A Southend author today prompted anger from church leaders after claiming Jesus used cannabis to perform many of his miracles.
In a controversial new book, Southend-born Billy McCann claims archaeological evidence proves cannabis oils were widely used for anointing during the time of Jesus.
Billy McCann Picture: Evening Gazette
The 53-year-old author of The Homegrowers' Manual - a former comedian, cannabis grower and church minister - said this converted him to Christianity.
However, rector of Southend, the Rev Stephen Burdett said: "This is just make believe, it has nothing to back it up. All he is doing is to say cannabis was around in those days and he has just made a link with it."
Canon Roger Mason, vicar at St Mary's Church, Prittlewell, dismissed the claims.
He said: "I think it is a lot of rubbish and hardly worth justifying with a serious answer. We constantly have psuedo-scientific people who tell us various figures in history were high on magic mushrooms or were visited by aliens but it doesn't mean it is true."
Published Tuesday, January 14, 2003
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