High Rituals

Long before cannabis became a punchline in comedies or a cash crop in dispensaries, it held a seat at the sacred table. Across continents and centuries, this plant wasn’t just smoked—it was honored. Used by sages, seers, healers, and holy people, cannabis and hemp have deep spiritual roots that most modern users never get to hear about between CBD gummies and vape pens.

Let’s start in India, where bhang—a cannabis paste blended into milk—is still consumed during Holi as an offering to Lord Shiva, the god of transformation and destruction (which, come to think of it, is very on brand). Far from taboo, cannabis was believed to open the mind and heart to divine insight. Not for getting “stoned”—for getting closer to source.

In ancient China, cannabis was used in Taoist rituals to communicate with spirits. The legendary Emperor Shen Nung documented its medicinal and spiritual properties as early as 2,700 BCE. And in Persia, Zoroastrian priests burned cannabis as part of their fire rituals to purify the air and invite visions.

In Africa, indigenous healers and shamans used cannabis to deepen trance states, communicate with ancestors, and induce healing dreams. Rastafari culture didn’t invent sacramental use—they carried forward an ancient thread. For them, the herb is a tool for meditation, communion, and consciousness—not just a chill-out mechanism.

Even in Judaism, there’s evidence that kaneh bosm, an ingredient in the holy anointing oil described in the Book of Exodus, may have been an early form of cannabis. Meaning? That bottle of CBD oil in your bathroom cabinet may have a more spiritual lineage than you think.

Today, that sacred thread is being rewoven. Conscious cannabis circles are popping up in places like California and Colorado, blending ancient ceremony with modern mindfulness. Guided cannabis meditations. Cannabis-assisted therapy. Even yoga infused with a low-dose edible. The vibe is less “wake and bake,” more “breathe and ascend.”

And yes, the wellness world is catching on. Products like hemp wellness balm, massage oils, and hemp extract powder aren’t just physical tools—they’re becoming part of people’s rituals for self-care and spiritual grounding.

So the next time you light up, lather on, or drop a few tincture drops under your tongue, consider this: you’re not just engaging with a plant—you’re connecting with a tradition. A lineage of seekers, healers, and philosophers who saw cannabis not as an escape, but a bridge.

The future of cannabis isn’t just high-tech—it’s high consciousness. And we’re just beginning to remember how deep its roots really go.