Q: If a ba’al teshuva is a shomer shabbos but he still smokes marijuana is he still considered a frum Jew?
A: Yes – he is considered a frum stupid Jew. Frum Jews in insane asylums are also frum Jews. He’s a meshugener – certainly; he’s a meshugener frum Jew. If a frum Jew was cutting off his fingers every day; every day one finger he cuts off, he’s still a frum Jew. But he’s a meshugener – he’s killing himself.
Of course it’s a sin. But frum Jews who do sins are still frum Jews. And therefore anybody who doesn’t take care of his health; he causes himself to become ill, so he should know that Hakodosh Boruch Hu is angry at him and He’s going to take retribution from him eventually – either in this world or in the next world. But we still have to consider as a frum Jew.
TAPE # E-25 (September 1995)
In short, according to daas Torah, someone who smokes marijuana is stupid.
If we say “he doesn’t take care of his health: he causes himself to become ill” then the same should apply to smoking cigarettes and drinking.
What if he didn’t smoke it? What if he ate it? Why would ingesting moderate amount of cannabis be worse than smoking a pack of cigarettes or downing multiple shots of spirits? Makes no sense.
A psak from 1995 is out dated in that the forms in which cannabis is available have changed. Today topical lotions are available to relieve local physical pain. Maybe R’ Miller Ztl was referring to the smoking aspect.
@mamamia – you might want to re read it again slowly… he is specifically talking about smoking. not about lotions etc.