Police bust marijuana grow-op in Petah Tikva home

Police in the central city of Petah Tikva on Tuesday arrested a 40-year-old man in connection with an illegal marijuana grow-op located in a residential home.

Officers were initially alerted to the house when they noticed a “strong smell” emanating from it during a patrol of the area, according to reports in the Israeli media.

After searching the home, police uncovered hundreds of marijuana plants being grown hydroponically in two rooms.

The unnamed suspect is reported to be a resident of Tel Aviv and will appear in court on Tuesday to extend his remand. Police said the investigation into the case is ongoing.

Currently only eight farms in Israel are licensed to grow marijuana, and only for medicinal purposes.

The number is soon to change however, as the Health Ministry announced reforms last week set to increase the amount of people licensed to grow the drug, as well as the amount of doctors able to prescribe it. Marijuana will also be available in standard pharmacies in cigarette, cookie and oil form.

At the same time, the entire production and supply chain will be strictly supervised to ensure that medical marijuana is kept out of the recreational drug market, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report