Carrying or consuming cannabis in public is still illegal
The Zehut party, which wanted the full legalization of cannabis, has vanished like smoke in the political scene in Israel.
Any party needs to obtain a minimum of 3.25% of the vote to become part of the “Knesset”. And Zehut has failed.
The leaders of this party pro-legalization were expecting the vote from the Israeli Defense Force soldiers, whose votes are checked few days after the civilian poll.
Therefore, full legalization of cannabis in Israel is out of the equation. Even though several media outlets predicted Zehut could easily win 8 seats, the fact is the party has got zero.
Feiglin, was the leader of the Manhigut Yehudit (Jewish Leadership) faction within Likud. He continued being the leader of the party in the Israeli Government (Knesset) since 2013 to 2015. He was a former member of the Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu.
Netanyahu had considered legalizing recreational and medical cannabis just 30 days before the election. However, many members of his party thought it was not a good idea.
But Feiglin, who for the first time became the leader of a party, said it will not take too long before having another chance and that he will be there. Anyway, he remains very optimistic.
Feiglin tried to attract voters with his pro-marijuana program. He said the next time he will get quite a few seats in the Knesset.
Attracting millennial voters was a good idea. But his political message is so xenophobic and far-right that Netanyahu seems like a center politician in comparison. He wanted the deportation of Palestinian from Israel. Obviously, people were worried about it. It is not worth the legalization of recreational marijuana in exchange for such a xenophobic and far-right policy.
His voters believe the poll has been a fraud due to his tremendous loss, which was unexpected. People, via social media, believe the judicial system has to check the problem because the results seem unbalanced and unchecked.
Currently, in Israel the possession, consumption and the possession of one home grown marijuana plant is no longer punishable by law. Even carrying small quantities of marijuana in public without medical permit is now fined instead of being subjected to criminal proceedings.
Ehud Barak, Israel’s former prime minister, went to Tel Aviv to speak at the fourth annual CannaTech conference during the same day weed was declared legal for adult use and under certain conditions. He talked about the medical benefits of the marijuana. Maybe this change in his point of view has something to do with the fact that he is the chairman of Canndoc/Intercure, a company dealing with medical cannabis.
In one way or another, the fact is that Israel is taking steps towards the complete normalization of cannabis.
