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GENERAL INTEREST

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
R abbi Dr . Abraham J . T werski

Talking to Children

about Marijuana

ntil recently, when parents People who use marijuana may hold amotivational syndrome resulting from
found that a child was using a job or go through school, but may marijuana may deplete the drive neces-
Umarijuana, they panicked. Now, not achieve their potential. A person sary for success.
more and more countries are legaliz- who would not accept his car operating We cannot control our children. They
ing marijuana. It has become socially at only 60% of its potential may have will make their own decisions. But
“kosher.” What should frum parents do? to accept that he has not realized his we can educate them. Parents should
Should we see it as kosher too? capabilities and is functioning at 60% thoroughly educate themselves on mar-
If you are looking for halachic guidance, of his ability. ijuana use and share their knowledge
consult a posek. A man of 38 consulted me. “My father with their children. Don’t threaten. Just
I spent over 40 years treating chemical is a prominent physician, head of a put the cards on the table and hope that
addiction, and I can only give you my department in a major hospital. He is they will make the right decision.
opinion. highly respected and sought after as a
lecturer. My dream as a kid was that
Drugs such as opiates or cocaine are I would grow up to be a somebody. Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski is a psychia-
recognized as being potentially deadly. trist and rabbi, and founder of the Gateway
But inasmuch as there is no sudden Maybe a doctor like my father, or a Rehabilitation Center in Pennsylvania.
death from marijuana, people con- scientist, or a mathematician or a his-
sider it safe. There are arguments for torian. I always wanted recognition. I
and against the use of marijuana, but only got a bachelor’s degree and made
there is one danger in marijuana that passing grades, and for me, that is not *Editor’s note: Aside from amotivational
is largely unrecognized. satisfactory. I used pot frequently, but syndrome, marijuana use can cause short
I was unaware of how it was affecting term memory impairment, di©culty think-
Especially in young people, marijuana me. I blew it. I could have become a ing clearly, changes in mood, body move-
can cause amotivational syndrome. It somebody, but not anymore.” ment impairment, and sometimes hallu-
can significantly decrease a person’s cinations, delusions, or even psychosis,
motivation or drive for achievement, There are many people who have great which can lead to dangerous behavior.
but this is hardly noticeable. The danger potential, but to activate this poten- Marijuana use can also negatively a£ect
long-term brain development and is asso-
is much like cancer, which may not pro- tial requires drive and effort and they ciated with lower IQ levels when used
duce symptoms for years, but when it may have to compete against others. by teenagers. For more information, see
does, it may be life-threatening. While only one of the dangers,* the drugabuse.gov.

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