Legal marijuana possession and recreational use is a real possibility in the near future for Israeli citizens. Medical pot has been legal in Israel for seven years, and many politicians there now believe in full marijuana legalization for everyone. The most prominent of these politicians is a recently elected lawmaker named Yinon Magal.
Magal, an ex-Israel Defense Force (IDF) elite commando and freshman in Israel’s conservative Jewish Home party, recently championed legislation that would permit recreational use for all. His stance on marijuana legalization is that it is directly linked to freedom of the individual, and he has even admitted to smoking some recently.
Proposed marijuana legislation expected to be supported by Israeli lawmakers.
Magal’s constituents and fellow politicians are mostly expected to support the legislation. According to Magal, the legalization of marijuana will correct a system that has been pushing young, low-income people into jails, exposing them to actual criminals, and leaving a mark on their records. His words sound much like the complaints of many United States citizens concerned by the negative effects of current marijuana laws. Many members of the Knesset, the Israeli government’s legislative body, are expected to side with Magal.
Newly proposed legislation also supported by Israel’s Police Commissioner.
Magal’s marijuana legalization legislation came at the right time for Israeli law enforcement, which had been looking to update its pot laws. Israeli Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino had actually approached Magal with the issue, and the two decided to examine Israel’s marijuana laws together. According to Danino, more and more citizens demand permission to possess and use marijuana, which of course, the police has long denied them. Demand for the reform of weed laws was also shown by a group of farmers who, last month, asked that the Israeli Health Ministry grant a higher number of marijuana-growing licenses for medical pot.
Many Israeli politicians support marijuana legalization.
Early last month, Israeli citizens held a pro-pot demonstration at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv. The demonstration was dubbed a “Cannabis March,” and around one thousand people attended it. Among them were a few current and former Knesset members. One such former member, Moshe Feiglin, publicly stated during the march that the leafy green substance is less addictive than alcohol, less harmful than a cigarette, and should not be kept banned due to irrational fear.
