Report: 380 Israeli cannabis cultivators pass early licensing test

Nearly 400 medical marijuana cultivators made it through the first round of testing in Israel’s licensing process, demonstrating the high level of interest in the country’s burgeoning medical cannabis industry just three months after exports won cabinet’s approval.

Just over 380 cultivators underwent police checks and land ownership verification, while another 181 applicants still are behind them in the queue, according to Health Ministry data.

New guidelines will come into force later this month allowing approved patients to purchase cannabis at pharmacies, and doctors will undergo special training, The Media Line reported.

So far, six farms are near the third stage of the licensing procedure, having established farms that passed security checks, a ministry spokesperson told the news site.

The country of 8 million people is estimated to have about 40,000 medical cannabis patients.

Canada’s Cronos Group is among the companies planning to use Israel as a springboard for exports of medical cannabis to the European Union.