This Company Thinks It's High Time for a Medical Marijuana Inhaler

Good news for medical marijuana users: You may soon be able to buy a weed inhaler.

The catch, however, is that the product will be sold only in Israel, where pharmaceutical company Teva Pharm signed an agreement to market a medical marijuana inhaler previously used in a hospital, Reuters reported. The company said this is the first time the medical marijuana industry has complied with pharmaceutical standards for inhaling the plant, which is the most efficient way to administer it.

Teva, which is the world's largest generic drugmaker, will exclusively market and distribute the inhaler. It will be available for home use pending approval from Israel's Ministry of Health.

The inhaler, which was developed by Tel Aviv-based company Syqe Medical, has been used for more than a year at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, according to the Times of Israel. Israel has become a leader in developing marijuana technology, in part due to its status as a tech hub and open regulatory environment.

Medical marijuana is a lucrative industry, with an estimated value of $20 billion worldwide. Proponents of marijuana's use say the drug results in decreased prescriptions of opioids and other painkillers.