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TAKING page 47
that God is looking out for me."
Ms. Emry is an advocate of the
legalization of marijuana and
explains that she relies on the
drug because her children need
her.
"Pm fully ambulatory when I
smoke. Without it, I can't move
around freely and do the things
Pm capable of doing," she says.
She explains that without
smoking she only can move be-
tween 50 and 100 feet. Without
pot, she has no appetite for the
meals she painstakingly pre-
pares.
However, with the help of
marijuana, she can walk 200 feet
or more before needing to rest,
and she eats. Ms. Emry is con-
vinced that marijuana is the only
thing that can help her function.
When asked if she would try
the legal and synthetic drug
THC, she expressed doubt it
would work and questioned the
validity of studies saying that it
is safer.
Roxane Laboratories Inc.
holds the copyright on THC. The
company claims that their "Mari-
nol" capsules can do almost
everything marijuana advocates
say smoking pot does. However,
the company cites Marinol as
safer to the consumer because it
can be given in precise dosages
and does not carry additional
health risks.
"Marinol does not contain the
carcinogens or fungal spores
which are present in smoke. Nor
does it cause chronic airflow
obstructions of the pulmonary
system," says a Roxane Labora-
tories' spokesperson.
Yet people like Ms. Emry take
the risk of obtaining and using
marijuana even though it is ille-
gal.
An individual can receive up
to 90 days in jail and/or a $100
fine for using pot. A person also
can receive up to one year in jail
and/or a $1,000 fine for being
found in possession of any
amount of marijuana. Cultiva-
tion, delivery and sale of the leaf
can result in a jail term of up to
four years and/or a $2,000 fine.
However, the issue of mari-
juana use is not just one for med-
ical and legal experts. It also
highlights elements of Jewish
tradition and law.
Rabbi Aaron Bergman of Con-
gregation Beth Abraham Hillel
Moses says there is no mention
in the Torah condemning the use
of marijuana. Nor does the Bible
anywhere refer to Jews using the
weed in practice or ritual. He
says Jews are bound to follow
state and federal laws so long as
they do not come in direct con-
flict with Jewish law.
"I would counsel a family or
individual not to purchase the il-
legal drug, but rather to lobby for
a prescribed, over-the-counter
medication. The laws of this state
are so stringent. If they were
caught and sent to prison, they
would be of no use to their chil-
dren or family," Rabbi Bergman
says.
Rabbi Leonardo Bitran of Con-
gregation Shaarey Zedek-B'nai
Israel Center feels that an inch-
vidual should follow the advice
of a doctor. He quotes a passage
written by Rabbi Samuel Ben-
Meir in the Talmud regarding
the use of illegal drugs.
"Do not use drugs because
they demand periodic doses and
your heart will crave them. You
will also lose money. Even for
medicinal purposes, do not take
drugs if you can find a different
medicine that will help," Rabbi
Bitran reads.
However, Rabbi Arnie Sleutel-
berg of Congregation Shir Tik-
vah would condone use of the
drug if it provided the medicinal
relief the user sought
"If the drug is used appropri-
ately — in order to save (or im-
"He began his usual
activities instead of
going straight to
bed."
—Dr. Lester Grinspoon
prove the quality of) a life — I
would say it is OK to break the
secular law," he says.
"Morphine drops and other
drugs are used as pain relievers
which oftentimes can cause a
high, if you will. All kinds of pain
relievers can cause an altered
state, but if the drug proves help-
ful, I would encourage the use
and legalization for medicinal
purposes," Rabbi Sleutelberg
says.
Rabbi Lane Steinger of Tem-
ple Emanu-El says he would
support anything that would pro-
mote a healing process during ill-
ness and hopes that physicians
would not be put in a position
that would make them unable to
prescribe something that is a
benefit to patients. He refers to
a passage in the Contemporary
American Reform Responsa re-
garding the use of psychedelic
drugs.
"A wide variety of drugs have
been described in the Talmud,
although none of them seem to
have been mind-altering. This
form of treatment, as well as all
others, would be used under the
general permission provided by
the statements, 'And he shall
surely be healed,' and 'You shall
live by the (Commandments)'
(Exodus 21:19)."
Ms. Emry sees just one solu-
tion.
"The only thing the govern-
ment can do is make marijuana
legal for medicine," she says. "It's
bizarre to have sick people per-
secuted by the government when
they use the herb not to get high,
but for the health of it." ❑