New legislation will allow doctors to prescribe medical cannabis to a wider variety of patients; experts are concerned that easier access to the drug may lead to addiction
The Knesset’s Health Committee decided on Tuesday that access to medical cannabis will be significantly expanded, with many more patients qualifying – without the need to obtain a special license to use the drug.
ccording to the approved regulations, patients will receive a prescription similar to those for other prescription medications. The regulations will come into effect within six months, after the necessary preparations by the relevant authorities.
The regulations state that starting now, individuals suffering from the following diseases and medical conditions will be eligible to receive a cannabis prescription: epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, dementia, autism (without age restriction), oncological diseases, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS and terminally ill patients with a life expectancy of fewer than six months.
These patients will no longer require a license but will be able to receive a prescription from specific doctors who will receive training relating to cannabis usage.
This represents a change compared to the current health regulations, under which cancer patients with “an active oncological disease or those undergoing active cancer treatment for the relief of symptoms or treating side effects,” are eligible to obtain a license for medical cannabis.
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