Cannabis in Israel

Cannabis in Israel

Israel is a country where smoking is very popular, but the legality surrounding it is still in flux. Medical marijuana use is now legal, but obtaining a licence can be rather difficult, and tends to be reserved for those with serious ailments. Recreational growing, distribution and use is against the law, but that doesn't stop many Israelis. While you can get arrested for cannabis use, it's not uncommon to find people smoking a bowl or a joint in public places, particularly in the larger cities. Societal acceptance is such that, as long as there are no police around, you don't even have to worry about strangers seeing you — they're more likely to ask for a drag than to turn you in. Hashish is somewhat more common than green marijuana, here, but unlike other Middle Eastern countries, both types are relatively easy to obtain.

The price of cannabis in Israel

It can be difficult to know ahead of time how much cannabis is going to cost you in Israel, with wildly varying reports. For a country in which marijuana and hashish are illegal for recreational use, the prices aren't bad, since cannabis use is so widespread. However, prices have gone up and supply has gone down recently, with the institution of closed borders with Egypt — formerly, the source of the majority of Israel's pot. Right now, you'll likely find yourself paying 90–120 shekels ($25-30) for a gram of weed, or 200 shekels (~$50) for 5 grams of hash. Prices in Tel Aviv tend to be better, with incredibly low prices in the south, while Jerusalem can be up to 50% more expensive.

The Quality of cannabis in Israel

Israel grows some high quality product. The hashish you'll find here is generally top-notch, and while the quality of grass varies somewhat more, it tends to be quite good. The recent influx of medical marijuana in Israel is keeping the quality up, as well.

Cannabis strains from Israel

Tikun Olam is the primary medical marijuana supplier in Israel, and they have developed a number of great varieties in recent years. Avi-Dekel and Rafael are notable for having almost nonexistent THC levels but a respectable CBD content, making the sativa strains ideal for those who want the medicinal effects of cannabis without getting high. Tikun Olam's indica-heavy strains are much more potent THC-wise — try Royal Dwarf, Erez or Eran Almog for something with some more kick to it. And in between you've got the sativa-leaning Midnight and the true hybrid El-Na, with a little THC action but nothing too extreme.

Knowing the local lingo for what you're smoking is also important. Marijuana is frequently referred to as "esev," "perach" or "yaroket," while hash also goes by the terms Chocolate Haze, Lemon Haze and Shining Silver Haze — a finger of hashish is known as "eatzba" or "tulla."