Medical Cannabis Treatment Costs Triple in Israel
After new regulatory measures were introduced by lawmakers in June, the cost of medical cannabis treatment in Israel has more than tripled. Many patients are now raising concerns about reduced access to medical marijuana.
Medical Cannabis Now Costs Nearly 30,000 Rubles per Month
Before the changes to the medical cannabis distribution system, all patients paid 370 shekels (9,224 rubles) per month for cannabinoid-based medications. However, due to the low cost, medical cannabis became extremely popular, with about 120,700 people receiving prescriptions for cannabis-based medicines. Local producers were unable to meet the increased demand, so officials chose to address the medication shortage by raising prices.
Packaging and Pricing Changes
Currently, Israelis must purchase medical marijuana in 10-gram packages costing 400 shekels (9,972 rubles) each. Harry Rubinstein, who was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, uses 30 grams of medical marijuana per month, which now costs him 1,200 shekels (29,916 rubles) instead of 370. He also complained about long lines to see doctors for permission to use medical cannabis. According to him, prescriptions are issued much faster if you pay an extra few thousand shekels.
Rubinstein does not understand why cannabis is much harder to obtain than addictive opioid painkillers. He believes that due to reduced access to cannabis, many patients will turn to illegal dealers and buy marijuana on the black market.
Some Patients Now Have Easier Access
Not all of the new changes have made life harder for patients. The Israeli government has allowed patients suffering from the following conditions to purchase medical cannabis without a prescription:
- Epilepsy
- Crohn’s disease
- Dementia
- Autism
- Malignant tumors
- Multiple sclerosis
- AIDS
- Terminal illnesses (if the patient has less than six months to live)
Legal Medical Cannabis Use Continues to Grow
From early 2019 to January 2023, the number of Israeli residents legally using medical cannabis nearly tripled, reaching 123,700. At the same time, the amount of cannabis allowed for sale also increased. From January 2021 to January 2023, the quota for medical marijuana sales rose by 65%, from 2,631 to 4,334 kilograms. However, the volume of cannabinoid extract sales decreased from 457 to 416 kilograms. This means the cannabis shortage can be explained by the low sales limits set by authorities.