Telegrass
Telegrass was a cannabis distribution network in Israel with over 200,000 members,[1] that uses the encrypted messaging application Telegram. The network enables anonymous[2] cannabis delivery and an option to rate the product and the vendors.[3]
It is estimated that the revenues of Telegrass are 60 million NIS monthly. According to Haaretz, there are more than 70,000 Telegrass users and over 1,300 dealers, and the numbers are constantly increasing.[4] According to Times of Israel, there are over 100,000 registered users. The usage of the application in this manner was founded by Amos Silver, a 33-year-old Israeli activist.[5]
In March 2019, Israeli and Ukrainian police arrested the leaders of Telegrass, including the CEO.[6][7] Silver was extradited to Israel in August 2019.[8] [9]
Telegrass ended its operation at 23 July 2023.[10]
References
- ^ "Messaging app dope-dealing ring busted in Israel". news.yahoo.com. 12 March 2019.
- ^ Cannabis magazine
- ^ Cannabis magazine
- ^ haaretz.com 'It's Like Uber, but for Weed': Meet the Man Who Revolutionized Israel's Pot Trade
- ^ timeout.com The need for weed: an interview with Telegrass' very own Amos Silver
- ^ "Telegrass operators arrested in massive police arrest operation - Israel News - Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post. 12 March 2019.
- ^ Breiner, Josh (12 March 2019). "Israel Police Arrest Top Members of Telegrass Online Drug Ring". Haaretz.
- ^ “Telegrass founder extradited to Israel after being arrested in Ukraine”, The Jerusalem Post 18 August 2019 (jpost.com)
- ^ Grasshopper Delivery
- ^ "Telegrass page, announcement about the closure of Telegrass, on Facebook, 23 July 2023". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
External links
- Etti Abramov, ‘Telegrass steps in where the state fails’, Ynetnews, March 13, 2019
- Miriam Kresh, It Rained Cannabis In Tel Aviv Today Green Prophet September 3, 2020