Going for the green vote: Netanyahu to consider cannabis legalization

Netanyahu also touted the last government’s move to allow a greater use of medical marijuana and its export.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a weekly cabinet meeting, March 10th, 2019 (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a weekly cabinet meeting, March 10th, 2019
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jumped on the cannabis legalization trend on Monday night, saying he would look into the policy.
In response to a question about the matter on the LikudTV webcast, which can be viewed on Netanyahu’s Facebook page, he said: “I am now looking into the matter you brought up. I will give you an answer soon. It’s possible that it will happen.”
Netanyahu also touted the last government’s move to allow a greater use of medical marijuana and its export.
The remarks come as Zehut straddled the 3.25% electoral threshold, surpassing it in some recent polls. Party leader and former Likud MK Moshe Feiglin is attracting many traditionally right-wing voters, including religious-Zionists and immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and he has refused to commit to sitting in a government helmed by Netanyahu or Blue and White leader Benny Gantz.
Feiglin has advocated cannabis legalization for years, and it is part of his Zehut party’s platform. The policy is thought to be a factor bringing many votes to his party.
Zehut released a statement praising Netanyahu’s remarks, saying “the entire political spectrum is moving towards Zehut’s firm stance on the matter of legalization... A large and strong Zehut will be able to bring about legalization in the first session of the 21st Knesset.”
“Legalization in Israel will save the lives of thousands of sick people and will free many citizens from unnecessary persecution,” the party added.
Meretz leader Tamar Zandberg said that “when we started the struggle for legalization, we were told it’s delusional, and like in every struggle Meretz starts... it ended up a leading trend. We are proud to continue to lead and praise the political spectrum for joining us.”