CANNABLISS AT HAWAIIAN SANCTUARY

Photos by Zen Moriya

Co-Creators: Sari Starr/Natalie Silva/Arielle Brown

It is October 15, 2022. There are seventyfive of us sitting on the floor of the “Grow Room” at Hawaiian Sanctuary calmly passing around pipes or rolled “joints” of Cannabis. As we share our “sacred medicine” in a ritual of celebration and oneness, we breathe in the smoke of sage and cannabis preparing ourselves for the “Green Goddess” Ceremony at 4:20 pm. Regaled by the original tribalistic medicine songs and guitar of Sari Star accompanied on percussion by Natalie Silva. The headliner of the day, Alex Cruz, then played his magical set for listening & dancing enjoyed by all.

We have finally arrived. We are the people our parents warned us about!

Regaled by the original tribalistic medicine songs and guitar of Sari Star accompanied on percussion by Natalie Silva.

The highlight of the day was the five-person panel featuring Roger Christie, Dylan Shropshire, Sari Starr, Sean the Bee Charmer, and Arielle Brown. The topic had been visioned by Arielle inspired by her conversation with Roger. Titled: “Truth, Power, & the Liberation of Consciousness. The panel explored cannabis and hemp in the context of the liberation of consciousness. In a culture which in many ways still operates in paradigms of political power or corrupt power and seems to dilute or suppress the truth, or impede upon the free will of the individual, what does it look like on an internal (spiritual) and external level to meet these powers with deeper spiritual truths that drive the purpose to inspire us from within? They also explored perspectives on how the liberation of human consciousness and free will may or may not be connected to current restrictions around cannabis law.

Panel: Arielle Brown, Dylan Shropshire, Sari Starr, Roger Christie, and Sean the Bee Charmer

Arielle, the moderator, kept the pace moving as the panelists shared their adventures with Cannabis. Roger Christie wove an outstanding tale of how he attained the title of Cannabis Sacrament Minister. He started the Hawaii Hemp Company in Pahoa from 1991 to 1994. Roger had been ordained in the Religion of Jesus Church as a Cannabis minister. He was originally attracted to the church because of their use of Cannabis as their sacrament. He then applied to the Dept. of Health for a license to marry people. On the application was the question, “What is your denomination”?  He wrote the words, Cannabis sacrament! He was approved to legally marry people.  Since his first puff, Roger wanted to be able to use Cannabis without the fear of getting busted. He believes that his sincerity regarding the holy sacrament of Cannabis opened the golden door of legality for him. He was issued a card he passed on to others that relegated them as practitioners of Cannabis. This card after being presented to arresting officers protected the members from arrest in hundreds of incidents. Roger continues his ministry of legalizing marijuana.

Roger Christie

If you want more information, he can be contacted at his website, www.thc-ministry.org

Dylan Shropshire

Dylan Shropshire, Founding Member and COO of Big Island Grown Dispensaries spoke on the panel about how to advance Cannabis Policy through education on the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a series of receptors in our body that are nutrient deficient unless we are ingesting cannabis. The ECS is not taught in medical school and therefore most of the public, including legislators and politicians, are unaware of its necessity in achieving optimal health and homeostasis.

To answer Steve Lund’s rhetorical question, “Do we really need more marijuana workshops”? The answer is found in Sari Starr’s description of Cannabliss,  “This ain’t your typical Cannabis event! If you value the healing of this plant medicine whether you smoke, take CBD for medicine, have used it as a salve, or have seen it help someone you love deal with anxiety, stress, etc. Then we are here to offer a full experience through Cannabliss Festival feat: The Human Experience + Alex Cruz that showcases all the ways this plant can be of service to our expanded awareness! Cannabis is the gateway to higher consciousness, and will always be paving the way for the liberation of all plants. We are curating a conscious community with Cannabis.”