Does Benjamin Netanyahu really intend to legalize cannabis?

A complicated election week for Benjamin Netanyahu and a non-binding promise. Just as he did in March 2019, in an attempt to counter the rise of the pro-legalization party Zehut in the parliamentary elections, Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his intention to legalize cannabis in Israel in a Facebook post.

«I have studied this issue in depth and have decided to advocate for the expungement of the criminal records of tens of thousands of Israelis related to personal cannabis use, which causes unnecessary suffering for many and clogs up the courts.”.

«Minister Ohana has begun working on the issue and will head a committee comprising professionals and Oren Leibovitz of the »Green Leaf' party, which will be tasked with examining the possibility of adopting the Canadian model for a legal market in Israel."

At the head of the announced committee, therefore, are the Green Leaf (Ale Yarok) Party—which is not running in the elections and accounts for just over 1% of the vote, thereby helping to ’shift to the left« a very right-wing platform—as well as Justice Minister Amir Ohana.

Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement was criticized on Twitter by Benny Gantz of the Blue and White alliance, Netanyahu's main rival.

Netanyahu, are you getting dragged into this again?
What you haven't done in the past ten years, you won't do in the next ten years either. For years, you've been selling illusions to patients who need medical cannabis and to our young people in a desperate attempt to scrape together a few votes.
Keep your spin about the patients to yourself.

— Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) February 23, 2020

«What you didn’t do in 10 years [as prime minister], you won’t do in 10 years. For years, you’ve been selling false hopes to patients who need medical cannabis and to our young people, all to win votes.»

Israel has, in fact, has already partially decriminalized cannabis, imposing fines and treatment for first-time offenses instead of criminal prosecution. The country also permits the medical use of cannabis and intends to be one of the major cannabis exporters in the world.

In February 2018, Benjamin Netanyahu had nevertheless blocked exports of medical cannabis to Europe, reportedly following a call from Donald Trump who is said to have expressed his dissatisfaction.

It is not yet clear how Netanyahu could expunge the criminal records of Israelis convicted of simple cannabis use. Israel’s basic laws authorize the president to grant pardons to convicted individuals.