PURPLE HAZE

The Cultural And Historical Context Of Psychoactive Plants

It is a commonplace for individuals to think "drug culture" is a
concept that was instigated in the more recent part of our
civilization's history. However, before the vilification and
prohibition of any and all mind-altering drugs, these plants held a
profound cultural significance in many different societies. Drugs
have a long history of use in many contexts, such as religious
ceremonies, divination rituals, spirit journeys and recreation.

According to Dr. N. C. Kenkel's Medicinal and Hallucinogenic plants
course notes, cocaine, for example, was widely used by the Incas in
South America in its naturally occurring plant form. The plant,
called the "divine coca," was considered property of the royal
family. The traditional use of this plant involves picking about two
ounces of the leaves, and chewing on them over the course of a day to
produce a mild stimulating effect without the symptoms associated
with cocaine abuse. In a traditional context, it was used to overcome
hunger and fatigue and reduce altitude sickness.

Both the Aztec and Mayan civilizations of Central America and Mexico
engaged in the use of numerous different species of psilocybin
mushrooms, or rather, magic mushrooms. Often they were used for
communication with the spiritual world and to diagnose different
illnesses, but they also were used simply for recreational purposes.
However, the invasion of the Spanish caused the shamanistic use of
the mushroom to be pushed underground, as it was considered a
heretical act, punishable by death.

And of course, everyone's favourite plant, marijuana, has a long
history of use as well. It is one of the first plants to be
cultivated by humans, with evidence of its use dating back 8,000
years in Asia. At this time, it was used merely for the hemp fibres,
and was not used as an inebriant in that region until about 2,000
years ago. In India, the use of marijuana as an intoxicant was also
well known. An old ayurvedic medical document dating back 3,500 years
referred to cannabis sativa as "the sacred grass." The plant was also
introduced to Africa, most likely as a medicine, and was also used in
Mexico in religious ceremonies.

But it doesn't stop there. There are dozens of hallucinogenic plants
that have been (and in some cases, still are) used in shamanistic or
ceremonial context, many of which are virtually unknown to the
western world. One example of this is ayahuasca, a vine species found
in the Amazon region of South America, widely used in to evoke
visions of other realms, and also for communicating with ancestors.
Ayahuasca, which is made into a tonic, is usually drunk in large
family groups. It is often said that when under the influence of the
drug, people tend to experience a "collective unconsciousness" and
telepathy, in addition to the hallucinogenic visions.

Unfortunately, the spiritual and cultural context that these plants
stemmed from has largely been lost due to disparagement and misuse.
Psychoactive plants have historically been (and can still be) used to
aid spirituality, self-discovery, and to induce thought and the
experience of a change in consciousness. The significance of an
alteration in one's mental state is something to be appreciated and
respected, rather than taken for granted and abused, consumed for the
sole purpose of getting "messed up" (as often occurs in our society).
As long as one understands the limitations and precautions of a
certain plant and respects its physical and cultural significance,
experimenting with one's own mental state can be a sacred,
enlightening, and wonderful experience.

*The Manitoban does not endorse the use of any illegal substance.