Pubdate: Sun, 10 Jan 2016
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Laura Kane
Page: 19

MEDICAL POT DOESN'T NEED TO BE KOSHER

Preservation of human life overrides religious concerns, Jewish
certification council decides

Is marijuana kosher? If it's medicine, it doesn't matter.

That's the message from Canada's largest kosher certification agency
after its board of rabbis held a debate on whether to certify cannabis
oils as kosher.

The Kashruth Council of Canada met Thursday to discuss an application
from MedReleaf, a licensed producer of medical pot. The meeting
followed news in the U.S. that a New York company would soon offer
certified kosher medical cannabis products.

But after "a lot of interplay and exchange," the Kashruth council
decided the Jewish faith doesn't require sick people to consume kosher
medicine, managing director Richard Rabkin said.

"Something that is medicine, that's prescribed from your doctor, that
you need to take for your health, that doesn't need kosher
certification," he said by phone after the meeting. "We don't really
want to get into the business of providing kosher certification for
something that is doctor-prescribed. We're not going to go down that
path."

Kosher foods are those that conform to Jewish law, with strict
guidelines on the types of foods that can be consumed and how they are
prepared.

Rabkin said there's a principle in Judaism that the preservation of
human life overrides other religious concerns. If one must consume
something non-kosher to survive - or, in the case of medical
marijuana, to relieve pain or seizures - one can and should do so.

He acknowledged some medical cannabis users might prefer to consume
kosher pot, but said a conversation with a rabbi should alleviate any
concerns.

Neil Closner, chief executive officer of MedReleaf, said he was proud
his company pushed Kashruth to consider the issue.

"It was because of us that they even had this meeting," he said.
"We're pleased with the outcome that from their perspective, (medical)
cannabis is considered kosher for all consumers."

Not all kosher certification agencies agree with Kashruth on medical
marijuana

Kosher Check, a global kosher certification agency headquartered in
British Columbia, debated the issue two years ago and decided in
favour of certifying edible medical pot products.

Rabbi Mendy Feigelstock said while preservation of life comes before
all else in Judaism, his organization decided it would be helpful to
offer a kosher choice for those who want it.

He said dried marijuana that is smoked is automatically considered
kosher since it is a plant. However, edible products, including oils,
capsules, brownies and cookies, would need to be certified.
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MAP posted-by: Matt