Rabbi Efraim Zalmanovich
Prominent Israeli Rabbi Supports Medicinal Marijuana
Both marijuana activists and advocates of prohibition have certainly been discussing their opinions for a while. However, in almost any debate, a brand new perspective could be refreshing. Now it seems, we might have religious leaders join the discussion.
Rabbi Efraim Zalmanovich, a well-known religious leader in Israel, lately released an argument supporting using medicinal marijuana. Rabbi Zalmanovich didn’t support excessive leisure use. Specifically he stated “Taking drugs to flee our planet in almost any excessive strategy is certainly forbidden. However, if the medication is given to alleviate discomfort, then your person passing on is carrying out a mitzvah.” In Judaism a mitzvah is recognized as a great deed. Jews are urged to carry out a mitzvah every single day.
Israel’s government has had another approach on medicinal marijuana. While cannabis continues to be considered illegal more often than not, many patients have acquired legal medicinal marijuana permits. These permits are released from Israel’s Secretary of state for Health. As of 2011, roughly 11,000 citizens have medical permits. There has been discussions of further restricting this program, but activists are keeping the problem alive and might help expand this program.
The claims by Rabbi Zalmanovich might be surprising to a lot of as organized religion has frequently taken a lukewarm approach, or perhaps in Christianity’s situation leaders really linked it to Satan. Providing relief to God’s children should be valued by our spiritual leaders. We hope this makes way for additional leaders in organized religion to aid patients in need of assistance.