Q: Kaneh bosm or marijuana in the Bible…harmful or helpful? Good or bad?

A: Not being familiar with the term “Kaneh bosm, ” I decided to do a Google search, and was surprised to find this website, among many others devoted to the subject. Evidently, there are a lot of people wanting to connect marijuana (cannabis) use to a spiritual practice—and to connect it to herbs mentioned in the Bible. This, however, is nothing new. Throughout history, man has been searching for material ways to become more spiritual and closer to God. See this Wikipedia article

See also “Fetishes, Charms and Magic” in The Urantia Book.

You want me to tell you whether this substance is good or bad, harmful or helpful…

Well, I cannot decide this for you. This is something that you’ll have to decide for yourself.

Marijuana use has always been somewhat controversial, as far back as the 1920s and 30s. In the ’60s, it enjoyed a resurgence with the “hippie movement, ” and then fell out of favor in later decades, as it became associated with stronger, more addictive drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. It has been thought to be a “gateway” to more dangerous drugs.

There have been harsh laws against marijuana usage until fairly recently, when the benefits of this plant began to be recognized, and it is now being singled out as a possible aid in a number of diseased conditions of the body and mind. This has brought about legislation in a number of US states which decriminalizes it for medical use, while not actually legalizing it for general use. Many consider this a step towards eventual acceptance of marijuana as a therapeutic substance derived from a natural plant. And again, its use as a spiritual tool has long held influence, notwithstanding its characterization in popular culture and legislative bodies.

The rightness/wrongness—harmfulness/harmlessness—and the usefulness of marijuana use—like the use of any mind-altering substance, requires common sense and an honest examination of one’s personal motivation for its use. I might suggest that you educate yourself thoroughly about kaneh bosm, and come to your own conclusions about it. The Urantia Book is silent on this subject, although it does advise against the use of “physical poisons:”

(110:1.5) …But how unkind knowingly to defile or otherwise deliberately to pollute the physical body, which must serve as the earthly tabernacle of this marvelous gift from God. All physical poisons greatly retard the efforts of the Adjuster to exalt the material mind, while the mental poisons of fear, anger, envy, jealousy, suspicion, and intolerance likewise tremendously interfere with the spiritual progress of the evolving soul.

Is marijuana a “physical poison?” It is probably not very good for optimum lung function when smoked, but whether it is a “poison” such as that described in this quote is something that you’ll have to determine for yourself.

There is a great deal to be said for a spiritual practice that relies solely upon one’s sober and experiential connection to the indwelling Thought Adjuster, a practice that is greatly helped by the revelation in The Urantia Book about this God-fragment in our minds. At the same time, I can understand why someone might find marijuana use to be helpful, given its long history for this purpose…but I cannot make these determinations for anyone else.

Thanks again for your question—I learned something today! And I hope my reply has been helpful to you…