Black magic on the Sabbath refers to the practice of performing dark and occult rituals during the Sabbath, typically associated with witchcraft and sorcery. The Sabbath, traditionally observed as a day of rest and worship, can be seen as a time of vulnerability, when evil forces may try to gain power. Black magic rituals on the Sabbath often involve invoking evil spirits, casting spells, and performing hexes on specific individuals or groups. These rituals are believed to tap into supernatural forces and manipulate them for personal gain or to cause harm to others. In many cultures and religious traditions, the Sabbath is considered sacred and is meant to be a time of spiritual renewal and connection with the divine. However, black magic on the Sabbath is a perversion of these beliefs, using the designated holy day for nefarious purposes.
ABC exhibits a specific leaf mutation that instead of classic leaves with serrated leaflets produces tiny, shiny, smooth-edged lobed leaves that are irregular in shape and size. Compact in height, with many thin, flexible branches that can withstand even strong winds, it grows very densely and shows great resistance to adverse conditions, especially night-time temperature drops.
For example, most of us would love to have a magical cloaking mechanism that makes our cannabis plants disappear from view, especially when growing outdoors. It comes from Australia, where it is only an outdoor variety, as it seems to do best in warmer climates that do not suffer from frost too early in the season.
However, black magic on the Sabbath is a perversion of these beliefs, using the designated holy day for nefarious purposes. Practitioners of black magic on the Sabbath may engage in various activities, such as summoning demons, creating cursed objects, or engaging in sacrilegious acts. These rituals are often performed in secret, hidden from the eyes of society, and take advantage of the darkness and quietude associated with the Sabbath.
Scientists say most marijuana strains act basically the same
If you believe budtender wisdom, consuming a strain called Bubba Kush should leave you ravenous and relaxed whereas dank Hippie Chicken should uplift you like a dreamy cup of coffee. But if you take pure, isolated delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC—the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana—you’ll experience “a high that has no specific character, so that seems boring,” says Mowgli Holmes, a geneticist and founder of a cannabis genetics company Phylos Bioscience.
What gives cannabis “character,” in Holmes’s view, are the hundreds of other chemicals it contains. These include THC’s cousin cannabinoids such as cannabidiol, along with other compounds called terpenes and flavonoids. Whereas terpenes are generally credited with giving pot its varied fragrances—limonene, for example, imparts a snappy, citrusy perfume—the cannabis industry and some researchers have espoused the controversial idea that such compounds can enhance or alter THC’s psychoactive and medicinal properties.
This so-called “entourage effect” refers to this scrum of compounds supposedly working in concert to create what Chris Emerson describes as “the sum of all the parts that leads to the magic or power of cannabis.” Emerson is a trained chemist and the co-founder of a designer marijuana vaporizer products company called Level Blends. Product designers like him believe they can create THC vaping mixtures tuned with different concentrations of each terpene and cannabinoid for specialized effects.
The idea that botanical marijuana creates a synergistic chemical effect, fingerprinting the experience with “uplifting” or “relaxing” or “munchy” notes, is highly contentious.
The conventional science on this topic is scant. But cannabis breeders (often working illegally in the past) have long been crossing plants to develop distinctive strains that purportedly do different things, and breeders are using genetics to make that process more precise and efficient.
“We have a huge set of cannabis genomic data that will, hopefully, allow us to ID genetic markers associated with chemical results and certain patient outcomes,” Holmes says. “We’re just getting started.” Holmes hopes breeders might eventually be able to generate cannabis plants or products that are personalized to each individual patient or recreational user’s needs.
But many scientists see the whole thing as a pipe dream. The idea that botanical marijuana creates a synergistic chemical effect, fingerprinting the experience with “uplifting” or “relaxing” or “munchy” notes, is highly contentious.
“The lay public has really taken on the notion of the entourage effect, but there’s not a lot of data,” says Margaret Haney, a neurobiologist at Columbia University and cannabis researcher. “The cannabis field can say anything and it does. I’m not against marijuana. I want to study it carefully. We know it can affect pain and appetite but the large majority of what’s being said is driven by anecdotal marketing. These guys are really trying to make money.”
There are a few arguments that entourage effect proponents use to bolster the theory: For one, non-THC cannabinoids do have some neurochemical action as they can affect—often in different ways—cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system. The most commonly cited example is cannabidiol, or CBD. A number of scientists believe CBD actually mitigates the famously stoning and paranoia-producing effects of THC by blocking some cannabinoid receptors.
“The biggest influence [in the entourage effect] is CBD,” says psychopharmacologist Ethan Russo, a cannabis researcher in Washington State and medical director of the biochemical research company Phytecs. About 10 milligrams of THC can potentially cause toxic psychosis—or THC-induced, psychotic-like symptoms such as delusions—in about 40 percent of people, he says. On the other hand, Sativex—a multiple sclerosis medication not approved in the U.S. that GW Pharmaceuticals (where Russo worked for many years) started selling in the U.K. in 2010—“has equal amounts of THC and CBD,” he adds. “At amounts of 48 milligrams of THC, only four patients out of 250 exposures had this toxic psychosis. So this is a very important demonstration of this synergy,” he says, noting other cannabinoids might have similar synergistic effects that have not been studied yet.
THC-only pills have been available by prescription in the U.S. since the 1980s under the brand name Marinol, which is synthetically produced THC dissolved in sesame seed oil. Russo says people often discontinue Marinol due to negative side effects, which he believes come partly from the absence of marijuana’s other cannabinoids.
“They get anxious, dysphoric [and] scattered,” he says. “It interferes with their ability to function.”
“As is often the case with cannabis, lore is law,” said Mowgli Holmes, a geneticist and founder of a cannabis genetics company Phylos Bioscience. Photo by Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2016 approved another oral THC formulation called Syndros: pure, synthetically produced THC dissolved in alcohol. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration startled many marijuana proponents last month when it placed Syndros on Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act, making it federally legal to prescribe. Despite the active ingredient being exactly the same THC molecule, the plant and most other forms of marijuana remain firmly in Schedule I—along with heroin, LSD and other drugs the DEA says have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
“THC alone is a lousy drug. It is a very poor therapeutic index,” Russo says. “I’ll tell you right now, [Syndros] won’t be exciting or gain a lot of traction either.”
The entourage effect gained some ground in 2011 when Russo published a paper in the British Journal of Pharmacology reviewing the potential interactions between THC and various cannabinoids and terpenes. For example, he cites work suggesting alpha pinene—a terpene that gives some marijuana a fresh pine scent—might help preserve a molecule called acetylcholine, which has been implicated in memory formation. “So one main side effect of THC is short-term memory impairment,” he says. “People go, ‘Uh…what were you saying?’ That can be prevented if there’s pinene in the cannabis.”
Still, there is no hard evidence that the entourage effect is real. Double-blind clinical trials, the gold standard for research studies in medicine, have never been conducted to investigate the effects of marijuana’s terpenes or its cannabinoids other than THC.
“With marijuana, most of what you’re dealing with is anecdotal evidence,” Phylos’s Holmes says. “But the truth is there’s very, very little data.”
“We don’t understand how all these things are working in concert. But I put everything on the line for this, because I know this so strongly.”
And as is often the case with cannabis, lore is law, Holmes says. The entourage effect idea has firmly taken root in the cannabis industry and among consumers. Marijuana dispensaries have begun listing and advertising various cannabinoid ratios and providing detailed terpene profiles in certain strains and products. Laboratories specialize in testing weed for these compounds. Companies such as NaPro Research and Phylos have begun working out how to breed cannabis varieties with specific levels of popular terpenes—including limonene and pinene as well as myrcene, which some believe potentiates THC’s effects—for a designed experience.
Holmes says he does not like the fact that entourage effect supporters’ best evidence lies in anecdotes, but he thinks they still tell an important part of the story. “Mainly it makes me pissed off that we can’t do very basic studies about what’s really true,” he says. “But you have thousands and thousands of people reporting the same thing. It gets hard to ignore.” Studies are difficult because of marijuana’s Schedule I status, putting research licenses out of reach for many scientists.
And anecdotes are not enough for Columbia’s Haney and many others who agree with her.
“People have preconceived notions that a terpene will work for them,” says Barth Wilsey, a medicinal cannabis researcher at the University of California, San Diego. “The internet is great but it has a lot of fake news and it’s incredible what people are saying.” In order to learn how effective these compounds are, Wilsey says, “they have to do randomized clinical trials, where random people get real terpene and the fake terpene.”
Haney says she has only seen evidence against the entourage effect. In recent studies (including Haney’s own) directly comparing the effects of plant marijuana with oral THC formulations such as Marinol and Syndros, the results suggest there is little—if any—difference between them. “I wanted to get into whether [Marinol is worse than marijuana], because that was the lore: ‘We need to legalize marijuana because Marinol is no good,’” she says. “So we did the study, and it’s not a lousy drug. It works for pain. It works for appetite. Marinol works quite well.”
Even cannabidiol might be overhyped, Haney says. “There are promising data on potential medical use but the data suggesting it dampens the marijuana high are really not compelling when you look at the original sources,” she notes. “Yet this notion has swept the field.” Drugs like Sativex—the half-CBD/half-THC formulation—do not seem too different from just THC to her, either.
Russo admits the scientific literature is lacking but he remains firm in his belief in the entourage effect. Photo by Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters
Russo admits the scientific literature is lacking but he remains firm in his belief in the entourage effect. “Do we need better studies to prove the concept? The answer is yes,” he says. “I believe in this because I’ve known for 40 years the differences between different cannabis. They smell different. They taste different. They have different effects.”
And many in the cannabis industry stand with him.
“We’ve done a lot of focus groups and data collection and analysis when we started [Level Blends], and 80 or 85 percent of people fall right into the effect we say they will get,” Emerson says. “We don’t understand how all these things are working in concert. But I put everything on the line for this, because I know this so strongly.”
Haney says marijuana may actually have an entourage effect but it is impossible to know without more information. “I would love to do a study comparing strains,” she says. “I would love to directly compare but I’m unable to work with any marijuana on the street or in dispensaries.” The placebo effect is very powerful, she notes. And if you believe smoking a bud will give you a bright, cerebral experience spilling with creativity or that a THC pill will make you anxious and paranoid, then that is what you will probably feel.
This article is reproduced with permission from Scientific American. It was first published on April 20, 2017. Find the original story here.
Left: A variety of medicinal marijuana buds in jars are pictured at Los Angeles Patients & Caregivers Group dispensary in West Hollywood, California U.S., October 18, 2016. Photo by Mario Anzuoni/REUTERS
The motivations behind black magic on the Sabbath can vary. Some individuals may seek personal power or revenge, while others may be driven by darker desires and a fascination with the occult. Whatever the motivation, these rituals involve tapping into forbidden knowledge and traversing the boundaries between the physical and spiritual realms. It is important to note that black magic on the Sabbath is considered taboo and condemned by many religious and spiritual traditions. It is seen as a perversion of the sacred and a dangerous pursuit that can lead to negative consequences for both the practitioner and those they target. In conclusion, black magic on the Sabbath is a practice that involves performing dark rituals and manipulating supernatural forces for personal gain or to cause harm to others. It goes against the principles of the sacred day and is considered taboo in many religious and spiritual traditions. It is a practice that is driven by dark desires and a fascination with the occult, often performed in secret and hidden from the eyes of society..
Reviews for "From Sabbath to Satanic Rituals: Black Magic Throughout History"
1. John Doe - 1/5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with "Black Magic on the Sabbath." The plot was incredibly predictable and lacked any originality. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, making it difficult to connect with them on any level. The writing was also subpar, filled with clichés and overly descriptive passages that added nothing to the story. Overall, I found this book to be a complete waste of time and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging read.
2. Jane Smith - 2/5 stars - "Black Magic on the Sabbath" had an intriguing premise, but the execution fell short for me. The pacing was inconsistent, with slow and tedious sections that made it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, the characterization was weak; I found it hard to empathize with the main characters as their motivations and actions seemed inconsistent and unrealistic. While the writing itself was decent, it was not enough to salvage the overall underwhelming reading experience. I would suggest looking for other supernatural thrillers with more compelling storytelling and well-developed characters.
3. Robert Johnson - 1/5 stars - As a fan of the supernatural genre, I was excited to read "Black Magic on the Sabbath." However, I found it to be a complete letdown. The plot was riddled with holes, and the explanations for the supernatural elements were poorly executed. The book lacked a sense of tension or suspense, and I never felt invested in the outcome. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, "Black Magic on the Sabbath" failed to deliver a gripping supernatural story, and I cannot recommend it to fellow enthusiasts of the genre.
4. Amanda Thompson - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Black Magic on the Sabbath," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story had potential, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was slow, and the plot meandered without a clear direction. The characters were also underdeveloped, lacking depth and complexity. The writing style felt disjointed and the dialogue often felt stilted and unnatural. While there were a few interesting supernatural elements, they were not enough to salvage the overall disappointing reading experience. I was left wanting more from this book, and I would not recommend it to others seeking a captivating supernatural read.