Is Ganja from outer space?

 

As someone who is fascinated with all things extraterrestrial I have often gazed at the night skies searching for answers to serious questions like ‘Where do we come from’ and ‘where are we hoping to go?’

The first time I realized that there is a good possibility that Ganja comes from outer space was in high school in the 1980’s when I acquired a T shirt with an alien on the front with the caption “Take me to your dealer!” I still see those T shirts around! And the second time was when I learned that bees are not affected by THC. It was a deep connection that still fascinates me to this day and I can’t remember now if it was the bees or the ganja that I first thought came from outer space but now I believe that both do.

As a young herbalist I learnt from my Rastafari teachers how to extract this medicine into honey and the results were and still are mind blowing when I think of the healings we were achieving with honey-infused ganja medicine as far back as the late 1970’s.

We know from the teachings of French Bee keeper Nicholas Trainer (not his real name) that despite the fact that bees are the only creatures on earth that do not have endocannabinoid receptors, he was able to train his bees to harvest resin from the female flowers as well as the male pollen and produce Ganja Honey that is produced in different shades of green and yellow and contains the magical hive-substance known as propolis.

According to the Dutch Passion Seed Company’s review the honey was analyzed and presented with 30 mg THC per 10 grams of honey. https://dutch-passion.com/en/blog/the-bees-that-make-cannabis-honey-n766

“Analysis of the honey shows 30mg of THC in every 10g of honey. The honey itself has a green color to it, Dutch Passion were lucky enough to get a small pot of cannabis honey from Nicholas. The honey tastes as sweet as normal, but the taste is of freshly harvested cannabis - which makes sense since the cannabis didn't have time to dry before the bees gathered resin from it. It was a delicious treat for any cannabis fan. We didn’t get very stoned from a small taste of the cannabis honey, but Nicholas explained you need a couple of spoonfulls to get the best effect from it.”

Introducing Jason King author of 3 volumes of The Cannabible

Jason King started his ganja career because of the lack of solid information on different strains. I love his work because the first thing that struck me was the amazing photography and then I learnt that he is the photographer! Really talented he is in the way he has captured over 250 amazing strains some of which I have been blessed to have sampled. His knowledge is well portrayed as an art in his 3 volumes of The Cannabible and we give thanks for his contribution to Cannabis education.

Getting back to outer space and extraterrestrial life, I would love to share a segment from Volume 3 that directly addresses the topic of extraterrestrial origins of our beloved herb.

 “ARE YOU SIRIUS? By Jason King Cannabible #3

Take a look at the word cannabis ever wonder what it means? Cannabis is a Greek word though its root is Africa. In Greek canna means canine or dog and bis or bi is the number 2

So cannabis is the two dog plant that in itself is interesting to me but the pot thickens.

There is a cannabis-loving tribe in Mali West Africa called the Dogon Tribe. A fairly well documented group the Dogons were visited by Herodotus a Greek traveler and chronicler around 300 BCE.

He was fortunate enough to have visited the Dogons during a year-long celebration that would make the Cannabis cup seem pretty weak!

That took place every 50 years. Explaining their celebration the Dogons pointed to the brightest star- in the winter sky Sirius and said it was the two dog -star and that it was the home of the two dog plant, Cannabis.

The two-dog -plant they said was brought to our planet by the goddess from the two dog star. Their year-long celebration was in honor of that star. All of this would be easy to dismiss if not for the fact that the Dogons possessed specific knowledge about the Sirian system for thousands of years before scientists with modern telescopes and equipment could catch up and prove them right. The Dogons had specific knowledge about Sirius B a white dwarf star, which they call Po TOLO.

They knew that it was white, that it was extremely small and that it was the heaviest star in its grouping (as it turns out, its three hundred times denser than diamonds).

They were able to describe its elliptical orbit with Sirius  A. its 50 year orbital period and the fact that the star rotated on its own axis.

Sirius B is invisible to the naked eye and is so difficult to observe even through a telescope that no known photographs were taken of it until 1970.

They also described a third star in the Sirius system which they called Emme Ya In 1995 when two French astronomers published the results of a multiyear study of what was apparently a small red dwarf star within the Sirius system, the Dogon idea of there being a Sirius C aka Emme Ya was suddently taken much more seriously. If the Dogons were correct in all of their other knowledge about Sirius why would they not be dead on with their claims of cannabis being from Sirius?

It is after all, named after that two dog star! Think about it.

The Dogons were celebrating the fifty year orbital period of the Sirius system for thousands of years before astronomers could even detect Sirius B. how did they know this?

The Dogons claim that their astronomical knowledge was given to them by the Nommo, amphibious beings sent to Earth from Sirius for the benefit of mankind.

Could all of this potentially explain the astounding diversity within the cannabis gene pool?

Speaking specifically of flavors there are cannabis strains with flavors ranging from the sweetest fruit all the way to foul rotten meat (in a good way, if that is somehow possible) from astringent pine cleaner to chocolate to kids vitamins. I have tasted ganja strains that mimicked every fruit on the planet, including strawberry grape peach lemon lime plum raspberry blueberry guava blackberry mango cherry orange banana pineapple melons and more. Iv also tasted flavors reminiscent of just about every herb used in cooking including mint, basil sage rosemary and thyme. This amazing variety of familiar flavors is well documented in the Cannabible series but you may have noticed that on occasion I find myself at a loss for words when providing tasting notes. There we enter the realm of all the outer space flavors that words do not exist for; because there are no other similar flavors found on earth and thus no accurately descriptive words. I find that about half of the really good strains out there have these otherworldly flavors.

What if these strains and flavors really are from outer space? What if cannabis is a plant highly regarded and traded not just on our planet but throughout the universe? I picture cannabis as a miraculous plant that grows on thousands of planets throughout the universe and is introduced to suitable planets by benevolent beings such as the Nommo, to help spread the love’ are you with me?”

Wowzo! Give thanks Jason King, what a legendary tale! This is exactly the type of stuff children’s fantasy movies are made of and personally I don’t really need any scientific or other ‘evidence’ as proof of African Cosmology in this day and age. I enjoy a good tale and I embrace it all in the same way as “Indaba My Children” by Vusamazulu C. Mutwa.

Although I will tell you that I know of many African folk who will ask us why we are even discussing what African’s call ganja because definitely no Africans say ‘Cannabis’. Instead my African Idren will tell you straight up that that word is for Babylon scientists and police and I completely agree. In Africa we call the plant ganja, dagga, herb or weed. These are words that stem from our First Nations tribes from all over the world.

The earliest record of ganja outside of Egypt is from 14^th century Ethiopia and this is also an early link between ganja and Rastafari. From Ethiopia the seeds were taken south by Bantu-speaking people who spread the seeds to the Bushmen and the Hottentots. Legend states that the Bantu people also believed that dagga came to us from the gods of the ‘Two-Dog Star’.

I think that Jason is really onto something big in his research and I have always suspected that the people who claim to control this world have always known what comes from outer space and what is indigenous to Earth. The plant of many names, ganja, marijuana, weed, the human companion plant…the THC plant,…the Two-Dog-plant…is certainly no ordinary plant and that this plant also occupies such a unique role in human culture is more proof of the extraordinary properties of this mystical plant of renown.

The very first Cannabis Genome Map detailing gene arrangement on the chromosomes was published on 8 November 2018 in the Journal Genome Research 

The Cannabis genome map was the first and highly anticipated study that reveals the history of the evolution of ganja. You can take a look at this report for more information on the map. https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2018/worlds-first-cannabis-chromosome-map-reveals-the-plants-evolutionary-history

The evolution of ganja is mostly a mystery, and there are still no known evolutionary ancestors but scientists tend to agree that it is most likely that ganja split from its closest botanical relative being the hops plant about 27 million years ago. On the cannabinoid spectrum, of particular interest to me is the way the gene sequences for THCA and CBDA are almost identical. This proves that they both come from the same original gene before it was duplicated to evolve independently. You can follow the story on this link https://genome.cshlp.org/content/early/2018/11/07/gr.242594.118.abstract

In my book Cannabis is The Human Companion plant I refer to ganja as “the plant whisperer of human DNA because of the ongoing transmission to our DNA through the control of Cannabis over our hormonal system…”  In my opinion one of the most revealing areas of biological and botanical research today is the genetic sequencing of Cannabis sativa. 

It is known that the sacred herb’s DNA is so extraordinary because of the unique components of the plant. So much so, that there is no sharing with any other plant on Earth. But there is sharing with humans and the Cannabis Genome reveals a fascinating fact that we humans share more than 40% of our DNA with ganja! In my opinion the biological proof of this is that we have already evolved to produce the human versions of THC and CBD. And now the whole world knows about these vital components that can treat disease and other human disorders.

The truth is that we share about 50% of our DNA with all plants, so to share more than 40% with the sacred herb makes complete sense. Don’t be surprised then to learn that we also share 50% of our DNA with mushrooms!

Of even more proof to me is the realization that ganja can influence humans to become better humans filled with love, empathy and humility. If this isn’t regarded as proof of genetic reasons to consume ganja that should warrant a worldwide moratorium on all means and forms of prohibition, then I really don’t know what more research might even qualify.

The two-dog-plant from the two-dog-star….how can you not believe this?

Well, some non-believers even argue that Jason King is incorrect because they say that the Greek interpretation is wrong because the earliest use of the word Cannabis, is in the Sumerian language “kanubi” that means “cane of two (sexes)” and not ‘canine’ but CANE!

Is it possible that the reason why ganja is so ‘lit’, is because it comes from the brightest star in the skies, meaning that it outshines all the other stars? And bear in mind that its name, Sirius, comes from the Greek word for ‘sparkling’ or ‘scorching’.

So next time you have a chance to meditate, roll a few fatty’s or pack your bong and head into nature to see if you can spot some cosmic dogs in the evening sky as darkness falls. The skies are always filled with miracles and as I lay flat on my back looking upwards blazing into the starlight, I shall be dreaming of the dank that could be grown on the super star of Sirius, home of the Two-Dog Plant.

Cannabis and End of Life Care

When I think back to my younger years of working with this medicine I am constantly reminded how so many people only came to me once they were already on their ‘death-bed’ and doctors had given up hope in their own treatments. Often times the plant was able to offer medical miracles and patients continued to enjoy a good life.

In 1987 I nursed the first HIV Aids patient admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital and since that time I have been helping patients living with HIV and Aids to get hold of this medicine. So many who became ill in the late ‘80’s are now still living the good life and I can only attribute this to the ever-powerful healing properties of the human companion plant. Many people died in my arms after suffering from AIDS and I am happy that I was able to be there to hold their hands as they crossed over.

But many more people have survived because of their decision to self-medicate with Cannabis and receive the immense immune-boosting properties of this medicine

A lot of people cannot understand why millions of people with life-threatening diseases, especially small children suffering from cancer, epilepsy, TB and HIV, are legally denied access to a natural plant medicine that people could be growing at home. No one should be denied Cannabis in the light of all the research that we can all access in this day and age. It is not difficult to understand why so many people feel that they are quite literally being legislated out of their own health and well-being by being legally denied Cannabis. Far too many people have died unnecessarily because of lack of access to Cannabis. If only we had listened earlier; so many more lives could have been saved.

Here is an extract from chapter 18 of my book Cannabis is The Human Companion Plant

“Cannabis can even assist us in the end of life transition…

While Cannabis has already saved millions of lives in medical miracles over the years, it is also the most effective and safest medicinal option in palliative care. Patients suffering from symptoms of incurable conditions benefit immensely in respect of treating nausea, vomiting, headaches, pain, fatigue, insomnia, lack of appetite, constipation and diarrhoea, muscle wastage, anxiety, depression and bed-sores.

Most of the time doctors will prescribe a different drug for each of these symptoms, where Cannabis will take care of all of them as a comprehensive treatment with no side-effects or end-organ damage. 

With palliative care comes end-of-life care, and this is where Cannabis serves as an adjuvant medication. This means that it offers treatment firstly to suppress any secondary tumour formations, and secondly to boost the immune system from the harsh effects of chemotherapy and other radiation treatments.

Terminally ill patients and people at the end of their natural lives need care that is designed to make them as comfortable, and as clear-minded as possible. Today, end-of-life care generally consists of pain killers and more pain killers, which only make people more nauseous and more depressed and confused.

On a spiritual level Cannabis can help us to deal with our questions and fears about death and transcending to the afterlife. It is the psychoactive effects of THC that can induce feelings of elation and relaxation in certain people, whereas in others who have heavy hearts it can bring about feelings of paranoia and fear. Death is never easy, because we really don’t know much about it, but one thing is for certain, death is always going to be part of life. This is why it is so important to address our spiritual health while we live. It is the psychedelic properties of Cannabis that can help us to achieve such enlightenment.

THC can take us to levels of consciousness we are not able to reach without psychedelics, and it is also true that Cannabis is not the only plant that can offer end-of-life assistance; for example, many people use magic mushrooms, mescaline from the San Pedro plant, and even Ayahuasca and Iboga, the most psychedelic plant known to man, for this same purpose of crossing over, as humans have been doing for spiritual rituals for thousands of years.

Cannabis takes us from one level of consciousness to a higher level of consciousness and closer to enlightenment or spiritual illumination. I believe that all psychedelic plants were created to bring humans into closer communion with our Creator. This is why we have receptors in our brains for these substances, proving that ancient plants are the solution to so many of our modern-day problems.

Cannabis takes care of us physically in terms of the health of our body and brain, but in my work I have had the opportunity to observe how Cannabis is the plant catalyst to spirituality, and the very mechanism to attaining all things beyond this physical realm. THC can teach us to overcome our fear of death while we still live, by enhancing our visions of death-like experiences, and even our own deaths. 

It is difficult to evaluate this type of Cannabis healing, other than taking the patient’s own reports into account. Most of the time, patients simply pass on, and their families wonder whether they were in pain. Most patients and their families and carers report that Cannabis medicine is very valuable in assisting with the emotional and physical trauma associated with terminal illness and imminent death.

In addition, it is not uncommon for patients to gain such incredible healing from Cannabis that they are able to be discharged from hospice and go home and do things for themselves like bathing and housework. This sense of independence allows them to pass in peace at home. Many terminal patients have confessed that this is their ultimate dying wish, and it is the pleasure of our human companion plant to grant this wish.

Medical practitioners and paediatricians and even veterinarians, continue to be amazed at the miraculous healing abilities of the Cannabis plant. Truly this plant has shown us many miracles that people continue to experience even long after doctors say there is no hope. I can be honest and say that over 90% of my patients come to me as a last resort. A lot of people have seen me at their death bed and then weeks later we are drinking tea together. But for too many others, when I get to the death bed, the patient is often closer to pearly gates, than to death’s door. It is never fair to offer false hope, and sometimes it is simply too late.

And I really urge people not to wait until a family member is on their death bed before considering Cannabis medicine.”

In my opinion, at the heart of all of our questions is What if death is not the end?

If this were true then there really would be absolutely nothing to fear. Generally speaking if we claim to have ‘faith’... then we would believe that ultimately there is something greater than this life. We also then have faith in the idea that we will reacquaint with our loved ones who have passed before us and even our animal companions.

Many ancient cultures always had the idea that this is equivalent to a reunion with the Divine…The Most High….the Creator….the Divine...that actually always lived inside of each of us the whole time.

If we truly believed that there is greatness after life-and-death, and that it is amazing and glorious, then surely we would have nothing to fear about the afterlife and we could realize that we really ought to look forward to it because in my experience this idea of ‘living in fear’ is precisely what disconnects us from the Divine. My greatest wish is that everyone can find the courage and curiosity to not succumb to living this life in any kind of fear. Cannabis is the reason that I am not afraid of death and it is also the very reason that I am so happy to be alive! 

This paper is dedicated to all the palliative healers out there who stay with their patients and help them to cross over in love and peace, bless you for you are all angels with super-powers!