Medical marijuana could soon get kosher certification in New York

Orthodox Jews looking for kosher medical marijuana may soon have several edible options to choose from.

Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of the Orthodox Union's kosher certification agency, told The Forward he has had "preliminary discussions" with companies looking to get his seal of approval for their products — although the plant itself doesn't need kosher certification, items that are ingested need to get the OK. Orthodox Jews need to have a doctor's directive to partake, as recreational use is frowned upon, but Elefant said because of the health benefits he "would not have a problem certifying" medical marijuana.

In Israel, 11,000 people are licensed to use medical marijuana, and there are several kosher-certified products available. Although many rabbis agree that medical marijuana use is fine for health reasons, that's where they draw the line. "[It is] a perfectly acceptable use of a plant that grows in God's garden," said Rabbi J. David Bleich of Yeshiva University, but recreational use is "pleasure for pleasure's sake" and "certainly not that to which a Jew should aspire."

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