Israel: Medical Cannabis Regs Improved

Access to medical cannabis in Israel will be made easier for certain patients. Instead of applying for a license, specially trained doctors will be able to prescribe medical cannabis for patients with specific conditions, says a report in the Jerusalem Post.

Currently, there are approximately 100,000 Israeli patients with licenses to use medical cannabis, most of whom suffer from diseases, chronic pain, or post-traumatic conditions.

Previously, patients had to obtain a license with the approval of the Ministry of Health or certain trained doctors. However, under the new regulations, patients suffering from epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, dementia, autism (regardless of age), malignant cancers, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, and terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of less than six months will no longer require a license.

These patients can now receive a prescription from doctors who have undergone special training on the subject. Family doctors, pediatricians, and internal medicine specialists are not authorized to provide these prescriptions.