About Cannabis

Hindu Mythology

The consumption of cannabis in various forms for spiritual awakening has been practiced in India for thousands of years, even recorded in the ancient Atharvaveda (1200-1500 BC) where cannabis is described as one of the five most sacred plants on Earth. The Vedas call cannabis a source of happiness, joy-giver, liberator that was compassionately given to humans to help us attain delight and lose fear. By the 10th century CE, it has been suggested that it was referred to by some in India as the “Food of God”. Cannabis has been traditionally associated with Shiva worship which is why he is often called the ‘Lord of Bhang’.

There are numerous folktales about Cannabis’s first appearance on the planet, most of which revolve around the well-known tale of the ‘Churning of the Ocean’. When the gods and demons came together to churn the ocean to obtain Amrita, the drink of immortality, a by-product of this churning was the poison Halahla, the most venomous poison in the universe, whose fumes could kill both gods and demons. Lord Shiva saved the world by drinking the Halahal created by Sagar Manthan (Ocean Churning) and as a result his throat turned blue (Neelkanth). But, the agony of the burning poison was too much to handle. In this situation, goddess Parvati, churned some cannabis (bhang), and he was then relieved of the pain. From this time on, Lord Shiva started being offered Dhatura, cannabis and water.

According to another legend, lord Shiva wandered off into the fields after an angry discourse with his family. Drained from the family conflict and the hot sun, he fell asleep under a leafy plant. When he awoke, his curiosity led him to sample the leaves of the plant. Instantly rejuvenated, Shiva made the plant his favorite food and he became known as the Lord of Bhang.

Apart from Hindu mythology, in ancient Germanic culture, cannabis was associated with the Norse love goddess, Freya. Sufis too have used cannabis in a spiritual context since the 13th century CE. The Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, a religious movement founded in the United States consider cannabis to be the Eucharist. In fact, Gnostic Christian sects have asserted that cannabis is the ‘Tree of Life’.

The Cannabis plant has two main varieties: Marijuana and Hemp. Before we dive into the difference between Hemp and Marijuana, we first need to understand the various compounds found in the Cannabis plant. The Cannabis plant produce over 100 different compounds called Cannabinoids. The 2 main cannabinoids usually produced in greatest abundance are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD). THC has psychoactive properties, which is why it produces a feeling of being high when consumed. CBD, on the other hand, is a non-psychoactive compound, so it produces no “high” and doesn’t interfere with your cognitive functioning. The THC/CBD ratio is genetically determined and remains fixed throughout the life of the plant. CBD and THC appear in both C. Sativa and C. Indica plants. However, the concentration of CBD or THC depends on whether the plant was sourced from marijuana or hemp.

“Marijuana” is a term used to classify varieties of Cannabis that contain more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (by dry weight). Marijuana, which contains up to 40% THC, comes from either C. Indica or C. Sativa. On the other hand, “Hemp” is a term used to classify varieties of Cannabis that contain 0.3% or less THC content (by dry weight) and instead has a much higher concentration of CBD. The Hemp plant has no psychoactive effects and comes from only C. Sativa.

People often confuse hemp with marijuana, although they come from the same plant—cannabis—they’re very different from each other. When most people think of cannabis, they think of marijuana. The reason marijuana makes people high is because it contains THC, not because it comes from cannabis.

In India it is not lawful to possess or use marijuana products, including those CBD products that are derived from marijuana, or any that contain more than 0.3% THC. The law in India states that it is legal to produce only the Industrial Hemp in India having 0.3% or less THC content. Sheen Biotech is the first and so far only license holder for cultivation of medicinal cannabis and extraction of CBD Oil and its derivatives in India.

Our body has an Endocannabinoid system (ECS) responsible for maintaining our body in a state of optimal homeostasis. In other words, the ECS works to keep our body in a stable condition where everything is working at its best. Our body is at its healthiest when it’s in a state of equilibrium, so the ECS works with the various systems in our body to maintain this equilibrium.

The body’s endocannabinoid system is involved in regulating our emotions, motor control, immune system, and pain response. Our ECS is made up of endocannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors, and enzymes. The endocannabinoids our body produces are similar to external cannabinoids like CBD, which allows them to respond to each other.

When we ingest CBD, it binds to cannabinoid receptors throughout our brain and body. These are located throughout our nervous system, digestive system, and immune system. In binding to these receptors, CBD helps our endocannabinoid system communicate better with these other systems, enabling it to create positive health effects like reduced inflammation and pain relief. After the endocannabinoids have bonded to the cannabinoid receptors and served their purpose, enzymes in our ECS work to break them down, preventing them from overcorrecting.