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Accepting Marijuana: A Political, Ritual, Therapeutic and Medical Discussion of Cannabis

The Drug War has gone too far.

Sitting in your Ivory Towers

Making laws against the flowers
While flowers of choice, your choice, are fine.
Coffee, cigarettes and wine,
State Supported
State Promoted
Advertised and Subsidized.
With wiretaps and pre-dawn busts,
Your Pot Commandos power lusts,
Make the cartels rich as nations,
While you pass your legislation,
Designed for sound bite spin gyrations.
You burn their crops.
You corrupt their cops.
You drive prices to their tops.
Spending billions.
Watching millions.
Confiscate a home, a car,
Bend over search,
Piss in the jar.
Supply-demand and rising prices,
Paid in blood and sexual vices.
They cope with dope
But its you that pays,
With midnight fears of alleyways.
Youre both torching pipes and laying lines,
Wholl be first to change their minds?

The Drug War has gone too far.

Morgyn, The Cannabis Papers

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Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, has been long under the attack of policy

makers, but is the decision to make cannabis illegal rightly justified? Is it truly in a countrys best

interest to place a prohibition on cannabis? The topic of cannabis is extensive, complex, and

controversial but the fact of cannabis healing power is undeniable (Rtsch, 2001). So why is it

illegal at the federal level in the United States?

When assessing the history of hemp (not to be confused it Cannabis) in America, it did

not always have such a heavy stigma. In fact, it

was one of the largest agricultural crops in the

world. It had thousands of uses and products

including fabric, medicine, paper, and lighting

oil. Benjamin Franklin used it to start Americas

first paper mill (Frazier, 1991) and Queen

Victoria even used it to alleviate her menstrual

FIGURE 1: An early draft of The
Declaration of Independence, Fox & cramps (Fox & Zajicek, 2002). Also, the first two
Zajicek, 2002
copies of the Declaration of Independence were

written on cannabis paper (ibid.). Until the 1800s most of the textiles produced contained hemp.

Hemp containing virtually no THC, was generally accepted as a staple natural resource in a

variety of industries.

The dawn of the early 20th century marks noteworthy political decisions that continue to

have repercussions today. Yellow press depicted Black and Mexican people as frenzied beasts

who smoke marijuana and became ruthlessly violent (Miller, 2003). For the purpose of alienating

ethnic minorities, the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act established federal government control and

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prohibited marijuana possession without a special tax stamp, but the treasury department did not

distribute those stamps, effectively making marijuana illegal (Mann, 1999).

The most impactful period of the war on marijuana came during Richard Nixons

presidency. The Nixon White House tapes prove the modern war on drug was rooted from selfish

prejudice as well as misinformation (Nixon Tapes, 1971). The Shafer Report indicated that

marijuana was essentially harmless, which Nixon knowingly ignored (ibid.). Perhaps Nixons

opposition to delegalize marijuana was simply a cover story for a different political agenda.

Woodstock was also in full force with anti-Vietnam War hippies smoking weed. Even though

they waged peace, Nixon saw the criminalizing of marijuana as a way of abolishing the protests.

This lead to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 that classified drugs into five

categories. Marijuana was placed under Schedule I for having a high potential for abuse, no

currently accepted medical use, and lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or substance

under medical supervision (Public Law 91-513, 1970, p.1247). Other Schedule I substances

include Heroin, LSD, and MDMA, however it is noteworthy that Methamphetamine is classified

under Schedule II (ibid.) implying it is subtly less harmful. Ultimately a war on marijuana was

used as a poster child for all drugs.

The United States currently experience the highest rate of imprisonment in the world and

has reached an over occupancy level of 102.7% (World Prison Brief, 2013). Figure 2 displays

marijuana occupies about 45% of drug abuse crime in comparison the aggregate crime of heroin,

cocaine, heroin/cocaine derivatives, synthetic drugs, manufactured drugs, and other dangerous

nonnarcotic drugs (about 55%). In 2014 alone there were an estimated 701,000 marijuana-

specific arrests, making it the most criminalized drug (FBI, Uniform Crime Report, 2014). It also

rivals the aggregate number of arrests for murder, rape, and robbery (ibid.), making marijuana

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arrests annually cost

taxpayers $10.7 billion Arrests for Drug Abuse Violations, 2014

Sale/Manufact
(Gettman, 2007). Today the Sale/Manufact uring of
uring of Marijuana,
Other Drugs*, 5.2%
marijuana prohibition not 11.8%

only impacts the criminal

justice system, but it limits

Possession of
the availability of a natural Possession of Marijuana,
Other Drugs*, 39.7%
healing plant. It is clear that 43.3%

cannabis substances have

historically played an integral

role in human society FIGURE 2: * heroin, cocaine, heroin/cocaine derivatives, synthetic

drugs, manufactured drugs, and other dangerous nonnarcotic drugs
throughout history (Rtsch, Graph: I made the graph using data from FBI Uniform Crime
Reporting Program, 2014
2001). I hope to deliver a

perspective that showcases the ritual healing, tradition, and therapeutic emplotment of cannabis

through Indian Medicine, Rastafarianism, and its impact on epilepsy.

Hemp in Indian Medicine

The beginning of cannabis use is estimated to be 1000 years BCE in India (Mikuriya,

1969). The use of cannabis plays an important role in folk medicine, strongly influenced by

Ayurvedic practices. The extensive use is correlated with religion, which appoins sacred values

to the plant. The earliest written references of cannabis in India date to the Atharva Veda, a

collection of sacred texts that reference cannabis as one of five sacred plants, noting its as a

source of happiness, donator of joy and bringer of freedom. Cannabis is regarded as a gift from

the gods (Schultes et al., 2001) and is integrated in numerous religious rituals (Zuardi, 2006).

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Ayurvedic medicine, tied to Hindu mythology, embodies the countrys eternal faith and

mysticism (Russo, 2005, p. 1). The name combines the words life and knowledge in

Sanskrit, intertwining the core values in the medical practices. From a Western physician point

of view, it is astonishing that a viable medical regime existed 3000 years ago and is still

practiced since its inception. Ayurveda pursues the balance of three functional elements

(doshas) that are in the human body: (1) Vata or Vayu (ether or air), (2) Pitta (fire and water),

and (3) Kapha (phlegm or water and earth) (Russo, 2005). Equilibrium of the three elements is

associated with good health, therefore, illness or disease is explained as an imbalance (Russo,

2005). Ayurvedic medicine is more concerned with the maintenance of health in comparison to

the treatment of disease (Anthamatten & Hazen, 2012). The healing or therapy combines moral

concerns, like Karma, with religious and ritual mantras, magic, diet, and prescriptive regimens

consisting of herbal therapy (Anthamatten & Hazen, 2012; Russo, 2005). There is an abundance

of over 700 medicinal plants used, with cannabis remaining a critical entity.

Despite the influx of Western medicine, Ayurvedic medicine remains widely practiced

in India today (Anthamatten & Hazen, 2012). A study concerning the use of bhang (a special

preparation of cannabis) in the holy city of Varanasi, concluded its popularity across

socioeconomic strata. It noted prevalence in the higher educated, working class, and

businessmen (Chaturvedi et al., 1991). Among the 100 subjects, 90% affirmed improvements in

sleep with the absence of daytime fatigue (Russo, 2005). The individuals who ranged between

thirty to forty years old reported improvement of bowel habits, gastrointestinal disorders, and/or

insomnia. The smoke is ingested to treat stomachaches and the hemp ashes from holy men

(sahus) or yogis chilams are even regarded as a magical medicine to treat nervous diseases,

ingestion, and gonorrhea (Rtsch, 2001). Charas is used to treat acute mania, anemia, periodic

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headaches, cramps, migraines, malaria, imbecility, whooping cough, asthma, nervous vomiting,

tetanus, delirium, and nervous breakdowns (ibid.).

Cannabis is an important component in

the social life of villages and urban cities. The

different preparations of the plant all contain

active cannabinoids, the medical property of

the plant (Zuardi, 2006). It is imperative to

maintain ritual purity while smoking. In order

to uphold this notion, ones lips are not to

FIGURE 3: A man smokes cannabis with a
touch the pipe. The tubular part of the chilam at chilam during a festival (Getty Images)

its bottom is held in the right hand and the left hand also supports it. The passage between the

index finger and the thumb of the right hand is used in taking puffs from the pipe (Hasan, 1975,

p. 242).

Another aspect of the ritual is the offering to Shiva, one of three deities in Hinduism

(ibid.), which is performed in a high-pitched voice when a man says, Jai Shankar, Kata Lage na

Kankar (Hasan, 1975). By performing this offer, he secures his place in the smoking party

with the knowledge that the great god Creator-Destroyer relished the smoke and will not harm

the members throats (Hasan, 1975, p.242). The use of cannabis in Indian clearly has uses in

tradition and healing rather than drug abuse.

Cannabis & Rastafarianism

To legalize marijuana
Right here in Jamaica
I'm say it cure glaucoma
I man a de Bush Doctor
Only cure for asthma
Peter Tosh (Musician), Bush Doctor, 1979

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Jamaica was claimed in 1494 by Christopher Columbus after conquering the native Tano

people. By 1655 the British colonized the area and most of the Tano population were ill from

poor nutrition, famine, and forced labor. Jamaica was under British rule until the mid-1800s and

is responsible for the mass shipment of African slaves. Despite the abolishment of slavery in

1810, slavery continued in Jamaica until the slaves rebelled and emancipation was approved in

1838. Plantation owners now needed new workers to toil the land, resulting in the import of

indentured servants from India. The Indian laborers are responsible for bringing over the first

seedlings of cannabis, thus sparking the ganja movement. By the 1920s the black consciousness

movement, known as Rastafari, came to Jamaica and coincided when ganja was an integral

part of society. It was created under the belief that their single God, Jah, would free them from

Babylon, the suppressed culture implemented by both whites and blacks (Rtsch, 2001). The

Rastafarian culture embedded cannabis within its religion and has been an integral part ever

since.

India continues to have a lasting impact on Jamaican cannabis, which is apparent from

the plants common name ganja. Ganja is the Hindi word from Sanskrit meaning hemp or

hemp resin. The Jamican folk health-care system has strong ties to religion (Payne-Jackson &

Alleyne, 2004). Similar to the people of India, Rastas smoke and honor Shiva for they see ganja

as a gift from god. Rastas view it as a natural substance that facilitates peace and harmony

among its people by promoting social healing (Edmonds, 2012). It also assists psychological

healing by providing energy to the body as well as psychological transformation by

supporting the person to break through false consciousness to discover the true divine self

(Edmonds, 2012, p.55). In order to obtain the benefits, the majority of Rastas meditate daily and

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smoke ganja. Each ritual act is performed to make the participant establish a closer connection

with Jah (Gilman, 2004).

The use of ganja also has a communal element and is smoked during ceremonies, which

is called djamba or diamba (Edmonds, 2012). Whenever two or more Rastas come together

their smoking has a ritual element, offering a prayer before lighting the plant. During the

smoking session conversations stem from questions of morality to whatever topic enters to the

forefront of their mind. The smoking plant, usually rolled in a spliff, is passed around the circle

in a clockwise fashion, however during times of war, travels in the opposite direction. Rastas

also utilize a chalice during solemn occasions. The pipe consists of three different pieces, a

chamber for preparing ganja, a water chamber, and a mouthpiece. The individual inhales the

smoke into their lungs via the mouthpiece and exhales it out the nostrils. There is also a tradition

of using a special suru board for the preparation of the ganja substance. In addition, some

traditional Rastas hold a strict patriarchy, excluding women from smoking with men. This shows

that the use of ganja is merely for ritual rather than drug abuse.

While the Rasta have close ties to Africa, much of their medicine is also influenced by

the Indian Ayurvedic medicine. Ganja is regarded as the cure-all plant and brings health to the

people and grants them the strength to carry out their daily work (Rastch, 2001). It is said that an

individual who consumes enough ganjawill always be healthy because it promotes

spiritual, mental, and physical health (Rtsch, 2001, p139). In Rasta medicine it is

implemented similar to how the United States use aspirin (Kitzinger, 1971). The cannabis can be

use in an ointment as a painkiller (Comitas 1975:121) or a poultice for open wounds and internal

injuries (Rtsch, 2001). A study also found that Rastas exhibit glaucoma significantly less often

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than others (West, 1991). By using cannabis to battle disease and illness, it produces courage and

strength to the people (Rtsch, 2001) and is not use to recreationally get high.

Cannabis & Epilepsy

Sometimes marijuana is the only thing that works [I]t is irresponsible not to provide the best
care we can as a medical community, care that could involve marijuana. We have been terribly
and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States, and I apologize for my own
role in that. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Neurosurgeon

While the past two examples

have enumerated on the historical,

folk tradition of cannabis it is

important to understand its

implementation for biologically

validated diagnoses. Experimental

work concluded positive support that

THC and CBD have anti-convulsing

properties from the cannabinoid FIGURE 4: Diagram of the brain that shows the areas in the
brain CBD effect (CITE)
receptors in the brainstem, limbic, and

neocortical areas of the brain (Gordon & Devinsky, 2001).

Charlotte was just three months when her eyes began to flicker, perhaps showing the first

signs of epilepsy (Young, 2013). The movements lasted thirty minutes and her parents rushed to

the hospital. Paige, her mother, said that the doctors were not diagnosing the condition as

epilepsy, for the MRI, EEG, and spinal tap (costing a million-dollars) did not reveal an

abnormality. A week passed and Charlotte began to seize again, however this time it was longer.

Her seizures ranged from two to four hours followed by repeated hospitalization over the next

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few months, but no diagnosis was provided. The doctors thought it was something she would

grow out of, but again, the episodes only worsened.

Finally a possible diagnosis was provided, Dravet Syndrome. It is a severe form of

intractable epilepsy, meaning it is not treatable with normal medication (ibid.). Despite this

diagnosis, Charlotte was on seven different drugs that were heavy-duty and addictive, such as

barbiturates and benzodiazepines. They provided some relief, however the seizures managed to

prevail. When Charlotte was two, Paige noticed a significant cognitive decline in comparison to

her twin brother. They considered medicine from anti-seizure drugs for dogs to specialized

French medication. They were quickly running out of possible solutions. They ultimately settled

on a ketogenic diet that a Dravet specialist prescribed, but that provided more problems. Her

immune system declined, behavioral changes arose, and bone loss began. After two years of the

diet, the seizures resumed.

Matt, Charlottes father, began scouring the internet in hopes for an effective solution. He

found just that, a true success story. A video surfaced about a little boy with Dravet Syndrome

who was successfully treated with cannabis. The strain of cannabis had a low dose of

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive ingredient but was high in cannabidiol

(CBD), the medicinal ingredient with no psychoactivity. Scientists believe CBD quiets the

excessive electrical and chemical activity in the brain that causes seizures (Young, 2013).

Charlotte, now five years-old, was having 300 grand mal seizures a week and lost complete

ability to eat, talk, and walk. Additionally, her heart had physically stopped countless times.

They even signed a do-not-resuscitate order, figuratively they said goodbye to their little girl.

Paige concluded there was essentially nothing else the hospital could provide.

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In their state of Colorado, under Amendment 20, a medical marijuana program is

available and Charlotte would be the youngest to apply. After calling and calling despite the

constant reply of no, no, no, no, no, Dr. Maraget Gedde and Dr. Alan Shakelford signed off

with an initial reluctance (ibid.). After continuing to jump through hoops to obtain the low THC,

high CBD cannabis, they finally got it for $800 per ounce. It is important to note that the strains

low THC content does not get her so called high. After converting the cannabis to oil, they

administered it to Charlotte and there were no seizures for the first hour, when she would

normally have upwards of three or four. Then another hour passed by, nothing. She had no

seizures for an entire week. Today, Charlotte has returned to a thriving six-year-old who can

walk, ride a bike, feed herself, and make new cognitive connections. She receives a dose of three

to four milligrams of oil per pound of body mass, which has stopped the onset of seizures.

Treatment was so effective it inspired the growers to name to the strain in her honor, Charlottes

Web. Charlottes journey in an all-too-common story for patients suffering from so-called

incurable diseases or illnesses.

Conclusion

This essay is meant to present an argument that recognizes the use of cannabis within the

guidelines of history, religious tradition, ritual healing, and therapeutic emplotment. It is also

meant the raise questions in regard to its current illegal status at the federal level in the United

States. One of the main reason hemp is illegal is because it would put most papermills out of

business, therefore logging companies wanted it to remain illegal (CITE). Cannabis is an integral

part of human history and as species we have lived with it legal longer than illegal. The initial

regulations seem to root from selfishness and racism, calling for a separation from the ethnic

minorities. The law may be rooted in fiction from a policy conceived in ignorance (Bonnie

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& Whitebread, 1970, p. 971). To come to a clear conclusion it is imperative to understand the

role of this plant in history. The healing and medicinal elements of cannabis were misconstrued,

exposing the negative elements. When pharmaceutical drugs are not administered properly,

detrimental effects ensue and marijuana can offer a feasible alterative. Rather than searching for

reasons to eliminate its use, we should be implementing positive efforts that individuals, like

Charlotte, will benefit from.

We must understand the diversity in which cannabis is implemented for healing and

building comunitas. Instead of approaching cannabis with a holistic open-mind the War on

Drugs has proven to be stubbornly ethnocentric in its understandings and politically self-serving

and racist in its application (Calabrese, 2013). The concept of prohibition has been ever-present

in society and continues to fail. Prohibition can even be found in the bible when the serpent told

Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge (Genesis 2:17). They disregarded Gods

orders and picked from the tree anyway. If prohibition for two individuals failed, how is a

prohibition for billions of people suppose to be successful?

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