Government approves reform to ease access to medical cannabis
The ministry has promised to expand the number of doctors authorized to approve the legal supply of medical cannabis for patients who need it to relieve severe pain and other purposes.
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHUpdated: JUNE 27, 2016 02:07A woman holds jars of cannabis at a Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensary(photo credit: REUTERS)
The cabinet voted on Sunday to approve the reform of medical cannabis advocated by Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman, which will ensure uniform quality of the drug and make it possible for authorized patients to receive their supply at pharmacies.The ministry has promised to expand the number of doctors authorized to approve the legal supply of medical cannabis for patients who need it to relieve severe pain and other purposes.Although pain from cancer is a significant reason for applying for authorization, marijuana also can help treat glaucoma, lack of appetite in HIV patients, muscle spasms from multiple sclerosis, nausea from chemotherapy, Crohn’s disease and seizures.“[The decision] is yet another stage in the reform to regulate the use of medical cannabis.Our aim is to ensure that patients who need it will receive approval quickly and without unnecessary bureaucracy and that it be supplied at a high standard and with accessibility as with any other drug,” Litzman said.Venko, a company that has acted for the legalization of marijuana for medical uses, said it welcomed the reform but that there is still a huge number of people who have “suffered from persecution by authorities because they did not manage to obtain authorization from the right doctor for its use.The simple and correct solution is to stop pursuing cannabis users. Only that way will patients, as well as casual users in their spare time, be able to use it without fear.”