Israel is considering the legalization of cannabis for medical purposes
In Israel, the large-scale reform in the field of medical use of cannabis can be realized. The Ministry of Health say they are ready in the near future to take a number of measures to simplify procedures for obtaining psychoactive cannabis for medical purposes.
Officials also weighed the possibility of resolving the Israeli farmers to grow psychoactive hemp for its subsequent sale abroad.
Experts believe that in this case, Israel has every chance to become one of the leading exporters of medical cannabis.
What prevents to realize these plans today? Why Israel has not yet adopted the necessary legislation for the regulation of medical cannabis market?
These issues were raised in the framework of the international conference "Cannatech", which opened on Monday in Tel Aviv.
Ideal conditions
"We come from the Arava desert, is 350 kilometers south of Tel Aviv, - says Dana Meltzer, an Israeli farmer -. The crisis in the industry has forced us to draw eyes on cannabis, we hope that soon we can it grow in our country, because it is not only fashionable, but also very profitable. "
History Dana typical of many Israeli farmers. For many years it grew peppers, selling not only the domestic market but also abroad. Crisis broke, and fell demand for Israeli peppers. To save the farm, Dana and its partners have decided to look for an alternative. One of these was medical cannabis. That's just to get permission for her growing business proved unsustainable.
"We have asked the Ministry of Health with a request to allow our farm grown psychoactive cannabis for medical purposes, because we in the desert for this ideal environment we hope that soon we received permission, and then we look to the future." - Said Dan.
Theoretically, conditions on the Dana farm allow you to collect several harvests per season. For comparison, the pepper grows twice a year, and hemp - four or five times.
Spetsnapravlenie
Optimism farmers southern Israel is not shared by all the participants of the conference in Tel Aviv. To date, according to local laws, only eight farms in the country have the right to grow hemp. Each gram under the strict control of the state. Under the control of the company are and that it is treated and delivered in a medical Pharmacy.
To get to these pharmacies can only be having the special direction of the district psychiatrist. Local laws prohibit the free sale of cannabis, it is covered by the articles on drug trafficking, and for that you can get a serious prison sentence.
In the recent years, the police actually a blind eye to those who hold in their psychoactive hemp "for personal use".
If a man find a half-two grams of marijuana, there is a big chance that against him even zavedut criminal case. The police have repeatedly pointed out that in such a case, the case will have to start the clock, and not enough at all no courts, no prisons.
All the powers of law enforcement agencies in this area are left to struggle with hard drugs.
According to conference organizer Professor Rafael Meshulam from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Israeli political system is now obliged to make a few steps forward and fundamentally change the society's attitude towards cannabis.
"Israel is one of the first places in the world for the study of cannabis We are studying its advantages, both chemical and pharmacological point of view, with the issue of regulation of the law -. We, unfortunately, far behind the leading countries.
In recent years, there are attempts to fill the gaps, it will take time, but I believe that we are on the right track, "- says Prof. Meshulam.
Public opinion
According to official data of the Israeli Ministry of Health, about 25 thousand people have the right to use medical cannabis. Many of them suffer from cancer and cannabis - one of the few funds that, according to its prescribing physicians, can temporarily relieve pain and tension.
There are those who use the plant on the advice of psychiatrists. In a country where stressful situations are not uncommon, many people often seek psychological help. War, acts of terrorism, loss of loved ones, fear for the future of the country - these factors, according to experts, forcing people to seek a variety of ways for peace of mind.
According to independent experts, the potential number of prescriptions for medical marijuana could be ten times higher than the amount of the existing authorization, issued by Ministry of Health. According to industry experts, a change in public opinion on this issue will eventually force politicians to change laws.
"The medical community in Israel as a whole is not ready today to recognize the positive effects of medicinal cannabis, This negative attitude was worked out over the years and, in spite of a sharp increase in recent years, the number of patients in need of this approach, the government is in no hurry to change the rules of the game. I really hope in the near future we will be able to help hundreds of thousands of Israelis who are waiting for permission to use medical cannabis, and thus Israel will indeed become a superpower in the region. "
It is expected that the change of legislation in the field of medical cannabis in Israel may occur in the coming months. One of the reasons - the forthcoming session of the Supreme Court.
Farmers who have not received permission for the cultivation of hemp, filed a lawsuit in court against the state. His appeal they argued the freedom to work, because if a farm is allowed, why others do the same is strictly prohibited.
The first meeting on this case is scheduled for early May.