Health Ministry to reschedule medical cannabis, allowing for sale in pharmacies
Under new guidelines, specialist doctors will be able to prescribe plant without license or approval, like any other medication
The Health Ministry said Thursday it would remove cannabis from its dangerous drugs ordinance list, a move that would allow pharmacies to begin selling the plant.
Specialist physicians would be able to issue a normal prescription for cannabis, like any other medication, without the need for a license or prior approval from the Health Ministry.
The decision will allow pharmacies to sell controlled cannabis products to patients over the age of 18. Doctors will be able to prescribe up to 40 grams.
Prescriptions will be valid for several indications, including oncological diseases, inflammatory bowel conditions, neurological conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease, HIV and severe epilepsy in minors.
Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman said the decision did not amount to legalization.
“I decided to adopt the position of professionals in the Health Ministry and to allow the use of a prescription instead of a license for certain medical conditions for which you have a clear diagnosis,” Litzman said, according to Channel 12 news.
It was not immediately clear when the new guidelines would go into effect.
The Times of Israel covers one of the most complicated, and contentious, parts of the world. Determined to keep readers fully informed and enable them to form and flesh out their own opinions, The Times of Israel has gradually established itself as the leading source of independent and fair-minded journalism on Israel, the region and the Jewish world.
We've achieved this by investing ever-greater resources in our journalism while keeping all of the content on our site free.
Unlike many other news sites, we have not put up a paywall. But we would like to invite readers who can afford to do so, and for whom The Times of Israel has become important, to help support our journalism by joining The Times of Israel Community. Join now and for as little as $6 a month you can both help ensure our ongoing investment in quality journalism, and enjoy special status and benefits as a Times of Israel Community member.
comments