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Although the symbiosis of Jews and cannabis (from the Hebrew, kaneh bosem) is often cited in a tongue-in-cheek manner (e.g. Why Jews Love Weed), it’s certainly not a laughing matter for our Creator who recommends that we anoint ourselves with kaneh-infused “holy oil” and present some as an offering before we approach the Holy One with our prayers and supplications:
“You have not brought any kaneh for me . . . but you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses.” (Isaiah 43:24)
Ouch! Sounds like we’re not the only creatures liable to get cranky when we lack the herbal remedy necessary to restore our calm and empathy compromised by fear, trauma and anxiety (the Jewish trinity).
It may not seem befitting for the Almighty to get so testy about getting a Divine share of one’s stash. However, it reinforces the sanctity of cannabis as a gift from Hashem that allows us to recover ourselves to be in-relation to and respect the needs of others.
The symbiosis of Jews and cannabis was forged by the Jewish approach to nature and the power of cannabis to help us recover from Jewish history.
Of course, most people don’t know about the ancient Jewish relation to cannabis because it’s not referenced in mainstream cannabis culture or included in cannabis education programs.
This is not, in-itself, all that problematic (we’ve learned to accept that most people don’t know that much about Jewish history), but it becomes so when non-Jews happen to notice the oversized role that Jews have played in the modern history of cannabis research initiated—lest we forget!—by the Israeli chemist and Holocaust survivor Dr. Raphael Mechoulam (Z”L). For without any appreciation of the role that cannabis has always played in Jewish life and culture, non-Jews don’t have the resources to conclude anything other than “Jews own the industry” or that we’re all a bunch of stoners.
I hope it goes without saying that neither sentiment is true, but instead reflect and reinforce the implicit anti-Jewish bias that is more popular than ever among those who are not explicit about their suspicion or dislike of Jews (to put it kindly).
One way to understand the symbiosis of cannabis and Jewish culture is to remember that we are not Christian, and so for us pleasure is not a sin but, rather, something to thank Hashem for every day (even [perhaps especially] when you are blessed with an orgasm). Additionally, we are not suspicious nor masters of nature but, instead, taught to respect the sanctity of all living things (Suck it Descartes!).
Thus in the Torah and the Talmud, kaneh bosem is described as a gift from our Creator that helps us heal, either spiritually or physically. The highest value in Judaism is the protection of life, represented by Hebrew letters that spell “chai.” In the Jewish tradition, we get high for chai.
I must admit that I get a little Ashkenazi cranky when a cannabis writer cites the use of the herb by the Ancient Mayans as a source of evidence and wisdom about its medicinal properties. Sure enough, but Jews also have an ancient relation to cannabis, and we’re alive (Baruch Hashem!). Cannabis Jew Magazine was created to include a Jewish voice in the cannabis press and detail the ancient Jewish relation to the plant to correct a potent source of bias, eliminate the stigma and enhance respect for the herb.
At this moment when Jews are defending our right to exist, it’s a good time to remember that we love peace, protect life and respect the sanctity of cannabis. If you are in a position to support Israelis and help them recover while we pray for the return of hostages, CJM recommends donating to IsraAID, an international humanitarian organization that is partnering with local groups to provide mental health support, urgent aid and protection to Israelis in evacuated and vulnerable communities.
