October 2, 2026 Categories: Featured / Israel / Health and Medicine
Exhibit Gives Glimpse into Green Future for Israeli Cannabis Industry
By Yona Schnitzer
Israel briefly became the center of the cannabis world this week as the two day CannaTech conference took place at Tel Aviv’s fashionable port broadwalk. Cultivators, scientists, doctors, investors and entrepreneurs all came together at the Trask event hall to see the newest innovations in the field of medicinal cannabis. There were lectures, masterclasses and booths set up by leading Israeli and international companies showcasing their latest products and innovations.
Here are five Israeli companies to watch:
Kanabo Research
Kanabo Research, an R&D firm that has developed the VapePod, a specialized cannabis concentrate vaporizer intended for medical use. The VapePod uses specially developed oil cartridges, with each different type containing a targeted formulation to treat a variety of conditions such as chronic pain, sleep disorders or anxiety, while also offering formulations with low levels of THC [the chief intoxicant in marijuana] meant for patients needing to treat inflammations or even those who have trouble concentrating. As proper dosage is a tricky thing to master with medical cannabis in general, Kanabo have designed their vaporizer to deliver a consistent dose with each inhalation, a fact that may have lead to the VapePod to become the first Health Ministry certified vaporization unit in Israel.CannRX
CannRX, a Jerusalem based lab that has developed a revolutionary method of extracting active components from cannabis for medical use. Most traditional plant extraction methods involve the use of ethanol to extract oils from the plant matter, however, this method, which was not developed specifically for cannabis, has yet to be successful in extracting 100% of the essential oils, cannabinoids and terpenes which grant cannabis its unique medical properties. To address this issue, CannRX has developed an extraction system specifically designed for cannabis, which makes use of the traditional method used to consume cannabis for millenia – combustion. “We have 2,000 years of anecdotal evidence that smoking works, let’s not mess it up,” the company says. Using their vapor capture technology (VCT), the CannRX system either combusts or vaporizes the plant matter, and then passes the smoke or vapor through a process in which the active ingredients are separated from the unwanted toxins, and are then binded with ethanol to create a consistent, activated, full-spectrum solution. “What we are doing, is smoking the plant so you’re lungs don’t have to,״ CannRX says.Eybna
Eybna specializes in terpene extraction. If you’re asking yourself just what exactly terpenes are, well, they are the compounds which give every different kind of plant it’s unique smell and taste. For years, the scientific assumption was that the effects of cannabis are derived from the various cannabinoids existing in the plant, the most popular of which are THC, which provides the uplifting, euphoric “high” often associated with cannabis, and CBD, which accounts for the plant’s sedative effects. However, recent studies have found that an essential part of cannabis’ overall effects are the 300 different terpenes existing within the plant. The combination of those terpenes and the various cannabinoids come together to form what is known as the “entourage effect”, which is the culmination of all the various sensations cannabis consumption brings about. Eybna, which also operates as a medical cannabis farm, has found that certain strains of cannabis, as well as other plants, contain unique terpenes which can be added to other strains in order to increase a desired effect. So in addition to Cannabis, Eybna manufactures natural herbal mixtures which are aimed at amplifying the effects of cannabis when consumed together. They also produce concentrations of terpene based flavors, which can be added to cannabis edibles or vaping solutions.Oterize
Winning the convention’s pitch competition was Oterize, an app that can effectively prevent impaired driving by using a scientifically proven test to identify cognitive impairment and reduce the likelihood of accidents, death, injuries and monetary loss. While most cognition tests were designed to address the effects of alcohol on a driver, the Oterize app is capable of determining whether or not a user is suffering from any type of impairment, regardless of the substance causing it. “As medical and recreational cannabis becomes increasingly legal, driving under the influence is definitely an issue many are thinking about. Otorize is an idea that is important, timely and marketable,” said Saul Kaye, CEO of iCAN, which produces the CannaTech, about the innovation and the reasons it was selected to win.Indorz
Finally, Indorz is a company that developed a unique product designated for cannabis cultivators. Founded in 2016 by a group of engineers and growers, Indorz offers a sensor system that is placed near the plants’ roots, which provides analysis and data about the conditions in the grow space including humidity, PH levels, air temperature, watering etc. The system uses AI and is able to predict potential problems for the plants ahead of time, possibly saving growers millions in losses that can occur due to plant problems. The system is also able to gather data of the current grow in order to optimize conditions for the next one, offering cultivators methods of producing a yield thats consistent in quantity and quality at the end of each grow cycle.[td_smart_list_end]
With Israel leading the world in many aspects of the cannabis industry, and with significant medicinal cannabis reforms rumored to be coming as early as April, Israeli companies and cultivators are expected to soon be allowed to not only export their technology, but their actual cannabis based products as well. Should that change occur, Israel may just find itself becoming the world’s first cannabis superpower.
