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:
1. 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.
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.