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Medical Cannabis in Israel?
Rightist MK presents bill authorizing the use of medical marijuana

Zvi Zarhiya Haaretz

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union).

Tel Aviv, Israel Mar 13, 2007 -- A new bill presented to Knesset on Monday would allow for a greater amount of growing, cultivation, and manufacture of marijuana plants for medicinal purposes.

The initiator of the bill, MK Professor Aryeh Eldad of the right-wing National Union party, stipulated that the growth and possession of marijuana which the bill would allow would be performed under the supervision of governmental authorities.

According to Eldad, medical research has shown that the use of cannabis improves the condition of seriously ill patients, and therefore, his bill must be approved.

The bill stipulates that the Justice Minister in collaboration with the Health Minister would determine the conditions under which the use of cannabis would be approved.

In recent months, several other bills dealing with the cultivation and/or use of cannabis for medicinal purposes have been presented to the Knesset, but none have attained approval.