Mama Cannabis and the Embodied Feminine: an Ancient Psychedelic for Modern Times
Bonnie Glass‐coffin, Saundra Shanti
BRILL eBooks June 16, 2025 DOI: 10.1163/9789004729759_020 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Autoethnography Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Argues that Cannabis sativa is the oldest, most widely used, yet least considered psychedelic 'plant teacher,' whose intertwined history with human spiritual development has been largely forgotten. The authors contend that cannabis has transformational potential for individuals in Cannabis-assisted therapy and for the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy, and they criticize the tendency to objectify and 'medicalize' psychedelics, calling for the 're-sacralization' of entheogenic healing. |
Abstract
This chapter describes the traditions, training, alterations of consciousness, healing ritual, and ethnomedical ideologies of Cannabis sativa, which is the oldest, most widely used, yet least considered plant teacher of the psychedelic renaissance. After briefly summarizing the recent literature about the deeply intertwined histories of Cannabis sativa and its intimate relationship with human spiritual development (and some of the reasons for the loss of our knowledge about these relationships), we explore ways in which this plant teacher is now being recognized as a powerful ally in the work of personal and planetary transformation. The chapter takes an explicitly feminine and embodied approach as we discuss the unique gifts of Cannabis sativa as a psychedelic medicine that has transformational potential, both for the individuals engaging in Cannabis-assisted therapy and for the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Specifically, our approach takes issue with the tendency to objectify and “medicalize” psychedelics by some researchers, addressing an urgently identified need to re-sacralize entheogenic healing. Intentionally autoethnographic, we illustrate this approach through rich descriptions and through inclusion of art and poetic-narrative that highlight ways this plant-spirit-medicine continues to transform our lives and our work.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychoactive substances as a last resort—a qualitative study of self-treatment of migraine and cluster headaches Users of online forums discussing cluster headache and migraine treatments | 2017 | Qualitative thematic analysis | |
| Psychoactive drug or mystical incense? Overview of the online available information on Spice products Web pages related to Spice products | 2009 | Qualitative study | n = 200 |
| Patterns, Trends, and Meanings of Drug Use by Dance-drug Users in Edinburgh, Scotland Clubbers in clubs and pre-club bars | 2004 | Cross-sectional survey with focus groups | n = 124 |
| Fascination and Social Togetherness-Discussions about Spice Smoking on a Swedish Internet Forum. Swedish internet forum users who posted reports about Spice intoxication | 2013 | Qualitative study | n = 40 |
| Cannabis as entheogen: survey and interview data on the spiritual use of cannabis. Participants recruited from seven online communities, median age 33, 81% male | 2020 | Mixed methods (qualitative interviews and quantitative survey) | n = 319 |