The new government postponed Wednesday the vote on a bill to legalize the recreational use of marijuana at the request of the Arab Ra'am party, which opposes such a measure due to religious grounds. The bill is likely to come up for a vote again in two weeks.
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"We feel this bill goes against our religious values and cannabis is considered a drug," Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas said. "We would first like to examine the implications such a law would have on society. That is why I asked [the bill's sponsor New Hope] MK Sharren Haskel for some time before we reach an agreement."
As the new coalition holds a fragile majority in the Knesset, its chances of passing the bill without support from Ra'am are slim. Moreover, the Islamist party has already undermined previous legislative efforts since the swearing-in of the new government, most notably the extension of the family reunification law.
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