Questions and Answers
How do you take out a license for medicinal cannabis?
All matters of medicinal cannabis are under the control and supervision of the Ministry of Health. The use of medicinal cannabis can only be effected by means of a license issued by the Ministry of Health. An application signed by a special physician (not a General Practitioner) is required in order to take out a medicinal cannabis license.
The application form can only be filled out online through the Ministry of Health website at the URL: www.health.gov.il. Using the key word search utility in the top left hand corner of the home page, enter the word “cannabis” and the first result to appear is the application form for the approval of the use of medicinal cannabis. The specialist doctor is to fill out the application online and only then to print it.
Both the doctor and the patient are to sign the form clearly. The application will then be faxed to the Ministry of Health at fax no. (02) 647-4810 and, should the application be approved, the license is dispatched to the vendor within a period of two months. The vendor then contacts the patient and the treatment can commence. If the application is turned down,
the refusal is dispatched to the doctor.
It is highly recommended to request a duplicate copy of the application from the doctor, which you would submit to the requested vendor for follow up. Should the requested vendor be Cannabliss, please fax the application to fax no. (072) 261-7898.
For which illnesses can a medicinal cannabis license be taken out?
The Ministry of Health decides which illnesses are eligible for a medicinal cannabis license and the list of illnesses changes from time to time. However, besides extraordinary cases,
a period of “exhausting treatment options” is required.
That is, an effort to treat the illness using all the standard pharmaceuticals on the market must be attempted prior to the treatment with medicinal cannabis being approved.
Who is the vendor?
The name of the vendor is recorded on every medicinal cannabis license and the cannabis can only be purchased from the vendor recorded on the license. There are currently 9 medicinal cannabis vendors in Israel and Cannabliss is one of them. The name of the requested vendor can be added to the license application and, in the majority of cases, the Ministry of Health approves the requested vendor.
Should you have a preferred vendor in mind, the name of the vendor is to be recorded on the license application form. This item is crucial, as the process of transferring from one vendor to another could take several months.
How can a vendor be changed?
A detailed recommendation from the doctor is required in order to change vendors. The original license is to be attached to the recommendation and submitted to the Ministry of Health for processing, authorization, and the issue of a new license.
The current or requested vendor can always be approached to handle the transfer of the application.
How is the medicinal cannabis obtained?
Every vendor has a distribution point to where the patient can go to collect the medicinal cannabis.
It is also possible to order a door to door delivery by courier.
Can someone else collect the medicinal cannabis on behalf of the patient?
Only the person whose name appears on the license is entitled to collect or convey the medicinal cannabis. Besides the name of the patient, it is possible to add two more names to the license that will appear under the heading “Conveyance”. The names of the requested conveyors can already be added at the online application form stage.
Should a license have already been issued, the Ministry of Health can be requested to add the names of the conveyors
When a license is issued, is it possible to obtain as much medicinal cannabis as you like?
No. The quantity of medicinal cannabis to be issued, in grams weight, is recorded on every license.
This quantity can be purchased once per calendar month, regardless of the date of that month.
How can the quantity be increased?
The recommendation on the part of the doctor is required in order to increase the amount of the medicinal cannabis recorded on the license, together with a letter from the patient laying out the reason for the request to increase the quantity.
This can only be effected within three months of commencing the treatment with medicinal cannabis.
How much does medicinal cannabis cost?
The cost of the treatment with medicinal cannabis is determined by the Ministry of Health and is standard for all patients in the State of Israel and from all the vendors, as follows:
Medicinal Cannabis (pursuant to the quantity listed on the license): 370 NIS
Training (first time only): 120 NIS
Courier delivery: 100 NIS
Can a refund be obtained?
Medicinal cannabis is not on the list of medications contained in the approved pharmaceuticals basket and is not automatically eligible for a refund. However, the Maccabi Health Care Fund approves the return of a partial order of medicinal cannabis under certain circumstances. Obtain the appropriate form at your branch of the health care fund, fill it in, and attach the required documents.
Members of the other health care funds can attempt to submit an application for a refund to their respective health care funds or contact the National Insurance Institute, their insurance company, and any relevant organization or institute.
What is the difference between cannabis and marijuana?
There is no difference between them and these are, in actual fact, two different names for the same plant.
Cannabis is the Latin name and marijuana is the Spanish name used in Mexico, which has caught on around the world.
What are THC and CBD?
There are many active substances in the cannabis plant, inter alia, cannabinoids. These substances are responsible for relieving pain, curing inflammations, encouraging appetite, etc.
Two of these substances are called THC and CBD.
How can medicinal cannabis be consumed?
Medicinal cannabis can be consumed by drops of cannabis oil being placed under the tongue (absorption by the blood stream), by ingesting (absorption through the digestive
system), by rubbing oil on the skin (for local relief), and by smoking or inhaling.
Does medicinal cannabis have any side effects?
Side effects from medicinal cannabis may appear upon commencing the treatment but, in the majority of cases, such side effects are slight and are transient. It is also possible that there will not be any side effects at all.
Some of the side effects that may occur are a drop in blood pressure and in the level of sugar in the blood, drowsiness, increased appetite, and a good mood.
Is medicinal cannabis addictive?
Medicinal cannabis is not addictive and the treatment can be stopped at any time.
For any additional inquiries, contact the Cannabliss Customer Service Hotline on: (053) 283-2321
