Marijuana Is Booming Business In Israel And Americans Want In

In what has been called the “marijuana gold rush” (or “green rush,” if you will), American businesses are flocking to Israel to grow and conduct research on different strains of pot.

“This cannabis gold rush has to pan out for us,” Eilon Bdil, manager of Kibbutz Elifaz in southern Israel, told Newsweek. “There’s simply no other choice. We need young people with good minds to come here, and medical cannabis is what can draw them.”

Why Israel? Within the next ten years, marijuana—both recreational and medicinal—is set to be a $50 billion business worldwide. This is a fact that is not lost on the Israeli government. Israel is home to the most medical marijuana clinical trials in the world. The agricultural powerhouse was one of the first countries to legalize medical marijuana and the country is now in the forefront of marijuana research and innovation.

While medical marijuana is legal in 28 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, companies still have to overcome several federal obstacles to receive the approval necessary to conduct effective research. American businesses fare better in Israel, where the laws welcome the research and the government welcomes the revenue.

“There are very few countries where you can do clinical research involving human beings,” Jmichaele Keller, president of U.S. based Steep Hill Labs, told US News and World Report. “Israel is the epicenter of research and development not only in growing the plant and creating extracts and different products, but also on the medical and research fronts, so we knew that we really needed to be there.”

Right now Israel has been capitalizing on people coming into the country to cultivate and study marijuana. However, exports are the reported “next frontier.” The Israeli government estimates that exports could bring the country $4 billion in annual revenue.

A vote in the coming days could make exports legal, which would be a gamechanger for both Israel and the countries that go there to cultivate marijuana.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.