Holy leaf or holy terror? Cannabis and Jewish life

Benetowa, Sarah. 1936. Tracing one word through different languages. Institute of Anthropological Sciences, Warsaw. Reprinted 1967 in The Book of Grass. George Andrews and Simon Vinkenoog (eds.). Grove Press, New York, pp. 15-18.

"The astonishing resemblance between the Semitic kanbos and the Scythian cannabis lead me to suppose that the Scythian word was of Semitic origin. These etymological discussions run parallel to arguments drawn from history. The Iranian Scythians were probably related to the Medes, who were neighbors of the Semites and could easily have assimilated the word for hemp. The Semites could also have spread the word during their migrations through Asia Minor."

“Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye said before his departure that he asked God to credit him for all the Torah and mitzvot of his entire life, with the same value he gave to the great Baal Shem Tov's heavenly thoughts (yichudim) when he smoked his pipe.”

“One day Rabbi David, head of the Ostrow Jewish Court was shown by the Baal Shem Tov the new heavens that had been created by his thoughts while smoking. Rabbi David fell into a faint from the awe and fear that the sight inspired in him."

- Ibn Mardachya

Because of marijuana’s clear medical benefits, the Orthodox Union, which has rejected kosher certification requests from cigarette and e-cigarette manufacturers on health grounds, “would not have a problem certifying” medical marijuana, Elefant said.

Marijuana is a plant and therefore kosher certification is not necessary for the cannabis itself. But in New York State, where companies are vying for up to five licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana, patients will not be allowed to smoke pot, so they will have to ingest it in other ways — such as capsules, food or drinks, which will require kosher certification for Orthodox patients. http://forward.com/news/215113/medical-marijuana-may-soon-get-kosher-stamp-of-app/#ixzz3dlQC4vbe

In the 16th century, Rabbi ben Solomon ibn Abi Zimra (known as the Radbaz), chief rabbi of Cairo, was firmly pro-weed when he proclaimed that, “Leaves of cannabis make one happy.”

In more recent times, the State of Israel has been at the forefront of cannabis research, with a cannabis industry worth billions of dollars. Notes Rabbi HaLevi: “Israel in general is more entrepreneurial and innovative by culture and design, and it’s no wonder that they have been engaged in medical cannabis R&D for half a century. It began with an entrepreneurial doctor, Raphael Mechoulam, and has been gaining unparalleled steam ever since.” Professor Mechoulam, a scientist at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, was the first to isolate, synthesize and analyzeTetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis, now used as treatments for serious health issues like Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis and epilepsy in both adults and children.

“We have a moral duty to explore, perfect and provide any plant and every plant if it has medicinal benefits,” says Rabbi HaLevi. “It’s a mitzvah to alleviate suffering, heal and save lives. This is why it’s sanctioned even in the most halachically observant circles, as it is medicine. . .

Rabbi Dr. Glassman agrees that with the notable exception of Purim shenanigans, “Judaism never endorses ‘recreational intoxication’ since it detracts from the essence of Jewish practice, which is the action of doing a mitzvah. Anything that could cause one to sleep late, forget to say the Shema prayer or read the Torah on Shabbat would surely be vigorously avoided. That said, Jews do drink wine in the context of kiddush, and that wine, in most cases, purposely contains an intoxicant, so there is a basis for a mild intoxication in the setting of ritual—but excess is always discouraged.”

https://www.jewishboston.com/am-yisrael-high-cannabis-in-jewish-tradition/

Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Marijuana & Judaism

Still, Judaism allows Jews to ingest many things that are not intrinsically holy as part of the effort to fulfill the responsibility to maintain a healthy body, mind and soul, and furthermore, as part of enjoying God's bounty, even when not directly related to matters of health...Whether using marijuana recreationally fits into that Jewish description of the nature and purpose of life depends on what its effects turn out to be. If it decreases pain in dying patients, then one not only may, but must, work to make it legally available to them. Thus, in sum, marijuana in and of itself is not inherently bad or good; it must be judged in terms of its effects in creating a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, Commentary Magazine

God too is playing a game of hide-and-seek with himself and me. The psychedelic experience can be not only a challenge, but also a support of my faith. After seeing what really happens at the point where all is one and where God-immanent surprises God-transcendent and they merge in cosmic laughter, I can also see Judaism in a new and amazing light....The psychedelic experience can be not only a challenge, but also a support of my faith.