Where Is Marijuana Legal? Israel Moves Toward Allowing Export Of Medical Cannabis To Benefit Agriculture Sector

After moving toward the decriminalization of small-scale personal use of marijuana in January, Israel’s legislature is now looking to legalize the export of medical marijuana.

The country’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday gave its initial nod to the bill initiated by Member of Knesset Yoav Kisch of the Likud Party, which he says will benefit Israel’s agricultural sector. The government statement that accompanied the passing of the vote, however, added that it could be months before the legislation reached the parliament, Reuters reported.

“Exporting medical cannabis is pushing forward the economy and developing the agricultural sector,” Kisch said, according to the Jerusalem Post. “My bill defines for the first time the whole field of medical cannabis and allows regulating its export.”

“Only last year Canada and Australia approved exporting medical cannabis and many countries that did so before them are gaining large profits. Israel is expected to gain over a billion NIS [new Israeli sheqel] from its taxation, according to recent research,” he added.

While Israel is one of the leading countries in medical marijuana research, the country’s market is very small — $15 million to $20 million at most, according to Reuters. However, with the United States moving toward legalization of medical cannabis in more and more states, the market is expected to reach $50 billion in 10 years.

Israel’s bill legalizing the export of medical marijuana is likely to provide the country with considerable revenue if the market is tapped in time.

The country’s Health Minister Yakov Litzman has shown support for marijuana usage and his ministry has moved toward making it available with greater ease. Scientific organizations are working with those who grow cannabis to facilitate clinical trials and develop strains to target a number of medical conditions, Reuters reported.