A traditional Israeli rabbi has ruled that smoking and distributing medical marijuana is Kosher, but using it recreationally is strictly forbidden. Ma'ariv reported on Friday.
Mazkeret Batia is a small town south of Tel Aviv. The local rabbi Efraim Zalmanovich recently formulated halakhic rules, which state that excessive drug use to escape this world is absolutely forbidden.
However, he concluded that if the drug helps relieve pain, then the person providing the drug is performing a "good deed," and the person using the drug is also using it in a "Jewish manner."
According to Israel's health department, about 11,000 Israelis use medical marijuana.
According to the Times of Israel, Health Minister Yael German said at a recent Knesset session: Israel distributes more marijuana than any country in Europe.
Contrary to a recently circulating misconception, she said: "Israel distributes about 880 pounds (nearly 400 kilograms) of cannabis each month. By comparison, the Netherlands provides only 330 pounds (nearly 150 kilograms) per year."