Finding the encoded references to cannabis and other drugs is made more difficult by the lack of botanical names, discrepancy in translations, use of different “books” by different denominations, commentaries added to original texts, and periodic priestly purges of material considered inappropriate.

    About 95% of the people were not allowed to learn Latin, the language of the Bible, which effectively allowed those few priests who could read to interpret the scriptures as they pleased.

    However, we find that the use of cannabis is never forbidden or even discouraged in the Bible. Some passages directly refer to the goodness of using herbs like cannabis—and it even go on to predict prohibition.

    “And the Earth brought forth grass and herb-yielding seed after its kind and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself after its kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis: Chapter 1: Verse 12 (King James Version of the Bible, unless noted).

“God makes the earth yield healing herbs, which the prudent man should not neglect.” Sirach:38:4 (Catholic Bible.)

    “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; That which cometh out of the mouth defileth a man.” Jesus, quoted: Matt. 15:11.

    “In later times, some shall…speak lies in hypocrisy…commanding to abstain from that which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” Paul: 1 Tim. 4:1

the authorized on-line version of Jack Herer’s “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”

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