Interesting Psak: Pot (Marijuana) on Purim

Rav Efraim Zalmenovtich, the rav of Mazkeret Batya, published a number of piskei halacha this week in anticipation of Purim. Most of it is pretty standard, such as the importance of hearing the megilla and banging when hearing the name Haman mentioned - but not so much that people won't be able to hear words, such even poor people must give mishloach manot, such as that a man should not send mishloach manot to a woman as it is inappropriate..

The most interesting in the list (as reported by Mynet) is Rav Zalmenovitch saying that while some things that are normally prohibited, such as cross-dressing (to a point), are allowed on Purim, other things remain prohibited even on Purim.

Rav Zalmenovitch says on Purim it remains prohibited to smoke marijuana and cigarettes, and it is prohibited to drink and drive. He also says that it all laws, both State laws and local municipal laws, must be followed even in the face of "increasing simchat ha'chag".

Rav Zalmenovitch's inclusion of marijuana in his discussion seems unusual and is very interesting. It indicates, to me at least, that perhaps the smoking of marijuana has become almost mainstream, or at least so common that it must be considered in a general, rather than private, psak.

It is also interesting in light of this article in the JPost that says Israel is the world leader in medical marijuana. And while the article starts off mentioning how Israel is the world leader in medical marijuana use, the rest of the article goes on to describe how much medical marijuana is stolen and sold on the black market and how the police can't really do much about it.

I think they should just legalize marijuana. If it is that common anyway, there really is no reason why not to. Nobody is being "protected" (if there is what to protect) by the illegality of it. Make it legal, regulate and tax it, and let people enjoy the drug that is less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol.

Anyway, until that point is reached, Rav Zalmenovitch says smoking pot on Purim is prohibited.

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