- Tweeter
republish
The Italian Parliament adopted in the night from Thursday to Friday an amendment to the draft budget 2020 legalizing the production and sale of cannabis light (less than 0.5% of THC) after months of uncertainty for farmers and traders of this product.
The amendment in question provides that this cannabis may be sold freely in tobacconists and specialist shops from 1 January on the sole condition that it does not contain more than 0.5% of THC, the main active substance with psychotropic effects. .
Check " the amazing effect "
In May 2018, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini , head of the far-right League Party, which adopted a conservative speech on mores, launched a crusade against shops selling cannabis light under a passed two years ago, saying it would close them one after the other.
Last May, the Court of Cassation appeared to agree, saying the sale or cultivation of cannabis was illegal. But the high authority had entrusted to the appreciation of each judge, having to take care of concrete cases, to verify " the stupefying effect " of the substance held by the incriminated person.
In addition to the discretion given to judges, the Court recalled that parliament could intervene in this area in accordance with constitutional principles.
200 million euros lost for crime
It is done now and the people working in this area have breathed a sigh of relief. " It's the end of a nightmare. After Salvini's witch hunt, I had to lay off 10 people and lost 68% of my turnover , "Luca Fiorentino, founder of Cannabidiol Distribution, told La Stampa newspaper.
Fiorentino says a study from New York University showed that the legal sale of cannabis light has saved 200 million euros from organized crime.
The Coldiretti Farmers' Union called this gesture of the Italian legislator " timely ", ensuring that the land cultivated with cannabis in Italy increased from 400 hectares in 2013 to 4,000 hectares in 2018.
( with AFP )