Israel eases penalties on cannabis self-cultivation

In Israel, a slight change in a police note, revealed by the Israeli magazine Cannabis Magazine, now distinguishes between cultivation for «personal use» and «commercial use».

The new directive, issued this summer, states that small-scale cultivation of cannabis at home and for personal use is to be treated as a personal-use offence and not as a serious crime relating to the cultivation of a dangerous substance or possession for non-personal use.

Until now, self-growers received the same treatment for one plant or for an entire greenhouse. From now on, law enforcement officers will have to determine whether the crop is for personal or commercial use, based on the number of plants and the equipment used.

The main aim of this measure is to save police time, enabling them to concentrate their resources on combating cannabis smuggling rather than personal use, a major change in approach.

No public announcement had been made. Until now, cannabis cultivation had been defined as a serious offence. Section 6 of the ordinance states that 'a person shall not cultivate, process, produce, distribute, prepare or create a dangerous drug from a different substance, except under license».

The maximum penalty for growing cannabis in Israel is 20 years' imprisonment. In the case of personal use offences, users risk 3 years' imprisonment, except in the case of first-time arrests and small quantities. From now on, the only penalty will be a fine.