Israel was one of the first countries in the world to build a state-run medical cannabis programme, and tens of thousands of patients now hold active licences. But the route to a permit is specific, and it has changed substantially since the reforms that began in 2023. This guide explains how the system works today, who can prescribe, and what a patient should realistically expect.
This guide is informational and is not medical advice. Treatment decisions should be made with a licensed physician.
Who issues the licence
Medical cannabis in Israel is regulated by the Ministry of Health, historically through its Medical Cannabis Unit — known in Hebrew as Yakar (the Israel Medical Cannabis Agency, IMCA). The unit licenses patients, sets the products and monthly quantities they may receive, and oversees the producers and pharmacies that supply them (Ministry of Health).
A major reform reshaped the prescribing pathway. As the last-resort requirement was removed, prescribing authority for most indications was devolved to Israel's four public health funds (HMOs) — Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet and Leumit — while a smaller set of indications, notably chronic pain and PTSD, remained under the direct authority of the Medical Cannabis Unit (Journal of Cannabis Research, 2025). In practice this means the exact paperwork route depends on your condition.
Step 1: See the right specialist
The process begins with a specialist physician who treats your condition — an oncologist for cancer, a neurologist for epilepsy or Parkinson's, a gastroenterologist for inflammatory bowel disease, a pain-clinic physician for chronic pain, a psychiatrist for PTSD. A general practitioner generally cannot initiate a cannabis recommendation; the specialist must be willing to recommend cannabis and to document why it is clinically appropriate (Leumit Health Services).
Crucially, a 2024 reform dropped the rule that cannabis could only be tried after every conventional treatment had failed. Specialists may now use their clinical discretion to prescribe cannabis within their area of expertise, rather than only as a last resort (Journal of Cannabis Research, 2025).
Step 2: The recommendation is submitted
If the specialist agrees cannabis is appropriate, they complete the application — typically an online form on the Ministry of Health system — and attach the supporting medical documentation. This usually includes a summary of your medical history and a record of medications already tried, often drawn from your family doctor's file (Nefesh B'Nefesh).
Where prescribing authority sits with your HMO, the specialist's prescription may be issued more directly. Where the indication remains under the Medical Cannabis Unit, the recommendation is reviewed centrally before a licence is granted.
Step 3: Approval and the licence
If approved, the licence specifies the monthly quantity of cannabis you may purchase and the duration of the treatment period, after which it must be renewed. Some patients are issued a permit quickly; where central review is required, applicants are commonly told to allow two to three months for a decision. It is sensible to confirm, roughly ten days after submission, that the unit has received the paperwork (Nefesh B'Nefesh). The unit can be reached at yakar.metupalim@moh.gov.il.
Step 4: Choosing a product and pharmacy
Once licensed, patients fill their prescription at a pharmacy authorised to dispense cannabis. Products are categorised by their THC and CBD content and supplied as dried inflorescence (flower), oils and other formats. A pharmacist licensed in cannabis dispensing advises on the specific product and titration within the parameters of the licence.
What it costs
Medical cannabis in Israel is generally paid for out of pocket; it is not fully covered like a standard subsidised medicine, though pricing has been a recurring subject of regulatory attention. Patients should budget for a monthly product cost plus any private specialist consultation fees, and should confirm current prices directly with their dispensing pharmacy, as these change.
A note for tourists and new immigrants
The programme is built around residents within the Israeli health system. Visitors cannot simply obtain a domestic licence on arrival, and bringing cannabis into the country is subject to strict import rules. New immigrants (olim) enter the same specialist-led pathway as any other resident once inside an HMO. We cover the access question for visitors separately.
The direction of travel
The system continues to liberalise. Rules taking effect in December 2025 further expanded specialists' authority to prescribe, continuing the shift away from centralised, last-resort gatekeeping toward a more conventional prescription model (Cannabis Regulations, 2025). For patients, the practical takeaway is consistent: the single most important step is finding a specialist in your condition who is willing to recommend cannabis. Everything else follows from that.
For the full list of conditions that may qualify, see our guide to qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Israel, and our Patient Access hub for the wider picture.
Compiled and reviewed by Tamar Levin, Editor. Sources are linked inline. This guide is informational and is not medical or legal advice; consult a licensed physician about your own treatment.
More on this topic: Patient Access.