In ancient Israel, high priests utilized a diverse range of psychoactive substances during essential rituals. Archaeologists from Tel Aviv University have uncovered traces of Cannabis (THC and CBD) on a Judean altar, while the Torah often mentions “keneh bosem”, interpreted as fragrant cane.

The Book of Exodus describes how Cannabis was mixed with psychoactive myrrh (which stimulates the brain's opioid receptors) to create sacred anointing oil:

> “And you, take for yourself spices of the finest sort: of pure myrrh… of keneh bosem… You shall make this into an oil of holy anointment.”

During the Renaissance, Carl Linnaeus, recognized as the father of modern biology, first introduced the term Cannabis sativa. Subsequently, in the 1960s, the psychoactive compound THC was isolated by Raphael Mechoulam, a scientist from Hebrew University.

Mechoulam’s findings were rooted in a long tradition of Cannabis usage in the Middle East, as he noted:

> “In ancient Egypt, it was used as incense as well as medication… the Jewish religious scholar, philosopher, and physician Maimonides from the 12th century, who spent much of his life in Cairo, states that cannabis was among the most frequently used drugs…”

From antiquity to the present, the popularity of Cannabis continues. A 2021 article in Nature highlighted its modern medicinal benefits:

> “Cannabis sativa is widely used for medical purposes and has anti-inflammatory activity.”

Additionally, a recent study from Harvard Medical School indicated the anti-anxiety properties of cannabidiol (CBD), another significant component of Cannabis:

> “Results provide preliminary evidence supporting efficacy and tolerability of a full-spectrum, high-CBD product for anxiety. Patients quickly achieve and maintain symptom reduction with few side effects.”

Nevertheless, caution, intention, and moderation are advised when using Cannabis or any psychoactive substance. A review by the National Library of Medicine outlined its intricate and potentially adverse effects:

> “Despite the medicinal benefits of marijuana, its chronic use has been linked with conditions such as psychotic disorders and cannabis use disorder, while acute consumption is linked to psychotic symptoms, hyperemesis syndrome, and anxiety.”

In 2023, however, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford challenged the association between Cannabis and psychosis, revealing:

> “In this cohort study of claims data from over 63 million beneficiaries from 2003 to 2017, there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of psychosis-related diagnoses or prescribed antipsychotics in states with medical or recreational cannabis policies compared with states with no such policy.”

Young individuals, particularly those with familial histories of mental health issues, should exercise extra caution with high-THC Cannabis. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Cannabis with balanced THC-CBD ratios may help alleviate negative side effects like paranoia.

The use of Cannabis (or any psychoactive substance) should be strictly avoided among children and adolescents. Childhood itself is a period filled with confusion and inherent psychoactivity. The Guardian reported:

> “One UK study found that almost two-thirds of children reported having at least one psychotic-like experience in their lives… When focusing purely on hallucinations, a review of research found that 17% of 9–12 year-olds have these experiences at any one time. The number roughly halves in teenagers and drops again in adults… It is interesting that hallucinations become less common as we move towards adulthood.”

Whether through external substances or not, humanity can encounter a wide range of psychoactive experiences—both positive and negative. Various cultures have cultivated numerous plants, fungi, and even animals (e.g., toads) as significant catalysts for mystical experiences, both harmful and beneficial.

Another psychoactive plant, henbane, which has modern medicinal applications but also poses dangerous side effects, played a vital role in the foundations of monotheism. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the visionary and toxic nightshade plant thrives near the Western Wall, a modern site of pilgrimage for millions of Jews. Moreover, henbane wine was likely used by the high priests of the ancient Temple.

The Roman historian Josephus noted that the crown of the ancient Israelite high priest was inspired by the henbane flower:

> “…a golden crown polished, of three rows, one above another; out of which arose a cup of gold, which resembled the herb which we call Saccharus; but those Greeks that are skillful in botany call it Hyoscyamus [or henbane.]”

Through carefully designed ritual contexts and psychoactive agents, the ancient Hebrews significantly shaped history and influenced humanity's collective consciousness.

For instance, Josephus recounted a remarkable encounter between Alexander the Great and a Jewish high priest. Research published by Cambridge University Press elaborated:

> “Perhaps the most famous section of the second half of Josephus’s Jewish Antiquities is the story of Alexander the Great and the Jews… Encouraged by a dream, the high priest and the Jews greet Alexander outside the city. The conqueror of the world bows down before Jaddus and declares that it was Jaddus who had appeared to him in a dream three years earlier and had encouraged him to launch his expedition against Persia. Amidst general rejoicing, Alexander enters the temple, sacrifices to the God of Israel, and bestows gifts upon the Jews.”

The mystique surrounding psychoactive substances created lasting impacts throughout the ancient world. An article in the National Library of Medicine discussed humanity's intricate relationship with mind-altering substances:

> “Abnormal patterns of substance use have been described since antiquity, at least since Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BC was precipitated by years of heavy drinking. Aristotle recorded the effects of alcohol withdrawal and warned that drinking during pregnancy could be injurious…”

> “Some drugs have been used as medications for most of human history. For instance, the medicinal use of opium is described from the earliest written records… mentioned in the 9th century BC in Homer’s Odyssey. It is written that the beautiful Helen of Troy had received this potion from an Egyptian queen and that she used it to treat the Greek warriors (presently she cast a drug into the wine of which they drank to lull all pain and anger and bring forgetfulness of every sorrow)… ”

> “The Ebers papyrus of 1500 BC, one of mankind’s oldest medical documents, describes a remedy to prevent excessive crying in children using grains of the poppy plant…”

Additionally, the Greek physician Galen noted that psychoactive poisons like opium and henbane could alleviate insomnia and fever. Various visionary yet potentially harmful plants were often employed across the ancient world in significant medicinal and spiritual contexts.

Research from Oxford University Press highlights that henbane was utilized by the renowned Oracle at Delphi, a key spiritual figure in ancient Greece. Known for its potent and potentially deadly trance-inducing effects, henbane was referred to as the plant of Apollo; at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, a priestess would inhale henbane fumes to predict the future.

The history of henbane in Egypt dates back roughly 9,000 years. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, prescribed it for fevers. Meanwhile, Dioscorides, often considered the father of pharmacology, noted its effectiveness for treating sleeplessness and pain.

Moreover, evidence of henbane has been discovered in a Viking woman's ritual burial site, as reported by the Danish Journal of Archaeology. Central to Viking beliefs was an immortal realm known as Valhalla, where brave warriors would ascend after death.

Henbane also played a role in divination practices within the ancient Druidic culture of the British Isles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture elaborated on henbane's rich history and its modern scientific promise:

> “Henbane was one of the most important ritual plants of Druids and the Vikings. Viking graves have yielded hundreds of seeds…”

> “Hyoscyamine is still used in modern medicine as an antispasmodic and to treat stomach and intestinal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, cramps, and Parkinson’s disease.”

Due to their belief in the supernatural, the Druids constructed the ancient Stonehenge site with 25-ton megaliths, leaving scholars puzzled for centuries.

In a historical account of the enigmatic Northern tribe, Julius Caesar wrote:

> “The cardinal doctrine which they seek to teach is that souls do not die, but after death pass from one to another; and this belief, as the fear of death is thereby cast aside, they hold to be the greatest incentive to valor. Besides this, they have many discussions as touching the stars and their movement, the size of the universe and of the earth, the order of nature, the strength and the powers of the immortal gods, and hand down their lore to the young men.”

In contemporary times, the psychedelic Burning Man festival, which attracts over 70,000 participants annually in the Nevada desert, mirrors the ancient Druidic wicker man ritual.

Continued: _Echoes of the Forbidden Fruit — Psychedelics and the Supernatural:_ _Mass hallucinations and the Catholic Church’s war on witchery via psychoactive henbane, belladonna, and ergot._