Israel relaxes restrictions on medical marijuana; scientists develop new HIV/AIDS treatment

Israel's Ministry of Health has authorized doctors from five of the country's different hospitals to prescribe medical marijuana to patients suffering from cancer and chronic pain, reports the local Haaretz.com. According to a Ministry official quoted by the newspaper, in future, department managers in the Kupot Holim, the Israeli health maintenance organizations, will be able to prescribe medical marijuana to patients.

Most prescriptions for medical marijuana are given to patients suffering from chronic pain, including patients with fibromyalgia, cancer, HIV/AIDS, neurological disorders, multiple sclerosis, asthma and glaucoma, as well as to Israel Defense Forces veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Until now, 14 Israeli farms have been given permits to grow marijuana legally for medicinal use, but only three are currently operating. The Health Ministry recently approved a monthly fee of 360 new Israeli shekels ($95.26) per medical marijuana user to cover growing expenses.