Israel halves the price of medical cannabis until the end of 2020

Israeli Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kisch have announced a pilot program that will subsidize medical cannabis at around half their current prices. The program starts immediately and will run until the end of 2020.

The main companies in Israel's medical cannabis market will now have to offer their products at reduced prices of 140 NIS (€35) per 10g for adults and 100 NIS (€25) per 10g for patients under 21.

In addition to easing the burden on patients' budgets, the pilot project will also strive to ensure a more regular supply of Israeli-grown medical cannabis, by deciding that only companies participating in the pilot project will will be allowed to export their products abroad.

Previous reforms under Yuli Edelstein's predecessor had reduced access to medical cannabis, lowered product quality and made Israel one of the world's leading importers of cannabis. as one of the world's leading exporters.

Measures to solve these problems were adopted by the Knesset plenum in June, in two bills introduced by the Likud and Kakhol lavan parties, respectively aimed at to decriminalize and legalize recreational cannabis. While discussions are still underway in the Knesset Judiciary Committee, patients continue to miss out on treatment.

Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said in a statement that 'after medical cannabis consumers had to pay huge sums for their medicine, I am pleased that we have begun the process of lowering the price of the products. There is still much to be done to make the price accessible and reduce it further even after the pilot period, and we will do so.»

«This is a three-month experimental pilot project that will allow an immediate reduction in prices with a continuous supply of inventory while opening the export market to cannabis companies in ‘State of Israel. The success of this decision and the burden of proof depend on the manufacturers. If inventories and low prices are maintained, so too will the ability to export after the pilot,» said declared Yoav Kisch.

The companies that have so far signed up to take part in the pilot project are Canndoc, Panaxia, Better, Univo, BOL, Together Pharma, Tikkun Olam, Seach and MediCann.