Israel Moves Toward Expanded Medical Marijuana Law
Yesterday, Israel’s Ministry of Health was ordered to finalize within four months a detailed bill that would regulate the production and marketing of medical marijuana in that country.
Additional measures recommended by a government health committee included making sure that medical marijuana remains affordable for patients and implementing safeguards to prevent the drug from reaching illegal users and merchants.
Once again, Israel’s government has shown a desire to promote the wellbeing of patients who can benefit from medical marijuana—something our federal government continues to avoid.
November 25, 2009 37 Comments
Israeli Hospital Accommodates Medical Marijuana Patients
While many American authorities continue to drag their feet on medical marijuana issues, one of our closest overseas allies is taking another step to help patients for whom marijuana is a safe and reliable treatment.
Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer recently became the first hospital in Israel to administer medical marijuana to qualified patients. After a successful pilot program, the new hospital policy allows medical marijuana patients to use their medication either in smoking rooms or in private rooms with an open window. To further accommodate these patients’ needs, the Israeli Association for the Advancement of Medical Cannabis is now raising money to purchase vaporizers—five of which are already in use at the hospital.
This is just the latest example of Israel and other countries outpacing the United States when it comes to providing seriously ill patients with safe and reliable access to medical marijuana.
November 24, 2009 25 Comments
Israel to Have 1,200 Medical Marijuana Patients by September
Here in the U.S., medical marijuana is still routinely branded as some sort of sinister “drug legalizer” conspiracy. In Israel, according to a fascinating article in the newspaper Haaretz, the leading conspirator appears to be the Ministry of Health.
Officials have authorized over 700 patients to use marijuana for medical purposes, and expect the number to rise to 1,200 within three months. Authorities are in the process of authorizing five or six producers to handle the needs of this growing patient population. [Read more →]
June 22, 2009 55 Comments
