Moshe Feiglin announces his surprising legislative agenda

People consider Moshe Feiglin to be a super-extremist, and many probably expected him to enter the Knesset with plans to right away introduce legislation in all sorts of "Eretz Yisrael" or Jewish related realms, such as change the police policies for Har HaBayit, or legislate annexing Judea and Samaria, or maybe try to legislate more Jewish education in the school systems, or Shabbos observance, etc. (even though Feiglin s opposed to religious legislation, he is misunderstood often and is thought to be desiring to legislate much more observance). If people did expect that, they were wrong.

Feiglin, who will be soon be entering the Knesset, has already announced what he plans to tackle first. ANd his plans do not, yet, include any "Jewish" issues, but social issues.

The first is a plan to lessen the regulations on medical marijuana, along with legalizing marijuana to the general public, albeit with restrictions. The second is to legislate harsher punishments for serious traffic violations.

A few months ago Moshe Feiglin surprised everyone when he said, during an interview, that he was in favor of legalizing marijuana. It had not been a part of his platform, it was not an issue that was naturally his, and nobody had ever heard him speak about it before. Since then he has mentioned it a few more times, and has discussed it in length publicly a number of times and has clarified his position.

pranking the giant hand of The Voice in Ramat HaChayal
by sticking a giant "joint" between the fingers

Feiglin told NRG that he is planning to legislate on two issues that are close to his heart - marijuana and traffic violations. He wants to make the regulations easier for those who need medical marijuana, and at the same time also legalize it for the general public - for people over 21 and limited to certain amounts. Feiglin believes, and I agree with him, that marijuana is far less dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes, and it should not be lumped into the light or heavy drug category. Prohibiting its use, Feiglin says, is a violation of a person's freedom, it strengthens the trade in the underworld, and it causes a lot of pain to sick people who need better access to it.

The second item, serious traffic violations, is also close to his heart, especially since his son was badly hurt when hit by a car a few years ago. Feiglin would legislate stricter punishments for serious violations, such as  drivers who cross the bold line, driving through a red light, etc. If Feiglin has his way, these drivers would immediately lose their insurance coverage. If they were, God forbid, to be in an accident, the Bituach Leumi would continue to pay the victims medical coverage, but not the coverage of the violator that caused the accident.

Aleh Yarok has never been able to get its party into the Knesset, despite many years of trying, but it seems their main issue will be taken care of anyway. I hope the law passes. I think marijuana should be legal.

------------------------------------------------------

Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel

------------------------------------------------------