Is It Permitted to Pray Under the Influence of Alcohol?

Greetings,

1. One who drank a revi'it of wine or another intoxicating beverage, in an amount that intoxicates like a revi'it of wine, should not pray until the effect of the alcohol passes. This applies specifically when he drank a revi'it of wine at one time, but if he drank it in two times or if the wine was diluted with a little water, it is permitted. However, if he drank more than a revi'it of wine, in any case it is forbidden until he removes the effect of the alcohol from himself (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 99:1, and Mishnah Berurah there).

2. Regarding prayer under the influence of cannabis, if his mind is not clear and he cannot speak properly before a king, it is certainly forbidden for him to pray. See also Responsa Igrot Moshe, Yoreh Deah, part 3 (siman 35), where he wrote that drug use is also a hindrance to prayer and to the commandments of the Torah, for an act done without proper awareness is as though one had not fulfilled them. See there.

With blessing,

Hillel Meirs