Research Uncovers The Facts Of Cannabis Use In Ancient Jewish Religious Rites

Illustration (Matthew Brodeur / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Recently, an archaeological study in Israel revealed other evidence of the use of marijuana in ancient cultures. This time in Judaism, where marijuana and frankincense were used in religious rituals by ancient Jews.

This is supported by the findings of Israeli researchers who found marijuana residues in artifacts from ancient temples at Tel Arad, Beersheba Bees, Israel. Launching The Guardian, through the Tel Aviv academic journal, the Journal of the Tel Aviv University Institute of Archeology, researchers have carried out chemical analyzes of samples at Hebrew University and the Israel Institute of Technology.

As a result, they found three compounds found in marijuana, namely tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannibinol (CBN) on the second altar. Researchers have also found traces of the use of incense which is allegedly one of the materials mentioned in the Bible as incense for sacrifices at ancient Jewish temples.

On that basis, this discovery is the first evidence that marijuana plays a role in perpetuating Jewish religious rituals from the past as well as continued evidence of the use of marijuana in ancient cultural history. A researcher and lead author of the study, Eran Arie called the discovery revolutionary.

This is because the discovery of the use of marijuana in the area of ancient temples is the first evidence of the presence of psychoactive substances in religious rituals in the Kingdom of Judah. "Its use (of marijuana) in temples plays a central role in the cultic rituals that are carried out there," he said.

Even so, Eri said, it is possible that the marijuana used for rituals is imported from outside the region. Remember, there is no evidence that marijuana was ever planted in the location around the temple. In addition, chemical analysis also provides an illustration of how ancient Jews burned marijuana in dried animal dung.

In fact, there are indications of the use of marijuana in religious rituals at Tel Arad as well as being present at the Jerusalem Temple. In the 1960's, archaeological excavations at Tel Arad found a fortress belonging to the Kingdom of Judah, where there is a temple that bears similarities to other temples in Jerusalem.