Israel's medical cannabis program expanded from about 3,100 active licenses in 2011 to over 140,000 by 2024, driven by regulatory reforms that broadened access, before declining 7.5% after a new HMO-led prescribing reform.
Policy researchers, medical cannabis advocates, healthcare regulators, anyone interested in international cannabis policy
4,400% growth in active licenses from 2011 to 2024
What the researchers found
Active medical cannabis licenses in Israel grew by over 4,400% from 2011 to 2024. The 2024 reform transferring prescribing authority to HMOs was followed by a 7.5% decline in licenses. Chronic non-cancer pain remained the top indication (63%), with PTSD growing from 9% to 17%. Over 94% of patients used flower-based products by 2025.
Why it matters
Israel has one of the world's most established and data-rich medical cannabis programs. Understanding how its regulatory changes affected patient access provides lessons for other countries developing their own frameworks.
The numbers in context
Licenses grew from 3,097 (2011) to 140,483 (January 2024), then declined to 129,900 by March 2025. Chronic pain: 63% of licenses. PTSD grew from 9% to 17%. Flower products: over 94% of usage. Monthly doses of 50g rose 108%, 60g rose 117%. Estimated annual market: $252-684 million at peak.
How the study worked
Longitudinal review and secondary analysis of monthly Israeli Medical Cannabis Unit reports from 2011 to 2025, mapping regulatory milestones to shifts in patient numbers, indications, dosages, product types, and prescribing patterns.
What this study cannot tell us
Single-country analysis with a unique healthcare system. Post-2024 data gaps make it difficult to fully explain the license decline. Market value estimates are approximate.
How to read the evidence
Moderate: comprehensive longitudinal analysis of government data, but limited to administrative records without patient outcomes
When this study was published
Published in 2025 covering 2011-2025
The bigger picture
Israel's experience shows that broadening access through regulatory reform can dramatically increase medical cannabis use, but shifting oversight to managed care organizations may introduce new gatekeeping that reduces access.
Questions still open
- Will the HMO-led model continue to reduce access, or will it stabilize? How do patient outcomes compare across the different regulatory periods?
Common questions
Why did licenses decline after 2024?
What conditions qualify for medical cannabis in Israel?
Read the original research
Medical cannabis in Israel: a comprehensive review of trends and regulations, 2011-2025.
Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 90
Citation
Aviram, Joshua. (2025). Medical cannabis in Israel: a comprehensive review of trends and regulations, 2011-2025.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 90. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00344-1