On Shushan Purim Katan at Mocha Bleu, a special shiur and discussion was held to benefit vocational programs for young women with special needs at Mercaz Bais Yaakov in Israel, titled “A Gift From the Garden: Medical Cannabis’ Deep Roots in Torah and Israel.”

The talk featured renowned cannabinoid scientist from Jerusalem Dr. Yehoshua Maor, a close student of Prof. Rafael Meschoulam at Hebrew University, who discovered THC in 1964.

Updates on basic medical cannabis research that is streaming from Israel were touched upon, including hopes for autism, cancer, Crohn’s, endometriosis and Alzheimer’s, among others.

Introductory words were given by Rabbi Dr. Yosef Glassman, MD, on cannabis in the holy books, including approaches by Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, Mishnah and the Radbaz.

The talk was co-sponsored by Lumir Lab in Israel and Hadarta.org, promoting the educational mission of the International Jewish Cannabis Association (IJCA).