
mitigates opiate addiction, with addicts needing less heroin and less
likely to OD. Prior to 1937 Cannabis was often used to successfully
treat alcohol addiction.
We pray that in the future, Jeremy may be less judgmental when encountering
faith-sons who take a different path through Jesus and to the Father than
he does.
Rev. Dennis Shields, The Religion of Jesus Church, Hawaii
Jeremy Erhart is incorrect in assuming that the anointing oil in Exodus
did not use cannabis. Etymologist Sara Benetowa of the Institute
of Anthropological Sciences in Warsaw discovered in 1936, the connection
between kaneh bosm in the Old Testament as the original Semitic Hebrew
origins of the word cannabis. Hebrew University in Jerusalem in
1980 confirmed this information as correct. The five passages that
experienced the "missing" are Exodus 30:23; Song of Solomon 4:14; Isaiah
43:24; Jeremiah 6:20; & Ezekiel 27:19. Kaneh bosm was mis-translated
after the dark ages, where the Bible was prohibited by the Roman Empire.
So sometime before the King James Version ( The Authorized Version
) kaneh bosm was included in the scripture. These five passages
are where kaneh bosm was mis-translated to cane or calamus or sweet cane
or fragrant cane or sweet smelling incense etc., depending on the translation.
I look forward to the day we can enjoy the "unauthorized version" of the
Bible in English. Isn't the Roman Empire the bunch that fed the
Christians to the lions? "For everything created by God is good, and nothing
is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude."-1 Timothy 4:4.
I hope this will be helpful in bringing my fellow Christians closer together
in our walk with God.
Stan White, Dillon, Colo.
Jeremy Erhart, who closed off his letter to the editor condemning Roger
Christie with a Bible quote, is quite correct. The Bible makes
no reference to cannabis. However there are a few Bible quotes
that Jeremy could relate to the "drug problem." "The truth shall set
you free" said Jesus Christ. Belief in drug and other addictions
in America is eerily similar to belief in voodoo in Haiti. "Dangerous
drugs" is a political construct.
Chemicals we label as drugs are inanimate objects and are therefore
dangerous to no one. Javex bleach, ammonia and diesel fuel as
well as many household and garden chemicals are by far more harmful
than drugs, yet they are available at the corner store. The theory
of addiction has never been proven. I challenge Mr. Erhart
or any other believer to write in with the name of who proved the theory
of addiction and what year it was proven in.
Addictions serve the purpose of socially stigmatizing persons culturally
defined as using the wrong social drugs. Drugs have exactly the
same supernatural forces of allurement as voodoo-none.
Man has free will. Drug use is a choice, and it can be considered
as a sin. However, the law goes beyond the bounds of reason by
turning vice to crime. As well respected American jurist Lysander
Spooner wrote in his classic essay, "in vice, the very essence of crime,
intending harm to another person or their property-is wanting." Validation
of self by invalidation of others is a common demonization method characteristic
of every scapegoat persecution.
Restore our natural right to drugs. It is a right owned by mankind
since time began. Ceremonial drug use is as old as mankind itself.
The idea that it ought to be stamped out is amoral. I would suggest
for you Jeremy, a return to the classic virtues of St. Thomas:
temperance, prudence, justice and fortitude. The drug war fails
every one of those ideals. "It's not what enters into a man that
defiles him, but what comes out of a man's mouth is what defiles him,"
said Jesus Christ.
Chris Buors, Winnipeg, Manitoba
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