Pubdate: Mon, 12 Mar 2007
Source: Ha'aretz (Israel)
Copyright: 2007 Ha'aretz Daily Newspaper Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.haaretz.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/807
Author: Zvi Zarhiya, Haaretz Correspondent
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal)

RIGHTIST MK PRESENTS BILL AUTHORIZING THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A new bill presented to Knesset on Monday would allow for a greater 
amount of growing, cultivation, and manufacture of marijuana plants 
for medicinal purposes.

The initiator of the bill, MK Professor Aryeh Eldad of the right-wing 
National Union party, stipulated that the growth and possession of 
marijuana which the bill would allow would be performed under the 
supervision of governmental authorities.

According to Eldad, medical research has shown that the use of 
cannabis improves the condition of seriously ill patients, and 
therefore, his bill must be approved.

The bill stipulates that the Justice Minister in collaboration with 
the Health Minister would determine the conditions under which the 
use of cannabis would be approved.

In recent months, several other bills dealing with the cultivation 
and/or use of cannabis for medicinal purposes have been presented to 
the Knesset, but none have attained approval.