Medical Marijuana to Be Available in Pharmacies Across Israel

The Israeli Ministry of Health has announced that it will remove marijuana from the list of dangerous narcotic substances, allowing pharmacies to begin selling the plant. Specialist doctors will be able to prescribe marijuana and extracts containing its active components to any patient at their own discretion, without the need for separate approvals from the Ministry of Health. Pharmacies will now be able to sell regulated marijuana products to patients over the age of 18.

According to the law, doctors will be able to prescribe up to 40 grams of marijuana. With the adoption of this reform, doctors can formally recommend the use of marijuana or its extracts in the treatment of a range of chronic and severe illnesses, including palliative care for AIDS and cancer, intestinal inflammations and infections, as well as various neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, such as rare forms of epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease. The law also allows for the use of marijuana extracts in the treatment of minors suffering from severe and chronic forms of epilepsy that do not respond effectively to pharmaceutical drugs.

At the same time, Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman told the press that the new reform only means expanding and simplifying access to the medical marijuana distribution system, not full decriminalization of consumption and cultivation of the plant.

“Regarding this reform, I agree with the opinion of the overwhelming majority of our country’s doctors, who believe that seriously ill people should not have to run around to different agencies to get formal permission to purchase marijuana, especially in cases where its effectiveness in treating their conditions has already been scientifically proven,” Litzman said in an interview with local media.

It is also worth noting that the authorities have not yet specified when exactly the new reform will take effect.