Thousands of Israeli demonstrators, including public figures, Knesset members and artists, rallied together in Tel Aviv to demand the government to fully legalize cannabis use.

By Itay Blumental

Last week, Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan said that after reviewing the matter, he will seek government approval for the decriminalization of cannabis.

According to the new policy, first time offenders will be fined by an amount which has yet to be determined and will not receive a criminal record. Second time offenders will be fined twice that amount and will also not receive a criminal record. Third time offenders will only receive a criminal record if the police deem it necessary (in accordance with the new conditional agreement), and if so will also have their driver’s and firearms licenses revoked. Fourth time offenders will be indicted according to police assessments

Thousands attend Rabin square demonstration in Tel Aviv to legalize cannabis. – Photo: Idan Liber

According to the new policy, first time offenders will be fined by an amount which has yet to be determined and will not receive a criminal record. Second time offenders will be fined twice that amount and will also not receive a criminal record. Third time offenders will only receive a criminal record if the police deem it necessary (in accordance with the new conditional agreement), and if so will also have their driver’s and firearms licenses revoked. Fourth time offenders will be indicted according to police assessments.

Public figures, Knesset members and artists showed up en masse and said, “We are screaming the call of freedom, justice and common sense,” exclaimed organizers. “We have won the battle, but the war continues,” vowed protestors.

MK Sharren Haskel (Likud), who submitted a bill supporting the decriminalization of cannabis use, said, “A year of difficult birthing pains led us to the moment when members of the Erdan-Haskel Committee supported, in one way or another, decriminalization for tens of thousands of normative cannabis users. Incrimination could harm their future.”

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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4917578,00.html