Medical marijuana will be grown in Israel for at least the next two years, because imports would be 10 times more expensive, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.
Although Israel Police have urged that cannabis supplies be imported rather than locally grown, because supposedly customs agents could minimize the amount of marijuana reaching "illicit users," the Ministry decided that no imports would be allowed, at least in the near future.
Health Ministry director-general Dr. Ronni Gamzi decided on Thursday to establish a unit within the ministry to manage and supervise the supply of medicinal cannabis, reports Judy Siegel at the Jerusalem Post.
The unit is scheduled to begin operating in January 2012.
The Israeli Pharmacists Association's members are pressing for permission to distribute medical marijuana to authorized patients through their pharmacies.