The events of October 7, and the subsequent war in Gaza, have severely impacted various agricultural sectors in Israel, including cannabis farms that supply raw materials for the medical cannabis industry. The shortage of hands on deck in the cannabis cultivation areas poses a threat to the well-being of many patients, including those with cancer, who have legal approval for cannabis use and prescriptions for plant-derived medications.
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To cope with the challenges of this period, several cannabis farms in the south and north of the country have sought volunteers from among the many citizens currently flooding the fields and orchards. This enables farmers and agricultural facilities to function even in the absence of regular workers. However, not everyone can volunteer to work with cannabis, and perhaps that's why we received a directive from the police prohibiting us from specifying the exact location or photographing within the farm areas.
It's not just a precautionary measure; the law categorizes cannabis as a dangerous substance, listed in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. Hence, authorities are concerned that criminal organizations might gain access to the plants or medicine in an attempt to generate economic profit.
Since the war began, Moshe, a retiree from Herzliya, and his wife Lea, have been volunteering in different agricultural fields every week. Moshe stumbled upon a message seeking volunteers for cannabis harvesting on a medical cannabis farm near Gedera and decided to give it a try.
"After working a long day in the field, harvesting thistles, we realized that this type of work isn't quite suitable for us as volunteers, especially because you have to bend over all the time. It was tough work that took a toll on our backs. We were looking for something else, something we could do while standing or sitting. The medical cannabis farm promised us, on one hand, agricultural volunteering, and the other, work done in a seated position with air conditioning - so we decided to go for it."
Lea, his wife, chimes in: "They asked us to send a photo of our ID and conducted a background check with the police. We received official approval and came to volunteer. The regular workers at the farm who volunteered are staying in trailers on the premises, but they relocated their families to Eilat. We came to save the cannabis flowers. We put on white coveralls, head coverings, and gloves. One of the managers taught us how to separate the stems from the flowers to maximize the yield from the plant. We worked on this from morning until noon."