ISRAEL RELAXES RESTRICTIONS ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Health Ministry Authorizes Five More Doctors To Prescribe Medical
Marijuana To Patients With Chronic Pain

The Health Ministry on Sunday authorized doctors from five Israeli
different hospitals to prescribe medical marijuana to patients
suffering from cancer and chronic pain.

The ministry is launching a pilot program meant to increase the number
of doctors allowed to prescribe marijuana for medicinal purposes.

According to a ministry official, in the future department managers in
the kupot holim, the Israeli health maintenance organizations, will be
able to prescribe medical marijuana to patients.

The ministry estimates that in 2010 there will be an increase of 66
percent in the permits for medical marijuana, allowing treatment for
about 5000 patients. In future, the ministry expects tens of thousands
of patients to be treated with medical marijuana.

Most prescriptions for medical marijuana are given to patients
suffering from chronic pain, including patients with fibromyalgia,
cancer, HIV/AIDS, neurological disorders, multiple sclerosis, asthma
and glaucoma, as well as to Israel Defense Forces veterans suffering
from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Until now, 14 Israeli farms have been given permits to grow marijuana
legally for medicinal use, but only three are currently operating. The
health ministry recently approved a monthly fee of NIS 360 per medical
marijuana user to cover growing expenses.

Israel is obligated by international treaty to establish a government
agency regulating the distribution of marijuana and opium for
medicinal purposes, but has not done so.

In recent months police have warned of the involvement of criminal
gangs in producing medical marijuana. In May, police tightened
supervision of medical marijuana growers and introduced new security
measures for transporting legal marijuana plants.