Imagine a world with a cannabis-friendly Christianity. To make things interesting, one in which Christendom at large tolerates, even accepts usage of marijuana and hashish. In real life, the Church has always viewed usage of cannabis as sinful. What if, cannabis usage was permitted, perhaps even promoted in certain contexts?
For the POD to work it would have to be early in the history of Christianity, perhaps as early as the Disciples, but shortly before the Schism at the very latest. That way, whenever the Church decides to condone marijuana, it would have been universal within Christendom.
Also, note that IOTL, there IS a cannabis-friendly Christianity of sorts, one which you probably know of. The Rastafari movement is based on biblical Christianity with Afro-centrist tenets. Rastafarianism not only allows cannabis, but encourages it! But that is not quite what I had in mind. The Rastafari movement is too small.
How would such a development affect Christianity and the world at large? How would the theology be affected? If cannabis is seen as a spiritual entheogen, this might affect certain rituals, rites, and sacraments. Perhaps it would introduce a new mysticism.
Also, I would imagine people would be a lot more laid back and much more mellow. Dude! Would this then be a more utopian timeline?
Bong hits for Jesus!