Israel towards decriminalization of cannabis

Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan says this Thursday in favor of decriminalizing cannabis use. The minister’s decision follows the recommendations of a working group tasked with addressing the issue. Nothing has been finalized yet, as such a law requires approval from the Cabinet and, most importantly, consultation with other ministries. However, it already has the support of Justice Minister Aleyet Shaked.

The Introduction of Fines

Decriminalization will be only partial. It is simply ’a new way for law enforcement to deal with cannabis users.« As a result, Israel is moving more toward a contraventionnalisation consumers.

Cannabis users caught in the act of public consumption will still have to pay a fine of 2,651 TP4T. Once the fine is paid, the user will not face criminal charges and their criminal record will remain clean. Bad news, though: if the user is caught by the police a second time, the fine will be doubled. A warning and a fine will be issued for a third offense, and criminal prosecution will follow for a fourth offense. If a minor is caught in the act, they must participate in a support program. If they refuse, they will face criminal prosecution. However, the production of cannabis remains illegal.

The Normalization of Consumption

The minister is also responding to rapidly changing public opinion. Reflecting the global trend toward the normalization of cannabis, Israelis are increasingly less likely to view it as a highly dangerous substance. «I am not taking this decision lightly. The number of users is constantly rising. The perception of danger and the harms associated with regular use are fading.»

MK Shelly Yacimovitch of the Zionist Union welcomes this decision: «Cannabis use has become accepted as a matter of individual freedom, so the state has no reason to intervene as long as it does not cause harm. What’s absurd is that alcohol, which is more dangerous, is permitted.»

The working group that submitted a 120-page report to the minister wanted to model its approach on Portugal’s. The implementation of this system of treating cannabis use as a misdemeanor reflects a more lenient stance by Israeli authorities on the issue. The number of prosecutions for cannabis use has dropped by 30 % in just five years, and the government has, for example, eased penalties for Israeli soldiers who smoke while on leave.

Théo Caillart