Is Athelas/Kingsfoil the Magical Version of Marijuana?

[Kalmanluin]

Has it perhaps occured to anyone that athelas, also known as kingsfoil, is the equivalent of our marijuana?

Remember, it has healing qualities and is referred to as a weed.

 

[Gil-Galad]

They have nothing in common actually.

 

[BlackCaptain]

I wouldn't say so... Although they do have simalar qualaties in that you get lost in some other world of lala-ness, Athelas can't kill you, and evil people don't sell it. And, kinsfoil is highly acceptable among the greatest and most governmental people... In ME that is...

 

[Ithrynluin]

And Athelas has a fragrant and invigorating smell, which cannot be said of Mary Jane. Well, it's a matter of opinion (or taste ) really.

 

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Well when people finally figure out that spraying cologne ALL over your clothes makes the baked smell worse, then maybe we can talk about the athelas. I doubt you would need cologne to get rid of athelas smell.. or perfume for the ladies... plus athelas has healing powers whereas pot only relaxes.

I hate the pot smell. But I hate the overly cologned pot smell too. Anyone know what Im talking about or am I just rambling and making no sense....

 

[Celebthôl]

Originally posted by Dáin Ironfoot I
Well when people finally figure out that spraying cologne ALL over your clothes makes the baked smell worse, then maybe we can talk about the athelas. I doubt you would need cologne to get rid of athelas smell.. or perfume for the ladies... plus athelas has healing powers whereas pot only relaxes.

I hate the pot smell. But I hate the overly cologned pot smell too. Anyone know what Im talking about or am I just rambling and making no sense....

about the cologne i have no idea, about the smell and stuff i agree, its disgusting

 

[BlackCaptain]

I don't think that Kalmanluin was looking for so much backlash... Really just looking for some recognition that they are simalar. I agree, they do have some simalar charataristics, but they aren't all together the same. More often then not, you will find differences.

 

[Ithrynluin]

Plus, Athelas is not for smoking so the possibility of getting 'the munchies' is out.

 

[Lantarion]

Originally posted by BlackCaptain
Although they do have simalar qualaties in that you get lost in some other world of lala-ness, Athelas can't kill you, and evil people don't sell it.

Listen, just about anything can kill you, if taken in large quantities. Marijuana on its own won't kill you! Not unless you consume inhuman amounts of it. You've been watching 'Reefer Madness', haven't you? I hope you don't believe that people who smoke marijuana kill people as a result of its influence..
And the poeple who sell it are only evil a) because marijuana is illegal in most countries of the world; or b) if they sell it to minors.

But I don't really se that many similarities between it and athelas.. The effects aren't even similar. Athelas was soothing and worked in alleviating pain; but I don't recall anbody getting "lost in lala-land" because of it.

 

[Vardarianna]

Plus, Athelas is not for smoking so the possibility of getting 'the munchies' is out.

How do we know this? 🤣
Did Tolkien specifically say that?
I'm sure someone tried it. I did read a fanfic where some dried flowers of Athelas were mixed with pipeweed ...

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Well, this is one I confess to never having seen before. 😃

On the subject, it was always Pipeweed, "Westman's Weed" that was associated with marijuana, beginning in the 60s, rather than athelas. This is the first I've heard of that one.

On the other hand, on the subject of "munchies", it could be noted that Merry's first words on coming out his coma were "I'm hungry". 😄