Page 58 - HaMizrachi #26 Tu Bishvat USA 2021

GENERAL INTEREST

Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski

Talking to Children

about Marijuana

ntil recently, when parents People who use marijuana may hold a amotivational syndrome resulting from
found that a child was using job or go through school, but may not marijuana may deplete the drive neces-
Umarijuana, they panicked. Now, achieve their potential. A person who sary for success.
more and more countries are legaliz- would not accept his car operating at
ing marijuana. It has become socially only 60% of its potential may have to We cannot control our children. They
“kosher.” What should frum parents do? accept that he has not realized his capa- will make their own decisions. But we
Should we see it as kosher too? bilities and is functioning at 60% of his can educate them. Parents should thor-
oughly educate themselves on marijuana
If you are looking for halachic guidance, ability. use and share their knowledge with their
consult a posek. A man of 38 consulted me. “My father children. Don’t threaten. Just put the
I spent over 40 years treating chemical is a prominent physician, head of a cards on the table and hope that they
addiction, and I can only give you my department in a major hospital. He is will make the right decision.
opinion. highly respected and sought after as a
lecturer. My dream as a kid was that I
Drugs such as opiates or cocaine are would grow up to be a somebody. Maybe 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 a doctor like my father, or a scientist, or Rehabilitation Center in Pennsylvania.
death from marijuana, people consider a mathematician or a historian. I always
it safe. There are arguments for and wanted recognition. I only got a bach-
against the use of marijuana, but there elor’s degree and made passing grades,
is one danger in marijuana that is largely and for me, that is not satisfactory. I *Editor’s note: Aside from amotivational
unrecognized. used pot frequently, but I was unaware syndrome, marijuana use can cause short
of how it was affecting me. I blew it. I
Especially in young people, marijuana could have become a somebody, but not term memory impairment, difficulty thinking
can cause amotivational syndrome. It anymore.” clearly, changes in mood, body movement
can significantly decrease a person’s impairment, and sometimes hallucinations,
delusions, or even psychosis, which can
motivation or drive for achievement, but There are many people who have great lead to dangerous behavior. Marijuana use
this is hardly noticeable. The danger is potential, but to activate this poten- can also negatively affect long-term brain
much like cancer, which may not pro- tial requires drive and effort and they development and is associated with lower
duce symptoms for years, but when it may have to compete against others. IQ levels when used by teenagers. For more
does, it may be life-threatening. While only one of the dangers,* the information, see drugabuse.gov.

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