Cannabis legalization bill clears first hurdle in Israel

Legislation will decriminalize possession of up to 50 grams of marijuana while legalizing possession and consumption of up to 15 grams by people above 21

A BILL to legalise cannabis use was approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday, passing its first hurdle on the way to becoming law.

The legislation will decriminalise the possession of up to 50 grams of marijuana while fully legalising the possession and consumption of up to 15 grams by individuals above the age of 21.

If the bill becomes law, selling and purchasing marijuana for personal use will be legal for those above 21 and authorised shops will be allowed to sell cannabis product, through growing marijuana at home will still be illegal. The legislation also outlined medical cannabis reform.

“For the first in the State of Israel’s history, my legislative move is officially beginning to regulate the cannabis market in Israel,” Likud MK Sharren Haskel, who co-sponsored the legislation with Blue and White MK Ram Shefa, wrote in a Facebook post. “I’m proud to bring good news to over one million cannabis users and tens of thousands of sick people.”

Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman of the ultra-Orthodox United Judaism Party and Jerusalem Affairs Minister Rafi Peretz of the national-religious Jewish Home both voted against the bill.

On Wednesday, the legislation is expected to be brought before the Knesset for the first of three votes it must clear in order to become law. [Read More @ The Times of Israel]