The Italian government announced plans in 2022 to increase production of medical cannabis and to allow private companies to cultivate and sell it. This move is aimed at addressing the shortage of medical cannabis in the country and to make it more accessible to patients.

The government plans to increase production of medical cannabis by expanding the cultivation area at the military’s pharmaceutical plant in Florence. The government is also considering allowing private companies to cultivate medical cannabis under strict government oversight.

The government’s decision to allow private companies to cultivate and sell medical cannabis is a significant shift in policy. Previously, the military was the sole producer of medical cannabis in Italy. However, the military’s production has not been able to keep up with the growing demand for medical cannabis.

The Italian government’s decision to expand access to medical cannabis is welcomed by patient groups and the cannabis industry. However, there are some concerns about how the government will implement its plans. For example, it is unclear how the government will select private companies to cultivate and sell medical cannabis. There are also concerns about whether the government will be able to effectively regulate the private market.

Overall, the Italian government’s plans to increase production of medical cannabis and to allow private companies to cultivate and sell it are a positive step forward. However, it remains to be seen how the government will implement its plans and how effective the new system will be.

Here are some of the potential benefits of allowing private companies to cultivate and sell medical cannabis in Italy:

• Increased production and availability of medical cannabis
• Lower prices for medical cannabis
• Greater innovation in the medical cannabis industry
• More job opportunities

Here are some of the potential challenges of allowing private companies to cultivate and sell medical cannabis in Italy:

• Ensuring that the quality and safety of medical cannabis is maintained
• Preventing the development of a black market for medical cannabis
• Protecting consumers from misleading or predatory marketing practices

The Italian government is currently working on developing the regulations that will govern the private cultivation and sale of medical cannabis. The regulations are expected to be finalized in 2023.tunesharemore_vert

In 2016, Italy legalized the cultivation of certain strains of hemp for medical and industrial purposes. Hemp is a type of cannabis plant that has very low levels of THC, the psychoactive compound that causes the high. Hemp can be used to produce CBD products, which are believed to have various health benefits, such as relieving pain, inflammation, anxiety, and epilepsy. CBD products must have less than 0.6% THC to be legal in Italy¹.

Italy also allows the use of medical cannabis for patients with certain conditions, such as glaucoma, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, nausea, spinal cord injuries, Tourette’s syndrome, AIDS/HIV, anorexia, and cachexia. Medical cannabis can be prescribed by doctors, dentists, and even vets, but only after they have tried other treatments first. Medical cannabis can be purchased at pharmacies, but the supply is often limited and expensive. Medical cannabis is produced by the Military Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant or imported from Canada or the Netherlands¹ .

If you are looking for cannabis products with low THC levels (also known as cannabis light), you can buy them at many tabaccherie (tobacco shops), automatic machines, specialist chain stores, and organic cooperatives. Some cities also have online delivery websites that offer services similar to Foodora³. However, these products are not meant to be consumed or smoked. They are sold as collector’s items or souvenirs. What you do with them in your own home is your own business.

If you are looking for cannabis products with high THC levels (the kind that gives you the actual mental high), you will have to find a street dealer. This can be risky and illegal, as well as disappointing in terms of quality and price. However, some places where you might find dealers are the San Lorenzo district in Rome, where there are many students types who will approach you and say ‘fumo’ (smoke), or Piazza di Santa Caterina della Rota in Rome, where you can look for guys who seem like they sell weed and ask them nicely². Be careful when buying on the street, as it is illegal and the people selling it are theoretically criminals.

These are some of the ways to get cannabis in Italy. However, the laws and regulations are constantly changing and vary depending on the region and the local authorities. Therefore, it is always advisable to be cautious and discreet when dealing with cannabis in Italy.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 09/10/2023

(1) Weed in Italy – World’s best cannabis travel guide. https://lonelycannabis.com/weed-in-italy/.

(2) What’s the Deal with Italy’s Cannabis Shops? | ITALY Magazine. https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/whats-deal-italys-cannabis-shops.

(3) Weed In Rome, Your Guide [October 2023 Update] – GanjaPapi. https://ganjapapi.com/cannabis-in-rome/.

(4) Is Cannabis Legal In Italy? – Saturdays In Rome. https://www.saturdaysinrome.com/blog/italy-cannabis-legal.