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“A small step forward – at long last”: Campaigners react to Italian home cultivation reform

The law would be a welcome change for patients who have been experiencing shortages of medical cannabis

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Italy: An Italian flag floating against the blue sky

Italy could legalise the small-scale cultivation of cannabis plants at home as part of reforms approved by the Lower House’s Justice Committee.

A welcome move for patient access, it would decriminalise the growth of up to four plants in a person’s home. However, the penalties for trafficking and dealing with cannabis may increase with sentences moving from six to ten years.

It’s a landmark decision from the Italian Supreme Court that took two years to get to this stage. The reform was suggested by MP Riccardo Magi in 2019. It would make Italy one of few counties in Europe to allow home cultivation. Other counties include Spain and the Czech Republic who allow up to five plants in a person’s home.

Speaking with Cannabis Health News, Katya Kowalski, head of strategy at Volteface commented: “The change to legislation in Italy is a massive victory for patients, Italy has stood in a paradoxical situation for medical cannabis. Despite having the second-largest European market, accessibility to products has been challenging with massive shortages in almost every region.”

“This has had severe repercussions for patients accessing medicine, giving many no choice but to buy from the illicit market or risk criminalisation for home growing. This law change puts an end to unnecessarily criminalising patients and will help to put the needs of patients first and normalise medical cannabis across Europe.”

Read more about cannabis legalisation and the Italian industry at Cannabis Wealth

Speaking with Cannabis Health News, Antonella Soldo, coordinator of Meglio Legale said: “Today is a small step forward, coming after months of” prudence- at long last. We know, however, that the road is still long and we cannot afford these times that risk going beyond the duration of this legislature.”

She continues: “The proposal in the committee was the first step, consumers, producers and patients are asking for a change: with Meglio Legale and the associations involved, we will continue not only to solicit parliamentary activity but also to use all the democratic tools available. “Even today, thousands of patients in Italy are unable to obtain the medical cannabis they need, despite the fact that a law has provided for it since 2007. With a provision of domestic legalization of cultivation, the issue would not be resolved, but at least it would avoid jail trials and the painful consequences that many sufferers still have to face.”

Meglio Legale is an Italian campaign that has highlighted the needs of the country by bringing the issue of home cultivation of cannabis to the attention of parliament.

Italian Cannabis markets

The cannabis industry is booming in Italy. Prohibition Partners report that there was a 30 percent increase in the amount sold in 2020. A large amount of the growth was facilitated by private pharmacy wholesalers who imported products produced by Bedrocan in the Netherlands.

However, due to the pandemic, patients reported access issues and shortages across the country. Home cultivation will be life-changing for patients able to grow their own medication.

Italian changes for UK

In the UK, home cultivation is still illegal along with possessing, selling or distributing cannabis. Offenders can face a fine of up to £2,500 and five years in prison. Medical cannabis was legalised in 2018 but there have been only a handful of NHS prescriptions since the law changed.

However as more countries in Europe move to allow home cultivation, it raises the question if a similar system could work in the UK.

Read more: Emigration: “I would tell other people to relocate as you will get better access”

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