Medical cannabis consumption in Israel grew to 43 metric tons last year, from 28.5 million tons in 2020, according to the Health Ministry. Israel’s medicinal cannabis market was valued at around $264 million in 2021, roughly $7 million less than the entirety of Europe, according to Prohibition Partners, an industry analysis firm. Despite the numerous Israeli companies producing medical marijuana, Israel imports more than half of its supply. Golan Bitton, chief executive of Univo, said much of the locally grown supply is low quality that does not meet the expectations of Israeli consumers. “The Israeli consumer is very, very selective,” said Bitton, a retired commando. Last year, he said his company had to incinerate around 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds) of cannabis that didn’t meet the grade. Univo began importing marijuana from Canadian cannabis titan Tilray to pick up the slack. Univo is one of a few companies in Israel that has full vertical integration from farm to pharmacy. His company’s facility is housed in a nondescript warehouse in the industrial zone of the southern city of Ashkelon. The clean rooms where buds are processed are heavy with resinous pungency.
AJC.com: Atlanta Georgia News, AJC Sports, Atlanta Weather, 02/02/2022 02:14:00