Israel: Government committee recommends legalizing cannabis

A government committee reviewing Israel's cannabis laws recommends cannabis legalization in a report to be published this week.

The interministerial committee, made up of representatives from the Israeli police, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Health, will recommend that the government continue its efforts to decriminalize cannabis with a view to full legalization, according to Times of Israel. The planned recommendations follow a change of direction by the Ministry of Health, which was previously opposed to legalization beyond medical use.

Recreational use of cannabis is currently illegal, although partially decriminalized in 2017, In addition, the company has introduced a new system of fines and treatment for first-time offenders instead of criminal proceedings.

In June, two related bills to legalize cannabis consumption passed preliminary readings in the Knesset before the three votes required for it to become law.

If cannabis legalization is adopted, sale and purchase for personal use would be legal for people over 21 in authorized stores, but self-cultivation would still be illegal.

The legislation also outlines medical cannabis reform, to make it easier for patients to access treatment and for producers to obtain a license, and decriminalize possession of up to 50g of cannabis, while fully legalizing the possession and consumption of up to 15g by people over the age of 21.