Israel will soon allow for the sale of medical marijuana at pharmacies throughout the country. Super-Pharm, the largest pharmacy chain in Israel, is currently preparing its 225 pharmacies for when medical marijuana sales begin.
Recreational marijuana use remains illegal in Israel, IBTimes.com reports, but steps toward decriminalization may be taking place as discussions surrounding the increased availability and request for medicinal use increase. Currently, patients can only obtain medical marijuana from distribution centers and growers.
Super-Pharm “strictly observes Health Ministry guidelines and is participating in reforms that improve the lives of Israeli patients. We are currently studying all aspects and consequences of the subject [at hand], with the intention of taking part in this field later on.”
Israel’s Health Minister, Yaakov Litzman has been working hard to make medical marijuana legal in his country, even though some of his citizens disagree strongly. He told CNN that, “I’m not sure that my people, my voters are so [happy] about what I did. If I have to look strictly at how I can help sick people who need this cannabis, I think I did the right thing.”
The medical marijuana program is expected to grow rapidly in Israel. Since July 2016, the Health Ministry has received more than 200 applications to sell and grow marijuana.
Former chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Israel, Miki Ofer said, “The Pharmaceutical Society of Israel encourages the sale of cannabis in drugstores. We think that this is the right place for dispensing the substance, just as it is for other narcotic drugs. Also, economically, we think that this will be a potential source of profit point for the pharmacies. After the program comes into effect and more doctors are certified to issue prescriptions, the number of patients using the plant will skyrocket to around 100,000.”