דלג לתפריט ראשי דלג לרכיב חיפוש דלג לתוכן מרכזי דלג לאזור קישורים תחתון

Medical Cannabis

Information on submitting an application, renewing a license, or receiving a prescription for medical cannabis

As of 2024, in the State of Israel cannabis is defined as a controlled substance under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. However, due to certain medical properties, the Ministry of Health permits the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Cannabis is not defined as a medication and is not included in the Government Health Basket determined by the Ministry of Health.
To use cannabis, patients must meet the medical indications and requirements set by the Medical Cannabis Unit, as detailed in Ministry of Health Procedure 106.

Cannabis may affect various types of pain associated with different medical conditions and is particularly effective for neuropathic pain. Beyond pain relief, cannabis has beneficial effects for oncology patients, including relief of chemotherapy-related symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Cannabis is also approved for the treatment of specific conditions in the psychiatric, gastroenterological, and neurological fields, subject to specialist approval.

Reform in the Provision of Medical Cannabis – April 2024

As of April 1, 2024, a reform came into effect regarding the way medical cannabis approvals are issued by the Ministry of Health.

Patients with indications of chronic pain or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will continue to receive licenses.

Patients with other recognized indications will receive prescriptions instead of licenses.

New for Leumit clients: submission of new applications, renewals, and dosage changes for a medical cannabis license or prescription online.

Submit an application

Who may apply for a medical cannabis license or prescription?

Leumit clients who meet the medical criteria and indications according to Ministry of Health guidelines may submit an application for issuance or renewal of a license, a dosage change, or issuance of a prescription via the ASAYA system. Required documentation includes a full medical summary from a family physician, a recommendation letter from a specialist physician, a medication report, and additional supporting documents.

Please note: not every patient diagnosed with one of the listed conditions is necessarily eligible for a medical cannabis license or prescription. Each indication has specific requirements, such as prior use of prescription medications or other standard treatments.

According to the guidelines of the Medical Cannabis Unit (Yakar) of the Ministry of Health, the medical indications and criteria for a cannabis license include:

  • Chronic, prolonged pain
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

As of April 1, 2024, the Ministry of Health transferred the following medical indications to treatment by prescription only, without the need for a license:

  • Oncology
  • Epilepsy
  • AIDS
  • Colitis / Crohn’s disease
  • Palliative care
  • Tourette syndrome
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Autism
  • Dementia
  • An incurable medical condition with a life expectancy of no more than six months

Detailed information for each indication can be found in the Medical Cannabis Unit circular (Procedure 106) dated January 7, 2024.

Important information about medical cannabis

Cannabis is the marijuana plant in its unprocessed form, which allows for the production of a mixture of compounds and extracts with beneficial medical effects intended to treat various medical conditions and symptoms.

The marijuana plant contains chemicals known as cannabinoids. Today, more than 100 cannabinoid compounds have been identified, unique to the cannabis plant. Cannabinoids bind to receptor systems found in the nervous system, immune system, reproductive cells, liver, blood vessels, lungs, urinary bladder, heart, and other organs. This interaction leads to suppression of neurotransmitter release and changes in signal transmission throughout the body.

Licenses and prescriptions in one click for Leumit clients

The use of cannabis may cause side effects such as dizziness, slowed thinking and motor reactions, effects on heart rate and blood pressure, decreased blood sugar levels, headaches, and abdominal pain. Risk factors and side effects associated with cannabis use include psychiatric disorders, addiction, cognitive impairments such as long-term memory damage, smoking-related harms (for those who smoke cannabis), instability and impaired coordination that may lead to falls, particularly among older adults.

Please note: any side effects experienced as a result of using medical cannabis should be reported to your family physician and treating doctor.

Submitting an application via the ASAYA system

Applications for issuance, renewal, or dosage changes for a medical cannabis license or prescription are submitted through the ASAYA system.

The ASAYA system connects Leumit clients with the National Center for Pain Medicine, managed by Sadeh Biotech. This system enables eligible Leumit clients to receive an online medical cannabis license or prescription under the following conditions:

Clients with a medical recommendation for cannabis use of up to 50 grams, issued by specialists in fields with approved indications for medical cannabis.

A medical indication requiring cannabis treatment in accordance with Ministry of Health Procedure 106, and compliance with the defined conditions for that indication.

Submission of all required documentation in accordance with Ministry of Health and health fund regulations.

Service fees

License: 372 NIS per year

Prescription: 186 NIS per year

Please note: the fee is charged for the service itself. In cases where an application is denied, the fee is non-refundable.

After submitting the required documentation, payment must be made and the application will be reviewed. Upon completion of the review, an approval or rejection letter will be issued and documented in the patient’s medical file.

If a license is granted

In the case of a new license, the license and a detailed letter addressed to the treating physician will be sent by email. The letter will include instructions for continued treatment, including information on side effects and potential drug interactions.

In the case of a prescription, a notification will be sent indicating that the prescription is available in the personal area on the Leumit website or app.

The license must be presented at pharmacies authorized by the Ministry of Health in order to purchase medical cannabis.

This service is not included in the Government Health Basket under the responsibility of the health funds.

Applications are submitted via the ASAYA system in cooperation with the National Center for Pain Medicine. For additional information or assistance with submitting an application, you may call 073-380-7972. It is also possible to receive an SMS with a link to the site or submit an application directly via mobile phone.

Required documents for obtaining a medical cannabis license or prescription

  1. Medical summary from the past three months: must include an updated summary of the medical file, including diagnoses and sensitivities.
  2. Medication dispensing report: covering at least the past 24 months.
  3. Specialist physician recommendation letter: a visit summary from a specialist in the relevant field, including a recommendation for cannabis treatment from the past three months. The letter must explicitly state that the patient meets the criteria for cannabis treatment for the specific diagnosis, that cannabis is recommended as a continuation of treatment after standard treatments have been exhausted, and that the patient is under medical follow-up.
  4. If the submitted medical material indicates that a psychiatrist’s letter is required, the patient will be asked to provide a recommendation from a psychiatrist from the past three months confirming that there is no objection to cannabis treatment. 
    A psychiatric recommendation is required in the following cases:
    • Active psychosis or a history of psychotic episodes
    • Anxiety disorders
    • Significant psychiatric illness in the patient or a first-degree relative
    • History of addiction or substance abuse
  5. Documents for patients who already have a cannabis license or prescription
    Patients with a prescription who submit recommendations from private physicians (who are not Leumit physicians) must do so through their treating physician at Leumit. The physician must:
    • Document the previous recommendation or prescription in the TMR system
    • Confirm that, in accordance with the specialist’s recommendation, cannabis treatment is advised
    • Confirm that the patient will be under follow-up
    • Prescriptions may be issued for a period of up to one year.

Medical cannabis use – key points and guidelines

Medical cannabis can be provided in several forms:

Dried cannabis flowers for inhalation (via cigarette or inhalation device), allowing rapid absorption through the lungs into the bloodstream

Medical cannabis oil for sublingual administration, bypassing the digestive system and liver

SYQE cartridge

For additional questions and information, please visit the medical cannabis licensing website for Leumit clients.

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