Pot Deemed Unfit for Passover

Passover, also known as the "Festival of Unleavened Bread" has a new stipulation to abide by. European rabbis have announced that in addition to bread, cookies, cake, whiskey, and beer, all hemp products are to be removed from homes making their consumption prohibited during Passover.

Hemp products are found in many a personal care items, ( hair oils/pomades, lotions) and hemp oil is found in various alternative baked items and can also be used in cooking. Hemp clothing and items used medicinally are not in question, and are acceptable.

While many have agreed that hemp products (including it's counterpart marijuana) are indeed kosher during the duration of the calendar year, during Passover it is not acceptable. The reasoning behind the judgment, stems from it's having been classified as a "kitniyot" or legume by many a rabbi. The argument is that if it is edible, it must be removed from the home in it's cleaning prior to Passover.

Passover regulation pertaining to marijuana and hemp products only affects Ashkenazic Jews, as Sephardic Jews do not practice the ban of kitniyot.

The origin of the kitniyot ban was the fear that they may come in contact with the grains traditionally avoided during Passover. Many a farmer would grow both, and inevitably the items would end up being stored together as they were typically grown within close proximity of one another.

Israel's Green Leaf Party is notifying members via email as to information pertaining to the ban, stating that they would "rather be on the safe side". The Green Leaf Party's stand on legalization of cannabis is due it's biblical references.

-High Times Magazine