Italy is set to decriminalise the growing of cannabis plants at home for personal use. The measure, adopted by the country’s Lower House’s justice committee, approves the cultivation of up to four cannabis plants.
Corriere Della Sera reported that centre-right politicians opposed the move but it received enough backing to pass. Those in favour of the change say it is necessary so people can grow cannabis for therapeutic and medicinal uses.
“The cultivation of hemp at home is essential for patients who must make therapeutic use of it and who often do not find it available, as well as to combat the [street] sale [of the drug] and the consequent criminal behaviour,” Mario Perantoni, of the Five Star Movement, said.
Supreme Court ruling of 2019
In 2019, Italy’s Supreme Court ruled that growing small quantities of cannabis at home for private usage was legal.
Legislation dating back to the 1990s barred the farming and selling of marijuana. However, since then court decisions have generated uncertainty.
The court declared the crime of growing narcotic drugs should exclude “small amounts grown domestically for the exclusive use of the grower”.
Legislation from 2016 allowed the sale of cannabis with a psychotropic active ingredient (THC) level below 0.6% in legal shops. The change in the law led to a boom in trade.
