"The 90s were the golden age of chemicals. In every forest clearing there were people taking ecstasy and LSD and dancing themselves silly. People didn't get married unless pills were promised to the guests. Thousands protested at Rabin Square urging us to 'give trance a chance.' There was a feeling that something was about to change. But in Israel, people love to party, but they don't love paying for it. I lost millions, I collapsed financially, and that is how I found myself in California. Very quickly, I became the owner of three grow houses of medicinal marijuana, until six months ago, when I go a phone call from my American friend Rick Doblin." [continues 2161 words]
The Health Ministry recently gave a terminally-ill cancer patient permission to smoke marijuana to ease his suffering. The ministry's approval was rushed through the required channels because of the patient's serious condition. Over the past six years, the ministry has given similar permission to eight others, accepting half the requests it received. The director- general of the Health Ministry, Dr. Boaz Lev, said the permit had been expedited due to the patient's condition and the accompanying medical problems. [continues 223 words]
Ecstasy substitute was sold over-the-counter at more than 1,200 outlets. Then the Health Ministry had second thoughts. Explorer, a legal substitute for ecstasy, recently navigated the length and breadth of the country for several months. Though it does not give users the euphoric feeling provided by ecstasy, body-stimulation effects caused by Explorer are actually more intense than those produced by illegal ecstasy pills. Originally, the Health Ministry approved the marketing of Explorer pills under the rubric of "food supplements." But two weeks ago, when laboratory analysis found that Explorer, produced from the Sida Cordifolia plant, contains ephedrine alkaloids which are banned for food use, the Ministry backtracked and canceled the authorization. [continues 1026 words]
