Medical cannabis in Israel has recently been making waves in the media. The country has taken more steps towards cannabis acceptance than many other countries, and is now offering the “first-ever academic course in the use of medical cannabis, recognized by the Council for Higher Education at Ariel University."
According to the Jerusalem Post, Dr. Michael Dor, a senior lecturer in health systems at the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences, has initiated a program that teaches students the correct uses and effects of cannabis. This is in stark contrast to the situation in the United States, where the DEA refuses to admit that cannabis has any merit, medicinally or otherwise.
117 students were accepted into the program, and the curriculum includes the history of medical marijuana (as well as it effects on patients), methods of growing the plant, and the worldwide socio-political economics of medical cannabis.
Med students were given priority for acceptance into the program, and Dor is one of the first prominent academics to pursue the benefits of cannabis at the university level. The fact that we still have to fight for years to promote legislation as well as honest research into the medical properties (especially in regards to CBD) of our favorite herb in the United States is beyond logic.
Whether or not you agree with other decisions made by Israel’s politicians, Israeli professors have made positive pushes towards the global acceptance of marijuana. A country such as Israel highlighting the benefits of cannabis is a huge step in the right direction, and we hope to see other nations (including our own) follow suit in 2017.