For First Time, Israel to Allow Foreign Workers in Cannabis Farming Industry
For the first time, Israel's cannabis farming industry will welcome foreign workers to address severe labor shortages, with new regulations in place.
Jerusalem, 27 April, 2026 (TPS-IL) — After years of severe labor shortages, the Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Health, and National Security, together with the Israel Police, have reached agreements that will allow the employment of foreign workers in Israel’s agricultural cannabis industry for the first time.
From now on, foreign workers will be able to work in the industry for a period of between 24 and 48 months, subject to strict conditions, such as background checks and having no criminal record.
The move is expected to significantly alleviate the labor shortage and strengthen agricultural production.
The move comes after many years in which the industry relied almost exclusively on Israeli labor, while growers faced a persistent shortage of workers, difficulty in recruiting and training, and high turnover that undermined the stability of production.
The medical cannabis industry, which is considered advanced agriculture with a high level of knowledge and technology, also requires rigorous physical labor, from the planting stage, through pruning to harvesting.
For years, requests have been made by industry officials to allow the employment of foreign workers, but due to the unique sensitivity of the field and the need to meet strict supervision and security requirements, employment in the industry has been limited to workers with appropriate classification, which in practice has led to reliance on Israeli labor only.
