Entheogens & the Cannabis Connection: Exploring Ancient Rituals

For centuries, cultures worldwide have used plant medicines—also known as entheogens—to expand consciousness, heal the body, and connect with the divine. While substances like ayahuasca, peyote, and psilocybin mushrooms are often at the center of psychedelic rituals, cannabis has a deep and often overlooked history in spiritual and shamanic traditions.

As we enter the Psychedelic Renaissance, many are rediscovering the role of cannabis as an entheogen—a sacred tool for personal transformation, healing, and spiritual awakening.

What Are Entheogens?

Entheogens are psychoactive plants and fungi that have been used in spiritual and healing practices for thousands of years. The word “entheogen” comes from the Greek words entheos (meaning “divinely inspired”) and genesthai (meaning “to generate”), referring to substances that induce mystical or transcendental experiences.

Some well-known entheogens include:

• Ayahuasca (South America)

• Peyote & San Pedro (Indigenous North & South America)

• Psilocybin Mushrooms (Used in Mesoamerican & worldwide traditions)

• Iboga (West Africa)

• Cannabis (Used in numerous cultures, from India to ancient China)

Cannabis is unique among entheogens because it produces a range of effects depending on dose, strain, and set & setting. It has been used in meditation, healing rituals, and even religious ceremonies.

The Ancient Spiritual Use of Cannabis

1. Cannabis in Hinduism & Tantra

In India, cannabis has been revered for thousands of years as a sacred plant associated with Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and transformation.

Bhang, a cannabis-infused drink, is consumed during Hindu festivals like Holi and Maha Shivaratri to induce meditative states, relaxation, and spiritual insight.

In Tantric traditions, cannabis was used to heighten awareness and facilitate deep meditation.

2. Cannabis in Ancient Chinese Medicine

The earliest recorded medical and spiritual uses of cannabis date back to ancient China (circa 2700 BCE).

The Shennong Ben Cao Jing, one of the oldest texts on herbal medicine, describes cannabis as a plant that “lightens the body and allows one to communicate with spirits.”

Taoist monks reportedly used cannabis incense to enhance meditation and enter trance states.

3. Cannabis & Middle Eastern Mysticism

In Sufism, some mystics used cannabis to aid in devotional practices, poetry, and music, believing it could help them attain deeper spiritual experiences.

The Hashashin (the origin of the word “Assassin”) were rumored to use hashish as part of initiation rituals, though much of this is likely myth.

4. Cannabis & Ancient African Spirituality

In parts of Africa, cannabis has been used in spiritual and medicinal practices for centuries.

Some South African tribes used cannabis in ritualistic drumming and trance ceremonies, believing it connected them to their ancestors.

5. Cannabis in Rastafarianism

The Rastafari movement (originating in Jamaica) views cannabis as a sacrament that brings users closer to Jah (God).

Ganja ceremonies involve meditation, drumming, and communal use of cannabis to foster unity, wisdom, and divine connection.

How Cannabis Functions as an Entheogen

Unlike classic psychedelics like psilocybin or DMT, cannabis’s effects can range from mild euphoria to deeply introspective or mystical states. When used intentionally, it can:

• Enhance meditation & mindfulness

• Facilitate deep emotional processing

• Heighten sensory perception (music, colors, and nature feel more profound)

• Help access dream-like or visionary states

• Increase connection to self, others, and the universe

Some high-THC strains, particularly landrace sativas, have been known to create effects similar to low-dose psychedelics, inducing:

• Time distortion

• Enhanced creativity

• Profound introspection

• Mystical or ego-dissolving experiences

Modern Cannabis Rituals for Consciousness Expansion

1. Cannabis & Meditation

Try using cannabis to deepen your meditation practice:

Choose a strain with relaxing or introspective effects (e.g., Granddaddy Purple or Blue Dream).

Set an intention before consuming—what do you hope to explore or release?

Use a guided meditation or breathwork technique to enhance awareness.

2. Cannabis & Sound Healing

Sound and vibration can enhance cannabis’s effects:

Listen to binaural beats, Tibetan singing bowls, or shamanic drumming.

Experiment with chanting or toning to activate different states of consciousness.

3. Cannabis & Creative Flow

Cannabis has been used by musicians, poets, and artists to enhance creativity.

Try pairing cannabis with painting, journaling, or dancing to enter a flow state.

4. Cannabis & Psychedelic Integration

If you’ve had a recent psychedelic experience, small amounts of cannabis can help process insights.

Journaling, meditating, or sitting in nature after consuming can bring clarity to lessons learned.

The Future of Cannabis in Psychedelic Spirituality

As the Psychedelic Renaissance continues, cannabis is regaining recognition as a powerful tool for healing and expanded consciousness. Modern spiritual seekers, therapists, and researchers are re-examining how cannabis can:

Be integrated into psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Serve as an accessible alternative for those who aren’t ready for full psychedelic journeys.

Support intentional, mindful use beyond recreational consumption.

Cannabis is no longer just a “high”—it is a consciousness-enhancing plant with a deep history of ritual, healing, and transformation.

Reclaiming Cannabis as a Sacred Plant

For too long, cannabis has been stigmatized, stripped of its cultural and spiritual significance. Now, as the psychedelic movement gains momentum, we have the opportunity to reclaim cannabis as an entheogen—a tool for awakening, healing, and self-discovery.

Would you consider incorporating cannabis into a spiritual or mindfulness practice? Let’s discuss in the comments!