Meditation is known to have started thousands of years ago in India. It is also one of the reasons for the spread of cannabis. This ancient practice was then adopted by its surrounding countries. It ended up becoming part of different religions, cultures, and other diffused forms rooted in Buddhism. In this blog, we will be reading about how meditation and cannabis go hand in hand. Cannabis also relates to Hinduism and it’s cultures. Not only are there festivals for it, but their god Shiva is known to be in favor of it too. If meditation and cannabis has roots back to India, why not and talk about how well they work together? Inspired Meditation Cannabis and meditation, both providing positive effects on empathy, can have a great impact when done together. Let’s get into the depth of it. A study done on meditation in Hinduism and Buddhism shows the parts of it that affect the brain. For context, Buddhist meditation focuses on mindfulness, while Hindu meditation focuses on the sense of self and duality, also known as Samadhi. When looked at those who practiced Buddhist meditation, results showed activation in the frontal lobe areas which are related to executive attention. In contrast, it was seen in the Hindu-inspired way of meditation, that their meditation showed activity in the left-lateralized network of the post-central gyrus, superior parietal lobe, hippocampus, and also the right middle cingulate cortex. So as we can see, both vary and differ a bit in terms of which parts of the brain are showing increased activities from the respective medication. CBD Study Now, another study done on CBD and its activities in healthy volunteers as well as those diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder. The results showed that in those who are deemed healthy, acute CBD showed activity in the frontotemporal, fronto-striatal, front-limbic, and temporo-occipital areas, for emotional processing, verbal memory, response inhibition, and auditory/visual processing, respectively. The increased activity, and betterment of these areas, were solely seen from CBD, not THC or the placebo. Other studies show how the effects of CBD lead to decreased activity in the amygdala, which is the area dealing with the processing of emotions, memory, as well as fear. ♦ Interested in high-quality CBD edibles and merchandise? Check out the FGE shop and FGE Etsy Store ♦ How does this relate to the brain activities in meditation you may ask? It’s the same area that lights up with excessive activity in those with anxiety. And, it is the same area that CBD reduces activity in. Combining this with meditation can be a mind-blowing experience. Imagine feeling less clouded and finally feeling like being able to concentrate properly. How great would that be?
Like most mysterious things, questions about CBD are abundant. Writing one FAQ article about CBD is not enough. So, prepare to learn even more about CBD! 1. Is CBD dangerous? No, CBD is not dangerous. CBD works with the natural endocannabinoid biological system within all animals. This includes humans, dogs, horses, cats, birds, and even invertebrates. It is also essential to remember cannabis is a natural plant that has been growing on Earth for millions of years, utilized by humans for thousands of years. 2. Can you get “high” from CBD? No! Or, at least, you shouldn’t. If you take CBD and feel a “high,” then that means whatever company you bought the CBD from has lied to you. Only full-spectrum CBD should have any amount of THC in it; even then, the “high” will be minimal. 3. Is CBD addictive? No, CBD is not addictive. However to first understand why CBD isn’t considered addictive, first must be understood what kind of substances do cause addiction. A Little Bit About Addiction Commonly, substances need to be abused/used beyond what is necessary or safe to cause an addiction. Some drugs are considered to be “hard” as they are capable of causing addiction extremely fast and typically make the user physically dependent. Such drugs include cocaine, morphine, meth, nicotine (depending on the legislation), heroin, and alcohol. Certain drugs, such as cocaine, morphine, meth, and heroin are extremely addictive to the point that a little bit can cause reliance. “Soft” drugs include caffeine (depending on legislation), marijuana, and LSD, due to their more behavioral-based addiction. They are commonly sought out due to their social status/norm and the “harmlessness.” However, just because something is a “soft drug” does not automatically make it safe. ♦ Interested in high-quality CBD edibles and merchandise? Check out the FGE shop and FGE Etsy Store ♦ CBD, although a cannabinoid of cannabis, is not the same as marijuana. Marijuana is made up of several parts of the cannabis plant, commonly smoked and laced within bakery items. CBD is considered to be a prescription drug or a recreational drug, depending on where it is being sold. CBD, in short, is not addictive and offers no “high” to generate a suitable behavioral addiction. 4. What exactly is CBD and where does it come from? CBD, short for cannabidiol, is just one of the many cannabinoids of the cannabis plant. It is a natural part of both cannabis and hemp plants. CBD is commonly extracted from the flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant, singled out from the other cannabinoids to create a pure, dedicated product. 5. Will CBD help me as much as THC would? Many, many studies have been done focusing on how each of these cannabinoids interacts with/affects the human body. In the short conclusion of those studies, CBD is believed to offer the same benefits as THC, minus the side effect of the “high”/euphoria. Wait, I Have Further Questions! No need to fear, for FGE chat, is here! If you have any more CBD questions, concerns, or general inquiries, travel on over to the Feel Good Edibles home page and check out the “chat” option. We are more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Would you believe that cannabis usage dates back to BC/BCE in every single religion? It may seem strange to connect religion to cannabis, but there’s a surprisingly deep connection. Through the lens of religion, everything created on this earth is made for us to use. Keep reading to find out how cannabis relates to different religions and cultures. But, before reading, understand that this information is based on research, evidence, and well… passion. To avoid misconceptions, doing your research is advised. Also, this is information-heavy and mind-boggling too, so prepare for the ride, folks. Abrahamic Religion Jumping into learning about cannabis and religion, first, we’ll be looking through the lens of Christianity. A Polish etymologist, Sula Benet, reviewed the Old Testament and noticed a discrepancy when cannabis was mentioned in the Bible. It was mistranslated when it was originally translated from Hebrew to Greek as a plant to make fragrances. Moses was said to make a holy oil consisting of myrrh, sweet cinnamon, kaneh-bosm, and cassia. These ingredients were said to be added by Moses himself. But, since the original text was changed from Hebrew to Greek, incorrect translation changed word meaning. What was once cannabis in Hebrew, became simply “a plant for fragrances” in Greek. To dive deeper into this, the religion of Judaism as we know dates back thousands of years, and in addition to the Psalm, Moses spoke of the same plant: kaneh-bosm in Exodus 30:22-30: Then, in the 16th century Cairo, Rabbi ben Solomon ibn Abi Zimra also shined light upon this plant and how it can be of benefit. Psalm 104:14, states that God created herbs for humanity. To this day those trying to diminish stigmas on CBD also say this. The epic thing is, in all three Abrahamic religions, Cannabis is not shunned or looked down upon but is said to be used for its benefits and aid. It may be used in instances needed to heal or relieve pain. Moreover, there are more mentions in Genesis as well. Finally, although there is no historical mention of cannabis in Islam, some scholars have deemed medicinal cannabis as okay. Intoxicating amounts aren’t, which is the same as all the other Abrahamic religions. Buddhism Moving onto Buddhism, similar things are said about cannabis. In Buddhism, there are the Five Precepts also known as the Pancha Sila, and they consist of “pillars,” for Buddhists to follow. The fifth one is: “I observe, refraining from taking any intoxicant or drug.” Now, although the teachings of Buddha did not specifically prohibit the use of cannabis, it did warn its believers about intoxication. Somewhere must not go to the point where they might be unable to properly follow the teachings. Throughout time, many monks have been found smoking marijuana for its therapeutic effects, but there has been an up-and-down discussion on whether it should be legal or not, and for that, the battle continues today. To wrap up the religious aspect, many have depicted that Buddha might have been holding cannabis in the bowl of soma. Hinduism Finally, taking another one of the major religions into account, Hinduism has quite a history with cannabis. Interestingly enough, some Hindus believe that cannabis was sent as compassion from God so that humanity could decrease their fear and feel the joyous aspects of life. Some individuals believe that it was a drop of nectar that was sent from heaven. Many people, also state that the two, Gods and Demons, whisked the milk in the ocean to obtain amrita (amrita is Sanskrit for immortality). From there a drop touched the earth, and from there sprouted a plant of cannabis. Shiva and other gods in Hinduism took part in this, and Shiva himself has been historically known to smoke cannabis as well as be in deep meditation while smoking the plant. Nowadays, cannabis drinks are widely ingested in parts of India during religious festivals such as Maha Shivaratri, during which Nepal lifts its ban every year for the festival. Countries, Culture, and Religion Touching upon the countries now, the consumption of cannabis in China ended around 200 C.E., but by then it was just being introduced to India, as China borders India. Cannabis in India and Hinduism can be popular, but in China, it was historically popular too. Taoist Shamans used cannabis with ginseng because it was believed their spirit would have a positive effect from it. And, as some say, it would help cast their spirits to the future. However, cannabis was something that was looked at from the lens of being high in power, which is why only religious officials could use it for a certain time. However, by 200 C.E., the Han Dynasty had left Taoism for Confucianism, and the use of cannabis was abandoned. ♦ Interested in high-quality CBD edibles and merchandise? Check out the FGE shop and FGE Etsy Store ♦ Touching a bit upon Ancient Greece, it can be seen that Herodotus, who was a Greek Historian, took part in religious ceremonies. Tents would be set up with hemp leaves burning in the center of them. This has been happening since the 5th century B.C.E. And not just in Greece, but Assyrians used cannabis as incense for general purposes. Such as for funerary rituals, which have been happening since the 9th century B.C.E. What About Now? So much history, are you tired of it? Let’s talk about something that took place fairly recently compared to these historical instances. Bob Marley, a Jamaican singer was a significant reason cannabis became popularized in America. Shockingly, the use of cannabis was looked down upon for many years, in many places, no matter how much exposure and popularity was spread by Bob Marley and other advocates. Then, in 1993 when the Religious Freedom and Restoration Act came into play, was when under the legal law, cannabis use would be allowed for spiritual and religious purposes. Though it simply stated that every person can practice their religion
