Israel Sets Record by Seizing 137,550 Cannabis Plants in Three Days
Israeli police have set a new record for the number of cannabis plants confiscated in a single special operation, seizing 137,550 plants in just three days.
Law Enforcement Deals Major Blow to Cannabis Growers
The operation began with law enforcement using aerial reconnaissance to locate 169 greenhouses where cannabis was being illegally cultivated. Police then raided farms in the Negev Desert, discovering a massive number of cannabis plants. On average, each greenhouse contained about 747 plants.
The total weight of the confiscated cannabis plants reached several tons, and the estimated value of the lost harvest is in the hundreds of millions of shekels (at least 5 billion rubles). Authorities also seized a large amount of cannabis cultivation equipment and fertilizers, which were reportedly stolen from local farmers.
Government Plans to Reform Cannabis Legislation
To encourage underground cannabis growers to join the legal industry, the Israeli government has decided to make life easier for licensed businesses, which have complained about overly strict regulations. Officials plan to:
- Allow cannabis researchers to prescribe cannabis to people for participation in clinical trials;
- Simplify the process for exporting medicinal products containing cannabinoids;
- Cancel the rule that cannabis can only be prescribed if traditional medicines have proven ineffective;
- Keep only cannabis products with THC concentrations above 0.3% on the list of dangerous drugs.
These changes are set to take effect no later than February 2024 and will significantly increase access to cannabis for patients. Currently, only about 100,000 Israelis (1% of the population) are legally treated with cannabis, but after the reform, the number of patients receiving cannabinoid-based prescriptions is expected to rise.
Widespread Political Support for Medical Cannabis
Notably, the vast majority of Israeli politicians support the use of cannabis in medicine. Even members of orthodox religious groups advocate for its use, as Jewish law permits treatment with any natural remedies. However, among the officials opposed to cannabis is Israel’s Finance Minister, Zionist Bezalel Smotrich, who believes cannabis is very dangerous and that legalization could lead to the “destruction of future generations of the State of Israel.”