Ministers look to ease enforcement of marijuana use

Cabinet ministers on Sunday vote to establish a top-level committee that will piece together the nuts and bolts of the government’s developing policy of de facto decriminalization of private use of marijuana.

In the cabinet decision, ministers formally establish the 13-member committee, which includes the heads of the government’s drug enforcement agency, the Health Ministry’s top official dealing with addiction issues, the directors of the Public Security Ministry, a senior police official, treasury and Justice Ministry officials, and others.

The decision follows an announcement last month by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan that he now supports all but canceling enforcement of anti-marijuana laws in cases of private use in private places. The policy is supported by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked.

The committee has until May 7 to submit its recommendations, which, according to the decision, will include a careful examination of all relevant questions of legislation, enforcement, budgets and health policy that the change in policy might entail.