MK: Treat soft drugs like alcohol

Soft drugs should be decriminalized and controlled like alcohol rather than outlawed, MK Einat Wilf (Independence) said Saturday.

Speaking at a cultural event in Beersheba, Wilf commented that “we need to stop turning users into criminals.”

The Knesset’s Education Committee chairwoman said that the proper way to deal with the phenomenon of smoking [marijuana] is through “rehabilitation, education, and prevention” rather than criminalization.

Wilf expressed opposition to drug use by minors, and called for the decriminalization and regulation of soft drugs in the same manner as alcohol.

“[Alcohol] is totally legal despite the fact that it is far more dangerous than many of the illicit drugs,” she remarked.

She also noted that many Israelis recreationally smoke marijuana despite the ban.

Wilf noted, however, that she is a “big nerd” and has never smoked.