A large group of Rabbonim gathered in Lakewood to discuss how to deal w/ the challenge of legalized marijuana and invited professionals to give insight. I don't know what was said [I am not from Lakewood, I am not a Rav and anyway I never get invited to such gatherings - B"H!] but I will add my two cents [as I told my child today when she expressed an opinion on a matter where she should not have an opinion "when I want to know your opinion I will tell it to you!!"馃榾馃槀] based on what I have read.
We have a drinking problem and a drug problem in our communities. Not as much necessarily as in the general community but a serious problem nonetheless.
The problem is NOT alcohol or drugs. The problem is the emptiness and other emotional distress that people experience and they feel a need to fill it w/ alcohol and drugs. The problem is, as they say - "You can't drown out your sorrows. Sorrows float".
One partial solution [I stress partial] is that people find satisfaction in ruchniyus. That fills a person up inside and for such a person even the thought of messing things up with unhealthy foreign substances is downright scary. It is hard for me to imagine a Jew who has a serious geshmak from learning, davening, chesed and enjoys meaningful relationships, will have any need for weed.
No weed,
no greed
no wasted seed,
and to the yetzer
he will pay no heed!!!
[Some 3am poetry. When I smoke up my poetry is like chillin' and totally awesome - duude!!!]
