Israel’s Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman announced on Monday that medical marijuana will now be available at pharmacies with a prescription.
According to the Times of Israel, cannabis will be prescribed and supervised liked narcotic medications—and the move will ease pressure on overcrowded dispensaries.
“Today pharmacies give out all kind of drugs, including narcotics such as morphine, and it’s done in a perfectly orderly fashion,” Litzman said. “So marijuana will be handled the same way. It will be prescribed and monitored by the same standards as other medications.”
In addition, the decision will allow more doctors to prescribe cannabis—a practice that had been reserved only for special Ministry of Health appointed physicians and had been criticized for its bureaucratic obstacles.
MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) thanked Litzman for his “revolutionary” decision.
“This is huge news,” she said. “Thank you for publicly stating your principles on this matter. I think many people will welcome this change”
According to the Jerusalem Post, labor MK Shelly Yacimovich also agreed with the decision, calling it a “180 degree turn” from current policy.
