What is Medicinal Cannabis?
Cannabis (or marijuana) is a plant of the Cannabaceae family, a genus of 11 plants and about a 100 different species. Cannabis is one of the plants in this family, of which three different species grow in nature. These include Cannabis Sativa, Cannabis Indica, and Cannabis Ruderalis.
Cannabis contains three genera of active substances, including Cannabinoids. This genus of substances contains no less than 80 active substances known as Cannabinoids. The major and best known of them are THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol).
The cannabis plant has served humanity throughout history in many ways and is documented in ancients Chinese medical scriptures and traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), as well as in ancient Greek scripture. The plant is used to produce paper, rope, fabric, and other substances for industry, nourishing oil, and as well as to alleviate and treat medical conditions. This is in addition to the well know mind and sensation altering properties affecting the state of the user.
In actual fact, there is no difference between medicinal cannabis and regular cannabis, except for the purpose of use and how it is grown, as medicinal cannabis is a controlled substance grown organically. Medicinal cannabis is effective for a broad spectrum of medical conditions and needs, including reducing pain, boosting the appetite, relaxing the nervous system, reducing inflammations, etc.
The use of cannabis in Israel is prohibited by law. The use of medicinal cannabis in Israel is permitted only after a recommendation is provided by a specialist physician and subsequently an authorization (license) is issued by the Director to the Narcotics Ordinance of the Ministry of Health, regarding that same recommendation. To this end, the
Ministry of Health has drawn up a list of diseases that the sufferers thereof are entitled to be prescribed medicinal cannabis for, including: Cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, chronic pain, inflammatory diseases, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s Disease, etc.
The use of medicinal cannabis is known to improve the condition of other ailments, for which medicinal cannabis may not be prescribed in Israel, including rheumatism, asthma, depression and anxiety, sleep disorders, diabetes, digestive tract disorders, urinary incontinence, osteoporosis, itching, and sleep apnea.
It is critical to understand that medicinal cannabis is not included in the Ministry of Health basket of subsidized pharmaceuticals and must be purchased by the user. The current monthly expense is NIS 370 [about $92] plus conveyance and training, as required. Maccabi Health Care Fund is currently the only health care fund that, under certain conditions, reimburses its members for the use of medicinal cannabis.
Medicinal cannabis may be consumed in a number of ways: Smoking it in a cigarette, pipe or bong, (water pipe), vaporization using a special vaporizer device, ingesting capsules, brownies and oil, and rubbing medicinal cannabis cream or medicinal cannabis oil on the skin.
Medicinal cannabis is supplied in Israel by a number of vendors, including Cannabliss, one of the oldest vendors in Israel. The company specializes in providing medicinal cannabis products that are not necessarily smoked, including brownies for children under the age of 18, oil for ingesting and dripping for all age groups, as well as oil for vaporization for all age groups.
