#19 Culture | Cannabis Culture

Dr. Stephen Phinney: Reflecting on my Christian Hippie days, I realize it was a mix of demonology and deceived intentions. Cannabis was Satan's hook.

Coming in at number nine of the top ten cultural movements of 2025 is Cannabis Culture. As society continues to become more depraved, the acceptance and normalization of cannabis products are becoming more widespread. This movement has sparked conversations around legalization, health benefits, and the impact on various industries.

It's not just about the use of cannabis but also the cultural shift towards a more open and informed dialogue about its role in our lives. From lifestyle choices to entrepreneurial ventures, Cannabis Culture is leaving a significant mark on the cultural landscape of 2025.

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Listen to the podcast version: Brought to you by The Institute of Ministry.

The history of pot smoking is a fascinating topic through time and across cultures.

Cannabis use dates back thousands of years, with some of the earliest evidence found in ancient China and Taiwan. It was used in religious and spiritual ceremonies. By 2000 BC, cannabis had spread to the Indian subcontinent, where it became integral to Ayurvedic Hindu rituals. The ancient Greeks and Romans also used cannabis for its mind-altering effects. In the Islamic Golden Age, scholars documented its various uses in preparing for battle - diminishing fear & numbing pain.

The plant journeyed to Africa and the Americas via trade routes, where it was woven into the cultural and spiritual fabric of indigenous communities. In the early 20th century, cannabis faced increasing scrutiny and prohibition, particularly in Western countries. However, the latter part of the 20th and early 21st centuries saw a resurgence of interest through the Hippie movement, again claiming its mystical properties.

Marijuana, or cannabis, contains a variety of chemical compounds. The most well-known are cannabinoids, which include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the primary psychoactive compound responsible for the "high" sensation, while CBD is known for its potential therapeutic benefits - noting the CBD compounds classically lead to experimental use of THC.

THC AND GLOBAL DISEASES

When tetrahydrocannabinol enters the brain, it binds to cannabinoid (endocrine central nerve system) CB1 receptors, particularly in areas responsible for memory, pleasure, coordination, and time perception. This interaction can lead to altered sensory perception, euphoria, and impaired short-term memory. THC also attacks the CB2 receptors, retarding the peripheral organs and cells associated with the immune system - causing open reception to bacteria-based viruses. When the use of THC is widely used within a culture, the spread of diseases frequently becomes uncontrollable.

While the initial use of THC enhances a false sense of peace and tranquility, the withdrawal effects cause the brain to be agitated and instigate fright and fight through the hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex. In this, we discovered the meaning behind the documented studies on “why” cannabis users are known for being violent when not “high.” Since users become self-aware of this kickback, it creates an addictive pattern to self-treat their anger outbursts by increasing their usage of THC.

A SPECIAL NOTE: I am not just a researcher of this movement; I come from a background of heavy use of THC (pot) in my younger years. After Christ freed me from this addiction, I spent many years meticulously analyzing the chemical breakdown of this substance and its long-term effects.

For example. I have two primary diagnoses I deal with daily - heart failure and Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), which is my immune system attacking the nerve sheaths, leaving me partially paralyzed. In both cases, I have been told by my doctors that my youthful use of THC is directly connected to my present condition. Since THC attacks the immune system, I, without question, believe the two are connected.

THC AND THE DEMONIC WORLD

As we have noted in the early cultures using THC for spiritual reasons, the problematic ideology of its use in our culture today is no different.

God created us with a cortex, the outermost layer of the brain. The cortex is responsible for keeping us conscious and suppressing historical experiences and data from our past. When we fall into REM sleeping, the cortex thins out and releases memories filed deep within our brains, thus releasing pictorial images mixed with present memories. Some have pleasant dreams, while others are plagued with “nightmares.” Most nightmares contain violence of some sort. After waking, the cortex thickens and suppresses the subconscious data from entering our present reality - noting it was only a dream.

The chemical tetrahydrocannabinol immediately thins out the cortex while you are still awake. Subconscious data is released while you are still conscious, causing hallucinations—visual daydreams. In this, we discover the rhythm and reason religions have used this drug to enhance their spiritual journeys. However, there is a darker side.

God also designed our brains via the cortex to diminish our ability to see the spirit world. While most believers know that a demonic world is active around us, it is not God’s pleasure for us to see them, and for a good reason. However, THC is known for relaxing the barrier between “reality," what is seen and what is not seen, which causes hallucinations - to dream while awake. The reason religions and cults have used this drug through the ages is because of what I just stated - it connects them to the spirit world.

THE PROPHETIC USE OF THC

Visualizing the details in the Book of Revelation or in books like Daniel in the Old Testament graphically depicts images that align with what is seen in the unseen world. While we know that John and Daniel were not taking THC, God has the prerogative to expose the unseen world in dreams and visions. Tetrahydrocannabinol is Satan’s way to expose his world to humans against their will. In their hallucinations, they may see global peace or the waring of demonic beings in real time. People who use drugs frequently speak about seeing demons attacking them or, worse yet, pushing them to end their lives.

THE OVERREACH OF PHARMAKEIA

Pharmakeia is a Greek word in the New Testament, meaning "sorcery" or "witchcraft." The term is derived from "pharmakon," which means "drug" or "spell-giving potion." In the biblical context, pharmakeia always refers to the use of magic, potions, and enchantments and is associated with the dark actions of a sorcerer.

Questions: Is the world of pharmaceuticals out of control today? Is drug trafficking out of control? Could there be a connection between this global industry and the prophecies of God? Might it be that Satan himself is behind this overreach? And finally, could the 2025 Cannabis Culture movement be directly connected to the works of Satan? Folks, the answers are too elementary to answer.

I would love to hear from you on this one. You might try to defend the “positive” use of cannabis, but in my mind, it is an attempt to defend the “good” side of the Tree of Knowledge. What are your thoughts?

Reflecting on my Christian Hippie days, I realize it was a mix of demonology and deceived intentions. The act of smoking pot, thinking it would bring me closer to Yeshua/Jesus, was steeped in a form of blending darkness with light. It became clear that genuine spiritual connection and growth don't come from external substances but from the power of Christ within me - no drugs needed. It was a crucial lesson that reaffirmed the importance of authenticity, and that true spirituality is only found in Yeshua - alone.