Drugs in the Talmud

IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING after the Iranian First Vice President raised the subject, Dr. Erica Brown has looked into Drugs in the Talmud (St. Louis Jewish Light). You can read it all, but she sums up:

In actual fact, Judaism takes an approach of moderation in regard to mind-altering substances, particularly alcohol, which is discussed at length in the Talmud. Although alcohol was regarded in Psalms as a way to make humans happy, too much happiness was regarded as a spiritual danger. A nazarite refrained from drinking to achieve a higher spiritual state, and priests were not allowed to drink during service. Judges at court were not allowed even the smallest amount of alcohol intake in the event that it would mar their judgment, and a scribe is not permitted to write a divorce document for an inebriated man who demands it. There are even later rabbinic discussions on coffee, tea and tobacco consumption because of their addictive properties.

Rahimi, get thee to a yeshiva. You need a refresher course to brush up on your Talmud. While I respect your Jewish scholarly erudition, you probably should hire a better fact-checker.

That sounds about right, but she herself could be more skeptical about Vendyl Jones and his supposed ancient stash of sacred incense.