A comprehensive history of the religious pasts of marijuana and the sacramental use of cannabis throughout the ages. Claiming that every religion of the Old World was at one time based on some kind of drug-induced initiation, the authors assert that hemp was a primary sacrament for the majority of humanity's religions, a sacred vehicle used to gain insight, ecstasy and communion with their gods—from early Pantheism to Hinduism, from the Buddhists to the Sufis, from the Moslems of Egypt to the Bantus of Africa. Quoting from William A. Emboden in his Ritual Use of Cannabis Sativa: “Whereas Western religious traditions generally stress sin, repentance and mortification of the flesh, certain older non-Western religious cults seem to have employed cannabis as a euphoriant; which allowed the participant a joyous path to the Ultimate; hence, such appelations as 'heavenly guide.'” With illustrations, extensive footnotes, a bibliogrpahy for further referencing and an appendix that includes bhang and majoon recipes, Green Gold is a well-researched, commanding sourcebook for anyone interested in the long and controversial history of marijuana. MGG

Publisher: Access Unlimited
Paperback: 485 pages