An Israeli doctor was arrested Nov. 9 in central Israel, on suspicion of taking bribes to write recommendations for patients to get medical marijuana.
The 64-year-old anesthesiologist manages a pain department at a hospital in Holon, according to police. Eleven alleged accomplices also were arrested, police said.
Patients in Israel who want medical marijuana must get a doctor’s recommendation, which then must be approved by the Health Ministry.
The doctor reportedly received more than $3,000 per recommendation for several dozen patients. More than 22,000 Israelis are approved to use cannabis, about two-thirds for chronic pain and nearly another third for cancer treatments. — jta