Posted to Op-Ed on
by Pinchas Herman

Op-Ed: Not Your Father’s Weed

I was listening to the radio recently when I heard the President express his opinion that marijuana is not that bad – “no worse than alcohol”.  Add to that the fact that some States have legalized marijuana use, although to varying degrees, and we have a budding recipe for disaster.

To paraphrase my recollection of what the President said, he commented on how he had tried a little bit of marijuana when he was much younger, and he did not think it was that big a deal.  I imagine that when he considers modern-day realities like a heroin epidemic, rising methamphetamine use, and crack cocaine dismantling untold lives, a little marijuana here and there probably sounds like a relief … something like, “whew, at least it’s only weed.”  What, in fact, is the big deal?

According to government data collection sources that keep track of this sort of thing, alcohol is the most widely used drug in the United States.  We all know people who use alcohol, and we don’t necessarily see them abusing it.  In fact, most people who consume alcohol do not have an alcohol abuse problem.  Some do, of course; however, they are the minority, albeit often a visible minority.  So maybe the thinking is that marijuana is similar – that people can use it, not abuse it, and it falls into the “it’s not so bad” category.

Substances that get people “high”, including alcohol, are known as mood-and mind-altering.  They are also addictive.  Different drug classifications have differing rates of addictive potential.  Heroin, methamphetamine, crack cocaine – high, very high.  What this means is that these substances cannot be used without high risk of developing an addictive relationship with them.  Alcohol?  Much, much lower.  Again, most people can use alcohol and not develop a problem.  Marijuana is a bit trickier.

Proponents of smoking/legalizing/defending/promoting the use of marijuana ignore the fact that present-day marijuana is remarkably more powerful than that of a generation ago.  If you smoked then, or if your parents did, or if your president did, they smoked a very different marijuana than is available today.  Growers have developed ways to increase the potency to provide a more intense high. For example, in the 1970’s, the level of THC –  the chemical compound that results in feeling “high” –  was between 0.5% – 2%, in generally available marijuana.  Today, the same grade of marijuana has THC rates over 15%. What this means is that the smoker takes in far more THC, which also increases the addictive potential.

Now, what about the people who insist that marijuana is not addictive?  They’re right … sort of.  There are two components to addiction, physical dependence and psychological dependence.  All addictive disorders include psychological dependence – that’s why people go to treatment programs.  Typically, the drug classifications that also involve physical dependence – and may include admission to a detox unit – are alcohol, heroin/narcotic pain killers/methadone, and anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax and Valium.  Other drug families, including cannabis (marijuana), do not.  However, people who like to downplay the detriments of marijuana use like to disregard these distinctions.  The fact that you don’t need to go into the hospital to “come off” of marijuana does not mean that it is not addictive – just not physically addictive.

Another point behind the President’s reasoning might be that people commit all sorts of crimes when high on various drugs, and risk public safety and get DUI’s after drinking alcohol, but don’t typically experience these when smoking marijuana.  Marijuana use, especially chronic or early onset marijuana use, causes what is known as an “amotivational syndrome,” which simply put means that it is quietly slips the smoker into neutral.  Episodic use, episodic neutral.  Chronic use, chronic neutral.  For those who like to deny this point, ever see an overachieving “stoner”?  Not too many of them around.

Another point to consider when looking at marijuana use is that it is one of the classic “gateway drugs”, those that pave the way for other substance abuse.  This does not mean that anyone who smokes marijuana will go on to use other, stronger drugs.  However, most people in treatment for addiction to heroin and cocaine began with using gateway drugs.

What does all of this mean to us?  That we are not immune – not immune from the flu, or from heart disease, or from addiction.    We’re also not immune from buying into a convenient theory.  Our kids, the next generation of future Jewish leaders, are being given the message that marijuana use is harmless.  They are not told this by their parents or teachers – but by the culture in which we live.  They may be getting the message that smoking marijuana is no different than making a l’chaim, and that the substance is harmless.  Even if that were true 30 years ago, today’s marijuana is just not the same.  The marijuana is different, the effects are different, and the risks are different. Thought you should know.

Pinchas Herman, M.Ed., LPC, is a licensed therapist in Pittsburgh, PA.  He is board certified in treating addictive disorders and in dual-diagnosis.  He also holds certification in forensic addiction evaluation, and is recognized by the Department of Transportation as a qualified Substance Abuse Professional.  He is available for questions or consultation at paulherman@mail.com.

Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, and its potential to influence young minds, the comments section will be strictly moderated. Comments that veer from the subject at hand will not be approved.

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62 Comments

    • To supply proper information on cannabis.

      Mr. Herman,
      After reading your article, I’m struck with a notion that you have not efficiently researched this topic as a truly “neutral” or unbiased observer. The points you make regarding psychological addiction to marijuana are accurate to a point; THC is a cannabinoid (a chemical or ligand that binds naturally occuring neorecptors called cannabinoid receptors, in the brain) that is found naturally in physiological cannabis plants ranging between cannabis sativa and cannabis indica (the two most common, distinct species of smokeable cannabis) that have been cultivated to produce different levels of THC content along with different levels of other cannabinoid levels. These other cannabinoids, most notably CBD (cannabidiol), are typically misconstrued as psychoactive chemicals that affect the brain in ways similar to THC – this notion is false – CBD and other cannabinoids are highly useful in the treatment of concussions, epilepsy, glaucoma, and other neurologically based disorders. The levels of THC content in conjunction with CBD and other cannabinoids within the species of cannabis that is smoked can range in effects on the subject (from simple stimulation of THC receptors leading to more mild “highs” that do NOT affect addiction centers in the brain in the same ways that alcohol or any other drug do, to stronger stimulation of THC receptors that creates euphoric “highs”). The major misconception amongst current researchers is that the psychoactive effects of cannabis on subjects are universal, while they are most definitely subjective – different levels of THC content affect different subjects in many different ways. This being said the “addictive” qualities of cannabis cannot be summed up as “The fact that you don’t need to go into the hospital to “come off” of marijuana does not mean that it is not addictive – just not physically addictive.”; this habitual “addiction” or psychological dependence, can be much more accurately attributed to behavioral aspects of individuals than the addictive qualities of a plant. As for your blatant disregard of “overachieving” cannabis smokers, the daftness and absolute degradation of cannabis users completely discredits your views for the rest of the editorial. As a recreational user myself, I have graduated high school, received a bachelors degree in biology, and have successfully entered pharmacy school all responsibly using cannabis; many of my peers in graduation (some with multiple degrees) also used cannabis for recreational purposes – your view on the generations below yours is extraordinarily concerning if these views in your article are truly your own. To address this gateway theory you propose: those people who begin using hard drugs after marijuana are only exposed to the hard drugs (cocaine, heroine, etc.) after going through criminals to seek out an otherwise safe plant. Without this criminal connection, it will be nearly impossible for linkage between cannabis and hard drugs to be made. Please take some time to evaluate proper sourcing techniques and unbiased etiquette for further articles on this subject.

  • Asher Goldstein, MD

    Pinchas,
    Thank you for a well thought out and well written article about a sometimes confusing subject. I hope that people become more aware that this is not a ‘harmless’ drug. While the adults in our communities have the liberty to alter their minds in a legal fashion, with alcohol, I often see those younger than the legal age drinking as well. The potential for problems with Marijuana looms large. Thank you for addressing it.
    Asher Goldstein, MD

  • A Concerned parent

    I think that the author took a very neutral approach to sound the alarm that marijuana is not something to take lightly. What I find so interesting is how users have become so brainwashed by pushers to say that nothing is wrong with it and people that are against it are just exagerrating. However, I have to say that I have personally seen several youth’s lives get messed up by using it. These teenagers were top performers in their class, smart, focused and goal oriented. after 3 years of pot use, both of them did not even have the desire to bathe, get up and do anything. All they wanted was to sleep and get high. I know that the user community will rush to say these were exceptions. But, i hear more and more of these stories and can support the theory that pot affects people differently. People should watch out. Personally, I actually think that pot is just another form of government mind control. Imagine a whole society of individuals who are not motivated, and have a low standard of living. This is what legalization will cause to our society.

    • Agree

      You can mock and laugh at the concerned parent, but they are 100% right about the intentions of our government. I for one hope and pray we have someone, next presidential term, that can turn our society back (or forward) into a greatly motivated and productive
      country once again.

  • Prem

    Mr. Herman, I would appreciate it if you could prove the following statement:

    “What this means is that the smoker takes in far more THC, which also increases the addictive potential.”

    If you could show me a scientific study showing that there is a direct proportionality between concentration of THC consumed and the additive potential of the same substance or related, I would be more convinced by your editorial.

  • almost true

    Mr. Herman makes many good point, but is missing one important point – medical marijuana. Medical Marijuana can be very helpful. I have seen it benefit my patients who are struggling with cancer treatment related nausea and loss of appetite. I have also seen it help my patients – veterans – that suffer from nightmares related to PTSD. Although I have heard – and somewhat agree – that MJA can be a gateway drug, so can alcohol. A vast majority of my patients will all types of addiction issues recall using alcohol in excess as early as 12 years old. Very few mention regular use of MJA at that age – although in California it may be more prevalent. When someone tells you – especially a clinician – in absolute terms that something is harmful I tend to be skeptical. I do agree that marijuana needs to be regulated more and be put through more rigorous testing but that is almost impossible at this time because of the federal ban on use (even though states my allow it). You can die from chronic alcohol use, you can’t from MJA. For patient’s who use MJA heavily there is an increased risk – and I have seen it – of flipping a patient to mania or schizophrenia. Moderate use can be helpful – an absolute ban is not. I would prefer a ban on alcohol – which would save lives – than an outright ban on MJA.

    • Really??

      I live in a state that allows medical marijuana, and you never saw so many young people, teens and young 20-somethings who have prescriptions for marijuana to deal with their chronic pain, glaucoma…you get the idea. They want to get baked so they find a legal way to do it.

      It’s still weed use, and your point is silly.

  • please explain

    If u really believe that marijuana which hasn’t caused a single death or overdose in world history is such a huge issue then u should have the same issue w alcohol which in fact has a massive death toll every yr. True marijuana can b psychologically addictive, but cake is also psychologically addictive for ppl w eating disorders im not gonna say go make cake illegal and use 4 billion plus $s of taxpayers money to lock people up that eat cake when I could use that $ for way way more important things. Thats basically y this substance is becoming legal… America is finally prioritising. The only reason it was made illegal in the forst place is because people thought it was dangerous. Thats been disproved. The point is yes its a substance but stop acting like its gonna destroy our youth… That’s ludicrous and ridiculous.

    • agree but..

      While i dont believe marijuana is any more dangerous than alcohol both in moderation and excess, you shouldnt down play the affect marijuana can have on young developing minds. As an adult i say go ahead and enjoy as you would alcohol, but marijuana can cause developmental issues if used regularly by young people.

    • Ash

      Which is why you still have to be over the age of 21 to purchase weed legally in a state like Colorado so the young developing minds thing is not really a part of the equation here.

  • Go Pini!

    A thoughtful well but together article. Great points, it’s scary to be a parent nowadays.

  • M123

    This is an extremely biased article, while not necessarily false, the author deals with addictions for a living, and as he stated himself that the vast majority are not addicted, he is exposed to the most negative situations regarding the drug, as people who are content with their life and use, have no need to voice themselves due to the stigma attached because of articles such as this. I urge anyone that this topic is foreign to, to do their homework, and please, please do not take such an article to heart

    • Of course it's biased

      Where are you going to hear the downside of drugs from, your kids’ friends, or the guy who sells it?

    • M123

      From proper and diligent research, as any intelligent person would find information on anything.

  • no one special

    Obviously, the author has chosen to ignore telling us that there is THC free marijuana. His logic is spurious because this is being allowed for people with medical needs, just as addictive painkillers are available to
    those who need them.
    I would like to him to present the % (or per capita) numbers of alcohol users who die from their disease & kill other when drunk VS. the same for marijuana users.

  • "gateway drug"

    Here’s a link to a Time Health & Family article entitled Marijuana as a Gateway Drug: The Myth That Will Not Die:

    http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/marijuna-as-a-gateway-drug-the-myth-that-will-not-die/

    As far as marijuana being more addictive than alcohol, as stated on the Brown University Health Education site ” No one would argue that marijuana is as addictive as alcohol or cocaine.”

    There are very real, valid concerns when it comes to marijuana use, especially by teenagers. Making untrue of misleading statements to make it seem worse than it actually is are counter-productive.

  • Citizen Berel

    Should be legal. You should (probably) not smoke it.

    Nobody should go to jail for smoking weed. No resources should be expended on sending weed smokers or sellers to jail.

    Never heard of a weed addict stealing money to feed the addiction and that there should be the criteria for legality.

    We have too many laws. Way too many laws. This toxic idea that government need outlaw all bad/unwise behavior…the government is not a loving tatty helpfully demarcating the area for a healthy life.

    The government when pressed is a life ruining swat team what can break into your home, take your kids away and ruin your life…they can put you on a sex offender list for pishing in the wrong place. If you upset the wrong person, you can be audited, a cop can plant evidence…this stuff really does happen.

    It’s now come to light that every piece of your public life sits in digital form, in some data farm. Forever.

    It’s there waiting, either for you to become interesting enough to warrant sifting through and aggregating the data into a profile, or for the cost of doing so to come down far enough to where you don’t even need to be interesting.

    Celebrate the repeal of laws, provided that they don’t conflict with the 7 commandments. Repeal. Repeal Repeal.

  • Yosef Rosenberg MA /MS

    As the first director of Chabad LA Substance Abuse Program, and with more than 30 years’ experience in the field, I am qualified to ask the following questions:

    1) If ‘Gateway drugs’ exist, is not true that with specific reference to the Observant community, alcohol not pot is by far the most common gateway drug?
    2) Is there a difference in the relationship of pot or alcohol to fabringing?
    3) I am not clear on what is the meaning of ‘over achiever’ but Steven Jobes and Bill Gates (among others) give strong credit to the beneficial effect of pot throughout their careers.

    • Letters after your name

      I’m not sure what your point was, but if you’re interested in throwing around your credentials, i think Pinny Herman has you beat in that area.

      I don’t even work in the field, and I think your questions are ridiculous.

  • To #5

    This article doesn’t say anything about making an all out ban on marajuana. It’s just saying that parents and others need to understand that it’s not a completely risk free or addiction free habit as people may be led to believe. Almost everything has a good side in moderation-you mention medical marajuana. You also mention drinking–well in the hospital, patients going through withdrawal are given limited amounts of alcohol to control that. Both are used in moderation, but have limits as well. Also, in response to your wanting to see a full ban on alcohol, I think Prohibition showed us how that worked out…

  • MaidofCH

    Probably the issue is recreational use, as opposed to medical. This is not really the Torah way, period — even with alcohol. Both may have therapeutic value, but even in social situations should be used sparingly.

  • Comment to Citizen Berel

    you wrote:

    “Never heard of a weed addict stealing money to feed the addiction and that there should be the criteria for legality.”

    Citizen Berel, there are countless cases of kids stealing money, or misappropriating monies to feed their addiction to pot.

    It sounds like you are a marijuana addict that is in denial.

    POT is not the same for everyone. Kids that are still developing their brains should not be involved with this stuff.

    If adults are dumb enough to think that they need to have pot to deal with reality, there is not much one can do. But letting teens use pot and acting as if there is nothing wrong with it has the potential for someone’s life being shattered. Pot rehab for teens is a big business. Why, because if kids don’t take care of this when they are younger, they are likely to have a challening future.

    • Citizen Berel

      I deny being a marijuana addict in denial.

      I too cannot count the countless cases of kids stealing money or misappropriating money to feed their addiction to pot when they are not denying being addicted to pot.

      And were I not in denial about being addicted to pot I would tell you also about the countless cases of kids who having smoked one too many turned into zombies.There I said it — zombies–you literally cannot count the amount of kids who, having smoked too much pot, turned into zombies and were then in denial about being zombies addicted to pot.

      And I think the government should make a law against being a zombie.

  • Jakob

    Well put article. For those who say that medical marijuana is the only choice for cancer patients, I made it through 90 days of head and neck radiation and 6 rounds of Cisplatin and never once did I stoop to the level of using marijuana to curb the nausea.
    For those who say we would have less people in prison if M was legal – they are in jail because they broke the law and it doesn’t matter if you like the law or not, it is still a law.

    • M123

      There have been horrible, now viewed as unbelievable laws that have been reformed or done away with in Americas history which saved or improved the life you live today. If you do not believe in correctly educating yourself and making informed decisions to improve mistreated fellow Americans lives, you should not be making uninformed jabs at people who truly care about the subject.

    • Jakob

      Which part of my article is uninformed? Do you somehow think that I did not research Marijuana during my cancer treatment? Maybe you should consider curbing your uninformed jabs at those who also truly care about the subject, through personal experiences, and do not support Marijuana?

    • M123

      I was referring to your comment, which I replied to. I was also not referring to your cancer at all. I was talking about reforming laws that are unjust, that have ruined thousands of lives. I am not making jabs at anyone, and please do not insinuate so.

  • Uh you are not correct

    The notion that pot has increased dramatically in potency is a DEA myth based on biased government data, as shown in a recent NORML report by Dr. John Morgan.(7) Samples of pot from the early ’70s came from stale, low-potency Mexican “kilobricks” left in police lockers, whose potency had deteriorated to sub-smokable levels of less than 0.5%. These were compared to later samples of decent-quality domestic marijuana, making it appear that potency had skyrocketed. A careful examination of the government’s data show that average marijuana potency increased modestly by a factor of two or so during the seventies, and has been more or less constant ever since.In fact, there is nothing new about high-potency pot. During the sixties, it was available in premium varieties such as Acapulco Gold, Panama Red, etc. , as well as in the form of hashish and hash oil, which were every bit as strong as today’s sinsemilla, but were ignored in government potency statistics. While the average potency of domestic pot did increase with the development of sinsemilla in the seventies, the range of potencies available has remained virtually unchanged since the last century, when extremely potent tonics were sold over the counter in pharmacies. In Holland, high-powered hashish and sinsemilla are currently sold in coffee shops with no evident problems.
    Contrary to popular myth, greater potency is not necessarily more dangerous, due to the fact that users tend to adjust (or “self-titrate”) their dose according to potency. Thus, good quality sinsemilla is actually healthier for the lungs because it reduces the amount of smoke one needs to inhale to get high.

    “THC levels are allegedly 10, 20 or even 30 times higher than in the 1960s or 1970s. Although potency levels have risen in several countries (such as the US and UK), the actual increases have been much more modest (almost threefold from 1982 to 2007 in the US) and high-potency strains have always existed, as have various concentrated forms of cannabis.”

    Source – ElSohly M.A., et al “Potency Trends of delta-9 THC and Other Cannabinoids in Confiscated Marijuana from 1980-1997, Journal of Forensic Sciences, Volume 45, No. 1, 2000, pp. 24-30

    Source 2 – ElSohly M.A. National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Quarterly Report, Potency Monitoring Project, Report #104, Dec 16, 2008 – Mar 15, 2009

    http://www.lycaeum.org/paranoia/marijuana/facts/mj-health-mythology

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misconceptions_about_drugs

  • ALCOHOL VS POT

    We drink alcohol @ farbrengen to give brochos.
    It is a Chassidic Minhag to do so– dating back to the earliest Rebbes of Chabad.

    Pot has always been obtainable and had been used by artists & the advant gard for centuries. Yet it was never adopted by our Rebbeim. This speaks volumes.

    Minhag Yisroel Torah He. In this sense a l’chaim has intrinsic value beyond the scope of “getting high”.

    Being a frequent participant of farbrengens– we drink, give brochas, and sometimes, but not usually get high– by default, but not by intent.

    The difference is that one puffs pot specifically with the goal of getting high. This is not a Jewish idea.

    Think about this.

    • Ummm

      Ever heard a chassidishe story involvong a “schmeck tabak”? That wasn’t roses they were smelling….

      A few points:

      1- The Rebbeim smoked cigarettes and/or pipes. Yet when scientific evidence was presented regarding the risks of smoking, the Rebbe banned it. I believe it was said to be “an issur m’deoraisa”. Not everything that was done in Nevel should be done in Crown Heights.

      2- Alcohol has the ability to be physically addictive. By virtue of that alone, it makes it more dangerous than pot. The fact that we find it ok to introduce generations of potential addicts to a drug which kills more people each year than tuberculosis, AIDS, or even violence, is revolting. We give brachos on it? I had a mashpia in yeshiva who told us to make l’chaim on any mezonos. If the bracha is contingent on having alcohol involved, I think you may have a problem.

      3- We don’t drink a l’chaim for the purpose of getting high, yet it seems to be very important to you that it be involved. You’re not drinking alcohol to get drunk. You’re drinking it because it loosens your inhibitions, which allows you to be a bit more introspective and honest with yourself, thus effecting the positive change you seek at a farbrengen. So too, it’s not the act of smoking pot that’s the issue, it’s what you are looking to get out of it. If you are smoking to space out in front if the tv for hours, then it is no different than getting drunk in front of the tv. However, there is no difference between using weed or alcohol to achieve positive change. It’s not the tool you use, it’s what you accomplish.

      4- Not everything the village shikur did in Nevel is minhag Yisroel. We throw that term around very loosely nowadays.

      This isn’t to say that pot is safe and everyone should be smoking it. Just thought I’d give a slightly different perspective.

  • To Jakob - "stooping"

    Why is using medicinal marijuana “stooping”? If it is perscribed by a doctor and has equal or better results than perscription drugs with less side effects why should it be characterized as something unseemly? I feel sorry for you that you were unwilling or unable to avail yourself to something that may’ve helped ease your suffering during such a difficult time. B”H medicinal marijuana is legal now in 20 states as well as WDC, and will be soon across the country.

    • Jakob

      Because I have a job, like most jobs it does not matter if there is a prescription for Marijuana or Oxy, these are not allowed in the work place.Even once Med M becomes legal, it will not be allowed to be in your system while on the job, just as pain killers and alcohol are not. And no, you don’t truly feel sorry for me so please don’t waste your breath.

  • "Your father's weed"

    Young people laugh at this saying. Everyone knows the weed that was around then was not as strong as what’s available now. People understand that less intake is needed for the desired effect. If our fathers drank beer and we drank vodka would we drink as much vodka as our fathers drank beer until we pass out? Maybe some idiots would, but most would not…

  • Just Sayin

    I think the author is missing an important point. No one is saying that marijuana is harmless. They, and the President, are saying that it is no worse than alcohol, which is legal. Like alcohol, it needs to be used responsibly.

    A few counter-points:

    1: The author asks, “ever see an overachieving ‘stoner’?” He answers that they are not found. Validity of that statement aside, I don’t see too many overachieving drunks, either. Not every person who drinks is a drunk, and not every person who smokes pot is a stoner.

    2: The author argues that it may not be 100% true that weed is not addictive, because of the psychological aspect. I can use the same argument to convince people not to eat, because there is a possibility that one can develop a psychological addiction to food. The psychological addiction is not the marijuana’s fault. That is an underlying issue which happens to be manifesting itself in the pot use.

    3: The gateway drug argument. The majority of people with drug problems have other issues which encouraged them to seek mind altering substances. It is only natural that they would start with the “safer” options such as marijuana and alcohol. It is not the pot that drove them to other drugs, it is their unresolved issues which drove them to drugs, weed included. In fact, demonizing pot and categorizing it along with all the other, much more dangerous drugs does more to encourage addiction than anything else. The user figures that weed didn’t ruin their life, maybe the other drugs aren’t as bad as people make it out to be. (I do give the author credit for making sure to distinguish the vast differences between pot and physically addictive drugs.)

  • to Ummm

    To #27

    You commented that chassidim of old who took “a shmeck tabak” were not just “smelling roses”. Well, my friend, just what else did you have in mind? Were they shmecking coke? pot? crack-cocaine?

    Sorry if I’m taking your words to heart, but the inuendo is shocking for a chosid to even indirectly imply.

  • Be Real

    I can just imagine a 770 farbrengen enveloped in a cloud of pot smoke.

    Do you really think that scenario would be acceptable to the Rebbe?

    Get Real !

    • You're Sorta Right

      From the only story i have heard with the Rebbe and marijuana. When the Rebbe was asked if he would allow pot at his farbrengens he said, pot is something that makes you look into yourself and mashke makes you get along with people. At my farbrengens i need everyone to get along not look at themselves. And that was it, the Rebbe never said anything about it being bad for you or anything else.

  • No one ever died from it???

    My friend Leib Velvel ben Betzalel A”H died partly because of pot at age 23 in Teves, 5732, 1972. He was a sweet neshama, a talented person with a bright future as an engineer, and he was searching. Something was troubling him deeply, but I never knew what it was. Most of the time I spent with him, he was on pot. That’s what he used to mellow himself out. He began discovering Yiddishkeit in 1972 and was slowly, gradually taking on mitzvos: keeping kosher, going to shul, learning. One winter morning before dawn, he was driving on the icy highway from his city to my city, to visit me, all mellowed out. Before he left home, he told me, “The weatherman says the highway might be icy, but I’m going to make the trip anyway.” If he hadn’t been smoking, there’s a better chance he might’ve listened to the weatherman. His reflexes weren’t helped any by the pot when he needed to avoid the huge truck that was sideswiping his car. He crashed and died instantly. Yehi zichro boruch.

  • Thank you for the article!

    Thank you so much for addressing such an important issue that has tragically reached our community. I also appreciate that the article was objective. I also agree with my beloved Rabbi Nachman of Breslev who is very anti-marijuana/anti-cigarettes. These so called ‘light drug’s are nothing but the sitra achra in disguise. To Mr Anonymous who posted earlier that he is a ‘recreational user,’ who has somehow managed to get through college: you have been terribly misled by your yetzer hara. There is something called a ‘functioning’ addict. There are thousands of them out there, just like you, eating up the lies, and denial from their yitzrei hara….
    As I said before, this tragedy has sadly worked its way into our community. I know of one Doctor here (may Hashem enlighten him as to how addiction works), who actually encourages his patients to smoke it! For anxiety of all things! Gevalt!!! Ad mosai! Wake up Yidden! We need to be ready/sober to serve in the Beis Hamikdosh within the next 18-23 minutes!! This is According to the Rambam. The Beis Hamikdosh can be here at any time, and people are busy rolling a joint?
    No, I refuse to believe this is happening! I know everyone is going to do teshuva right now and bring Moshiach!!

  • Ha! I am not going to be sympathetic at this point...

    To number 39. Honor your friend, and face reality. It was not Cannabis that killed him. It was a vehicle related accident.

  • Milhouse

    Oh, please. You’re trotting out that ridiculous “gateway drug” story? That just proves that you’re dishonest. The evidence that marijuana is a “gateway drug” is exactly the same as the evidence that coffee or orange juice are “gateway drugs”. Nearly every heroin or crack addict began by drinking coffee and/or orange juice.

    And “psychologically addictive”?! All that means is that it’s pleasurable. Anything that gives pleasure can be “psychologically addicting”. How is marijuana any different in this respect than chocolate cake, or the internet?

    Yes, marijuana available on the street today is probably stronger than what was commonly available 40 years ago, as the growers switched to stronger varieties. Whose fault is that? Prohibition. If something is illegal then it makes sense to make it stronger, so you have to deal with less of it for the same effect. It’s the height of chutzpah to use that as an excuse to continue prohibition.

    Are you seriously asking for names of marijuana users who achieved great things?! Someone else already listed Jobs and Gates. Add to them Carl Sagan. But of course there are many more who don’t make their use public because it’s illegal.

  • Yisroel Simon

    Statistics are stupid. If one person who never drinks and drives and subsequently drives under the influence of marijuana and kills someone or dies himself, that is a tragedy that could have been avoided. Whether alcohol is also bad and contributes to more deaths statistically is beside the point. If you’re whole point is to be consistent then stop drinking but the argument that because this allowed my vice should be also allowed is infantile, sorry. And if your argument is that is should be legal but not used, so someplace else to make that argument, this is not the article for that.

  • Controlled and monitered?

    Even if we will talk about the medical benefits, why should it not be as controlled as Xanax, Valium or all other types of drugs?

    “Doctor prescribed Marijuana” are you kidding me?! Someone with less training than a therapist, writing you a card that let’s you buy an ounce a day or more, is like your grocer giving you an unlimited prescription.

    Calculate it, sell is by real prescription, calculated how much of which chemical will be ingested, probably best via humidifier, and without HTC, then we can start talking about medical use.

  • David Nesenoff

    I would like the President and the liberal society to please just name one thing that they do consider wrong and immoral. I would like them to define the scale of what is good and proper and what is not. What is legal and what is not. Are they even capable of saying ANYTHING is actually wrong?

    • are you serious? ?(49)

      Well there’s murder for one . And staying on the topic of drug use there’s cocaine heroin… and lets not forget about suicide or robbery. Basically majority of Americans idea of a better country doesnt involve the ideas of misinformed ppl (like gay marriage of marijion) (like the author of the above article) rather they’re idea of right and wrong (as you phrased it. ( I should add inadequately) ) is all about how harmful
      Somthing is

  • ALC

    and what about how dangerous drinking alcohol can do, did we forget how horrific that is? Alot of conflicting comments here. However, alcohol is much more dangerous. Cannabis has to be used the right way. If I was a doctor, I would definetly recommend it for medical purposes when appropriate.

  • Thanks for bringing this out in the open

    Please see documentary on cbc called ” the downside of high ” weed is a real danger to those prone to mental illness and can trigger terrible suffering and aggravated illness.

  • SEDITION

    DIn Malchuscha Din is, now, NULL AND VOID!!! So, don’t tell me anything about, in lieu of a better term, what some “higher ups” think is good for the country.

    You see, if these “special people” want to have it their way amongst themselves, well what’s it my business, except for Divine Wrath(notice how the California drought and crazy weather coincided with states “legalizing” marriage)?

    But to shove it down the throats of the American People against their will (insisting you accept this as normal or be penalized), then anything goes, incest, adultery, streaking, drug use and selling, etc. In the military, if they are allowed in the same barracks, showers, bathrooms, as their opposite gender, then be fair, the men and women should also be mixed together.

    • Get Real

      According to you then, the weather in Uganda will be peachy for years after the law they just passed. When in doubt use the weather which has been around a long time as a sign.

  • cannabis chassid

    1. #40, it is a sad story that your friend died, but the cause of the accident, was the truck driver not pot.
    2. i am a professional, licensed in my field, and I use cannabis, and I am not a “under achiever”.
    3. the OP never cites his sources. here is a one of many positive studies on marijuana. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4
    4. check out bereishis 1-12
    וַתּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ דֶּשֶׁא עֵשֶׂב מַזְרִיעַ זֶרַע לְמִינֵהוּ וְעֵץ עֹשֶׂה פְּרִי אֲשֶׁר זַרְעוֹ בוֹ לְמִינֵהוּ וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים כִּי טוֹב:
    5. additional cdb a secondary chemical found in cannabis, has positive medical benefit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3IMfIQ_K6U
    6. I do agree children should not have recreational access.

  • can someone confirm this!!!

    a man asked the rebbe as to why chassidim wouldnt use marijuana to help out in their kavanos and meditation to which the rebbe replied that marijuana is an experience for that person personally and make it selfish in a way as oppose to alcohol which opens a person up excuse my writing didnt learn how to write a paragraph properly.

  • Ash

    The author does not mention the actual stats here

    “We all know people who use alcohol, and we don’t necessarily see them abusing it. In fact, most people who consume alcohol do not have an alcohol abuse problem. Some do, of course; however, they are the minority, albeit often a visible minority”

    Here is the reality of alcohol:

    Percent of adults 18 years of age and over who were current regular drinkers (at least 12 drinks in the past year): 51.5%
    Percent of adults 18 years of age and over who were current infrequent drinkers (1-11 drinks in the past year): 13.6%

    Number of alcoholic liver disease deaths: 15,990
    Number of alcohol-induced deaths, excluding accidents and homicides: 25,692

    I dont have time to research the stats on marijuana use but show me comparisons that demonstrate marijuana use as directly causing any deaths or injuries which is really the main thing here and I will change my mind on the matter.

  • Pothead

    I am considered a ‘pothead’. I smoke everyday and no it is not for “medical use” although i do have one of those fake cards. I am in yeshiva i wake up every morning for mikvah, chasiddus, shaschris and learn with the bochurim, and then find some yidden who wouldn’t sit down to learn ever i roll a joint and learn some chassidus with them. No its not addictive, i took a break a few weeks ago for a week just because to prove i am not addicted even though it’s around me.
    Just like almost anything else in the world it’s all about how you use it. You can smoke and sit on your couch while eating a bag of chips drinking soda and watching TV or you can smoke and carry on with your day and do all that has to be done.
    It’s all about how people use/abuse something.

  • Thank you, Pinchas Herman...

    Well written, cogent editorial. A must-read for all parents AND teens!

  • Hmmmm, let me think....

    Stoners who are overachievers? How about all of the stoners who are legalizing marijuana! You don’t think that this is all happening because some stoners are sitting on the couch in front of the tv, do you? It’s so easy to legalize marijuana, no work at all….

  • Ignorant propoganda

    I find it very interesting that the same people who get smashed on POISON at a farbrengen are so afraid of a plant.
    NONE of the accusations in the article are based on any legitimate science. It’s cheap propaganda that is akin to the scare tactics used in the early ’50s.
    MJ is a waste of time if you choose to smoke your life away. It is detrimental to teenage brain development. But, it certainly is not a “gateway drug” and there is nothing wrong with a healthy adult using it responsibly. Just ask the millions of Olympians, multibillionaires and ordinary parents that have done just that.