The Mother of All Sins: An Interpretation of the Forbidden Fruit as Cannabis
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal June 24, 2024 Musaed A. Al-Mutairi
The forbidden fruit in the Adam and Eve narrative may have been cannabis rather than an apple, fig, grape, or wheat. The author argues that cannabis's psychoactive properties align with the altered states of consciousness Adam and Eve experienced after eating, explaining their sudden awareness and shame. This reinterpretation challenges traditional symbolic readings across Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, emphasizing themes of temptation, disobedience, and moral consequences. The article also examines cannabis's potential to impair judgment and behavior, as illustrated in the story of Cain and Abel, and suggests that shifting from symbolic to practical interpretation can inform public health strategies and responsible regulation to reduce societal harm.