REUTERS/Baz Ratner

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli government voted on Sunday in favor of decriminalizing recreational marijuana use, joining some U.S. states and European countries who have adopted a similar approach. Israeli media said Sunday, March 5, 2017 that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet has approved a measure that would reduce penalties for possession of marijuana. “On the other hand, we understand the dangers and will try to balance the two.”

If the new policy is ratified by the country's parliament, first-time offenders will incur a 1,000 shekel fine (£221), second-time offenders will be fined double and third-timers will face a "probation’ period". According to the policy, if approved, those smoking the drug would be fined rather than arrested and prosecuted, with criminal procedures only launched against those repeatedly caught. "Israel cannot shut its eyes to the changes being made across the world in respect to marijuana consumption and its effects,“ said justice minister Ayelet Shaked, in a statement. At a time when many American states and European countries are loosening marijuana laws, the Israeli Cabinet approved a plan that would impose fines rather than criminal penalties on those caught using the drug in public. About 25,000 people have a license to use marijuana for medicinal purposes in Israel

Last summer, the government approved a plan to increase the number of doctors who can write prescriptions for medical cannabis, remove limits on the number of marijuana growers, make cannabis available at public pharmacies, and make it possible to receive medical cannabis with just a doctor’s prescription.
Israel changes its law regarding marijuana use. Instead of facing criminal charges, first-time offenders who smoke marijuana in public places will only receive a fine.