Why Medical Marijuana Needs Kosher Certification

Many years ago, when Coors beer obtained OU kosher certification, many people argued that beer is inherently kosher and does not need certification. The same controversy included water and other uncertified products. The latest controversy is OU's recent kosher certification of medical marijuana. Previously, some argued that medical marijuana is no different from other drugs used to treat patients that have no kosher certification. I have long understood that even the mildest products, such as water, need certification because of the complex processes of mass production in modern society. In addition, if many people seek to consume only kosher food, then why not provide a kosher certificate? Especially if manufacturers want to use kosher certification as a tool to open up markets. Wouldn't there be people who follow Jewish dietary law and are so seriously ill that they need kosher-certified marijuana to relieve their suffering? In recent years, many over-the-counter drugs have chosen kosher certification, so wouldn't it be better for all drugs to have Jewish certification?

The first reaction of those who see a kosher mark on food packaging is to mock it, thinking such products do not need kosher certification, which is a harm to kosher. Kosher certification is simply about letting consumers not worry about whether a product complies with Jewish dietary law, even water. They may not worry about whether the factory production line or cleaning agents used in food production are clean. This is a mark that reassures kosher eaters and cannot be ignored. Even a sick rabbi patient would not mind knowing that the medicine he takes is kosher.