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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Israel: Should medical cannabis be smoked? Israel debates removing smokeable flower.
MJBiz Daily Tuesday 05 May 2026 Israel’s Health Ministry is testing a question with broad implications for the global cannabis trade: Should a medical cannabis market rely on smokable flower? A ministry committee on Sunday recommended ending the use and marketing of smoked medical cannabis within three years, according to The Times of Israel. Instead of Why is Israel considering eliminating smoked medical cannabis? Israel is considered one of the world’s most developed medical cannabis markets, thanks in part to government embrace of both research and industry. The country’s registered medical cannabis patient count stood at 140,000 at the end of 2023, out of a population of roughly 10 million, and Israel has at times been the world’s top importer of medical cannabis But regulators are signaling that cannabis flower, a product category central to industry sales in Israel and across the world, may not be appropriate for a medical system. The committee cited health risks and inconsistent absorption from smoking as key reasons for the proposed phaseout, according to The Times. According to the committee, the goal is to treat cannabis like all other medical treatments with clear dosing, monitoring of side effects and defined treatment protocols. But it’s unclear whether that would encourage consumers to seek illicit-market flower. What is the size of Israel’s medical cannabis market? The Israeli market grew rapidly under the country’s medical cannabis reforms, with the number of patients increasing from about 33,000 in 2019 to 140,000 in 2024, according to Ynet Global, citing New Frontier Data’s 2025 global report. The same report said: About 62% of patients consume more than 30 grams per month About 88% of licenses are for high-THC products About 87% of patients consume cannabis by smoking 98% of licenses involve smokable use. A shift away from smoking could force cultivators, manufacturers, pharmacies and prescribing systems to move toward oils, metered inhalation devices and other standardized formats, the Times reported. Could medical legitimacy mean fewer smokable products? Israel’s consideration echoes limits on medical marijuana in parts of the United States, where some medical programs ban smokeable flower. Alabama’s medical cannabis law prohibits smoking and vaping. When MMJ patients visit dispensaries for the first time later this month, the only available products will come in form including oils, tablets, lozenges, gels and topicals. Nebraska, where a market has yet to open despite MMJ legalization in November 2024, similarly allows only nonsmokable products including tinctures, capsules, patches and liquids for inhalers or nebulizers. Edibles are also banned. https://mjbizdaily.com/news/should-medical-cannabis-be-smoked-israel-debates-removing-smokeable-flower/615816/
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