Yes, I am aware of the use of marijuana among the Shivaites of India. Also, it is commonly used among people today who suffer from PTSD. I was horribly abused and neglected by my family of origin who were career alcoholics and child abusers. To treat my PTSD I started abusing alcohol at the age of 10. When I was about 16 I was introduced to marijuana after I returned to the USA. I found it a much more civilized intoxicant with much less toxic effect than alcohol, so I switched to smoking marijuana.
After I turned 20 I took up a meditation practice, and I was aware of the Shivaite practice of smoking marijuana to stimulate a spiritual experience, so at the beginning of my meditation practice I used to take a bong hit of Tai stick, then meditate. After about 6 months I found no more use of marijuana, and enjoyed 45 years of sobriety as a rigorous, self-aware contemplative.
After I moved to Prescott 12 years ago I met a group of intelligent homeless seniors who sat at a picnic table at a local park where we talked politics, social issues, contemplative issues, environment, etc. One of our members would come about 3 times a week and offer us a few puffs from his spliff. I always graciously declined his kind offer, but after my COPD diagnosis he countered my refusal to partake in his kind offer with, "What do you have to lose now?"
So, having studied ethnomedicine and ethnobotony for 45 years by then I decided to conduct a simple experiment. I first measured my blood sugar, blood oxygen concentration and blood pressure and pulse, recorded my data, then I took 3 puffs from his spliff, then retook my vitals about 15 minutes later. I found all of my vitals had improved. Even my blood sugar had dropped significantly, so since then I started having a few puffs of marijuana and even tobacco since every night before bed. It seems to continue to be useful for my health.
