Apparently some Ashkenazi Jews of central or eastern European heritage consider cannabis to be in the category of food that’s prohibited during Passover, the festival that begins tonight. However Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, a recognized leader in Orthodox Judaism, ruled that it’s actually fine to use weed for medical purposes during Passover. Reminds of the time many years ago when we used a bud to represent the “bitter herb” on the Seder Plate. From The Independent:
Among Ashkenazi Jews, who are of usually of Central and Eastern European descent, the drug would be considered to be a member of the kitniyot – a group of legumes and grains which are forbidden during the festival of Passover, including rice, peas and lentils….
The 88-year-old rabbi, who lives in Bnei Brak, an Israeli city east of Tel Aviv, can be seen with another prominent rabbi in a video uploaded to YouTube by pro-legalisation group Cannabis Israel in which they are presented with cannabis leaves and partake in the leaves being blessed.
