Shiva's Broken Dream. Cannabis: The tale of a sacred plant. by Mel Thomas

This is a thoroughly researched book which explores the suppressed and distorted history of cannabis consumption recreationally, religiously, and industrially throughout human history. Cannabis Sativa L refers to hemp and marijuana: Hemp is commonly referred to for its industrial use; marijuana is commonly referred to for its recreational and medicinal use. Below is a summary of some of the cool things you will learn from this book:The oldest known use of cannabis goes back to the ancient Egyptian Ntr Sentra religious ritual. Here they would use cannabis and other herbs to create a prayer incense mixture. Ntr Sentra is the origin for the English word "incense" literally meaning "breath of the divine." The ancient Riamba cult of Africa considers cannabis to be a god, protector from physical and spiritual harm. There are also plenty of examples illustrating cannabis and its discovery in graves and tombs all over the ancient world.The author discusses how a group of Freemason scholars set out to adapt the Bible in 1604 into what we now know as the King James Version of 1611. During the editing process, they removed any reference of "cannabis" by replacing the Hebrew word kaneh-bosm or kannabus with calamus. An example of its use in the Bible is contained in Exodus (30:22-33) where Jehovah, the Lord himself, instructs Moses on how to make a holy incense mixture with cannabis: "Moreover Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee the chief spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin. And thou shalt make it a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil." The ancient Sanskrit Vedic scriptures (around 1100 BCE) of the Hindu faith describes cannabis in the Atharvaveda as one of five sacred plants. Legend has it a drop of heavenly nectar landed on Mount Mandara spawning cannabis. Lord Shiva took the heavenly plant down the mountains for mankind to enjoy where it is thought its use helped to cleanse mankind. The author documents how many ancient religions of the world used cannabis to enhance the spiritual experience: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Shintoism all have references to its use in a religious context.The author also demonstrates how the use of hemp fiber is ubiquitous throughout human history. The Scythians, the ancient nomadic people of Iran (around 4th century BC) used hemp for a multitude of items such as cloth, ropes, twine, and bowstrings. Hemp also has a history of being used in the construction of ancient ships, like the Viking longboats where it was used for sails and on the frame as a kind of glue to keep ships watertight. Interestingly, paper in the world made from hemp today is around 0.05%, whereas, that number was nearer 90% of the world's paper in the 19th century. Hemp paper is still superior to paper made from trees and can grow back quicker than trees. The original U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson on hemp paper. In 1533, King Henry VIII implemented a law which required farmers to cultivate one-quarter acre of hemp for every 60 acres or face a penalty. In other words, it was illegal to not grow cannabis for farmers at the time. The original Levi's jeans were also made from hemp fiber among countless other examples.In addition, the pharmaceutical companies don't like the use of hemp or cannabis as they can't patent and monopolize revenue from the naturally grown plant. Synthetic drugs are becoming more popular as patents and intellectual property can be applied to certain drugs making them more profitable for drug corporations. The author shows how China, India, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and South America all have a record of using marijuana as a medicinal substance throughout their history. Today, some general practitioners and doctors are given pecuniary incentives to prescribe or over-prescribe certain synthetic medications. Judge Francis Young of the US Department of Justice asserts: "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man."Moreover, filtered hemp seed oil is a good source of biofuel, and can be used in modern diesel cars as a fuel source. Henry Ford manufactured his cars to run off hemp oil. Hemp seed oil is also a very good food source as it is rich in Vitamins A and E among other essential nutrients. Mel states: "There are 45 essential nutrients that humans cannot manufacture: 21 minerals, 13 vitamins, 8 amino acids and 2 Essential fatty acids. No one food source has them all, but cannabis seed has all eight amino acids." Evidence shows the legalization of hemp would provide a valuable and nutritious food source as well as destroy the petrochemical industry overnight.The author demonstrates how the desire to experience altered states of consciousness is not unique to humans: Elephants have been observed seeking out the Marula tree which have fermenting fruits containing 5% ethanol; Jaguars have been observed taking the ayahuasca vine also used by the Amazonion shamans; Deers have been known to seek the cannabis crop among other examples. The author provides an interesting quote by neuroscientist Sam Harris on the desire for altered states of consciousness: "Everything we do is for the purpose of altering consciousness. We form friendships so that we can feel certain emotions, like love and avoid others, like loneliness. We eat specific foods to enjoy their fleeting presence on our tongues. We read for the pleasure of thinking another person's thoughts. Every waking moment and even in our dreams we struggle to direct the flow of sensation, emotion and cognition toward states of consciousness that we value." (Kindle Locations 3274-3277) George Washington, the first president of the United States (and 33rd Degree Freemason) openly talked about his love for smoking marijuana. He wrote that some of his best hours were out on the back porch, smoking hemp, looking as far as the eye could see. Thomas Jefferson, is also known to have grown hemp. The famous Irish writer and poet Oscar Wilde also used to smoke hashish. Moreover, a recent excavation in the garden of Shakespeare's home showed pipes with traces of cocaine and cannabis. The author gives more interesting examples of prominent figures throughout our history who are known to have smoked cannabis or with circumstantial evidence to suggest so.The author also mentions a study by the UK government which analyzes the effects of cannabis intoxication whilst driving. In August 2000, the UK Transport Research Laboratory - contrary to government propaganda - discovered that cannabis intoxication produced a minimal if not beneficial effect on performance. Furthermore, the British government's Indian Hemp Drugs Commission of 1894 - when India was still a colony - investigated the country's use of cannabis and found absolutely no problem with the consumption of cannabis whatsoever: "In regard to the physical effects, the Commission have come to the conclusion that the moderate use of hemp drugs is practically attended by no evil results at all." Popular Mechanics in February 1938 issued an article on hemp calling it the "New Billion Dollar Crop." Interestingly, the Marijuana Tax Act which marked the beginning of legal restrictions was implemented in 1937 the year before, showing the authors of the article (like many in the United States at the time) were not aware about its new legal status. It has been estimated that to overdose on THC, 680 kilograms or 1500 pounds would need to be consumed in around 15 minutes, making there no realistic potential for an overdose. It would be easier to overdose by drinking copious amounts of water in a short period of time which there are recorded cases. Drinking even just a few litres of water in a short period of time can flush electrolytes out of the body, swell the brain against the skull, which can eventually lead to coma and death.There are absolutely no records in the world of anyone overdosing and dying as the direct result of consuming cannabis. If cannabis is really detrimental to our health, why would our brains naturally produce a chemical compound similar to THC? In 1990 the Israeli scientist Raphael Mechoulam discovered the structure of Anandamide in the brain, a natural endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter named after the Sanskrit word ananda meaning "bliss" or "delight." Furthermore, unlike other drugs, cannabis does not wear out the receptors in the brain which it stimulates. "Despite its many uses cannabis is primarily taken to alter conscious perception and one of the more intriguing questions has to be why many users experience increased perception, awareness and insights when under its influence. Additionally, why our ancestors used it extensively in their sacred practices and meditations; which many believe to be one of the underlying reasons why cannabis is almost universally prohibited today. The Catholic Church is particularly outspoken in its campaign against what was once a Christian sacrament, the main reason being that psychoactive herbs can create a sense of direct spiritual communion with the divine, whilst Catholic authority is based on the concept that the only way to reach God is by relinquishing control to the Pope and priests." (Kindle Locations 3216-3221) What changed all of a sudden then? The truth is hemp became a threat to the petrochemical industry; the wood paper industry; the pharmaceutical corporations; the synthetic fiber industry; and to the enhancement of human consciousness. The American government through its mediums of communication began accelerating the process of demonizing marijuana to its current warped perception today. Before the introduction of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, there were a number of humorously titled government propaganda films to win over public perception: Marijuana: Assassin of Youth (1935), Reefer Madness (1936) and Marijuana: The Devil's Weed (1936).The newspapers began introducing the Mexican word "marijuana" into the public consciousness instead of the familiar "hemp" in an effort to rename and defame the much loved and sought after plant of our history. Newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst played his role in the preposterous disinformation campaign and is quoted as saying: "Marihuana is a short cut to the insane asylum. Smoke marihuana cigarettes for a month and what was once your brain will be nothing but a storehouse of horrid specters. Hasheesh makes a murderer who kills for the love of killing out of the mildest mannered man who ever laughed at the idea that any habit could ever get him."This really is a top notch and comprehensive piece of work: A gem to add to your Kindle collection.