Trajtenberg Committee asked to legalize pot
Request ranked most popular on committee's official website, includes estimate that 'legalization of cannabis is worth over NIS 1 billion a year.' Second most frequent request: Canceling television fees
The committee is scheduled to present its recommendations in four days. The website offers readers an opportunity to rate the suggestions submitted to the committee.
Over the past few weeks, an all-out struggle has been raging on the Hidabrut (Hebrew for "discussion") website launched by the committee for social-economic reform under Professor Manuel Trajtenberg.
The website includes a platform for readers' votes on suggestion readers make to the committee, aiming to enable the committee members to be in touch with the people and convey the meaning of social justice to the committee.
Up until a short while ago, the "mutual commitment" initiative ranked first with a suggestion to change the decision-making processes in Israel allowing a greater extent of public involvement. Eventually, the proposal to legalize cannabis climbed to the top of the list with 1,856 votes.
The cancelation of the television fees climbed to the top ranks as well.
Knesset Member Einat Wilf (Independence Party) told Calcalist that "aside from the deterring nature of the suggestion, it would be one of the committee's easier decisions." Wilf is promoting the issue at the Knesset.
She argues that "if the Trajtenberg Committee does recommend legalizing cannabis and taxing it accordingly – as many of the readers suggested – it would solve three issues at once: It would have done what's right from a social perspective – it is clear today following research and on the basis of a recently published international report submitted to the UN that decriminalizing the use of cannabis and making it a social welfare issue yields better results insofar as its use and will limit its harm to society; it would also create another substantial source of income for the government and can be used to implement the committee's recommendations.
"Furthermore, it would take the money out of the hands of crime families and the enemies of the State. The funds in question are quite substantial and these days, following my request, the Knesset's research and information center is engaged in the estimation of the figures involved."
Click here to read this report in Hebrew
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