Long before cannabis became a political fight, an illegal drug or a modern medical controversy, people were using it for purposes that reach surprisingly deep into human history.
Chris Bennett has spent 36 years investigating that history. His latest book, Cannabis: Lost Sacrament of the Ancient World, examines archaeological evidence, ancient texts and religious traditions that he believes reveal a forgotten role for cannabis in medicine and sacred ritual.
One discovery changed the stakes considerably.
At Tel Arad, an ancient Judahite shrine, cannabis was identified on an altar. For Bennett, the finding intersected with a theory he had already pursued for decades involving the Hebrew terms kaneh and kaneh-bosm and whether certain biblical passages may contain references to cannabis.
That is also where Dr. Sherri Tenpenny begins pushing back.
Bennett’s interpretation reaches into Exodus, the holy anointing oil, the Holy of Holies and his controversial views about ancient Israelite worship. Rather than accepting those conclusions at face value, Dr. Tenpenny challenges him to explain how he gets from the archaeological evidence to the much larger religious argument he makes.
Their conversation also reaches into the medicinal history of cannabis, its use across ancient cultures and Bennett’s account of how prohibition transformed public perception of a plant humans had used for thousands of years.
The archaeology is fascinating. What Bennett believes it means is where this conversation becomes much more provocative.
Important Links:
Book: Cannabis: Lost Sacrament of the Ancient World
Substack: @ChrisBennett
Today’s Show Sponsors:
Prime Membership
Prime is where we continue the kind of independent health education that encourages people to investigate rather than simply accept what they are told. Members have access to deeper educational content, expert conversations, research and Ask the Expert events designed to help you make more informed decisions about your health.
Supplements
When it comes to supporting the body itself, detoxification and trace mineral support are two foundational areas I continually come back to. Our modern environment exposes us to substances our bodies have to process every day, while mineral depletion can affect many of the systems involved in normal cellular function. These are foundational tools for supporting resilience rather than treatments for any condition discussed in this interview.
You can explore Dr. Tenpenny’s complete health and wellness resources at supplements.drtenpenny.com
