Cannabis in Italy. What is the marijuana legal situation in this country?

Cannabis Seeds to italy

The marijuana legal framework in Italy is uncommon among European Union countries. Thus, it is not illegal to consume Cannabis in Italy, but it is illegal to market or possess it. Moreover, Italy took one of the first steps towards medical Cannabis by legalizing its use in 2007. On the other hand, penalties and sanctions for marijuana possession in Italy are often administrative and can be solved with small amounts of money.

In today's article we analyse the marijuana situation in Italy through some key points that you can find in the table of contents below.

Table of contents:

Marijuana Possession and use in Italy

As mentioned in the introduction, it is illegal to possess marijuana but it is not illegal to use it. This rule was consolidated in 1990 and has remained unchanged since then. The legal framework for Cannabis in Italy is therefore not entirely unfavourable and is in fact quite progressive compared to other countries. In 2014 Italy ruled that Cannabis is one of the least dangerous drugs and this contributes to a possibility of a better future.

It is certainly shocking that possession is prohibited but not consumption. Therefore, if someone is seized consuming marijuana on a public street, they will most likely be punished for possession and not for use. Thus, marijuana possession can lead to fines and even losing the driver's license for 1 to 3 months. On the other hand, if it is the first time that a person faces a seizure, may only face a verbal warning and not have to pay fines.

Hemp cultivation for industrial purposes is regulated in Italy. This has opened the door to hemp flowers with a low THC content sales, which is known in Italy as light weed and is commonly found in dispensaries. However, it is important to note that although this type of cannabis is legal, its use is not legal in any form. Dispensaries thus use a legal loophole, selling hemp flowers as collectibles.

Growing Marijuana in Italy

Since 2016 it is completely legal to grow hemp in Italy. Despite being a Mediterranean country, with a great climate for many Cannabis strains and being a demanding market, Italy does not allow growing marijuana seeds for recreational purposes. However, hemp, as we have mentioned, is legal to grow for industrial purposes. Thus, many hemp crops in Italy are involved in the manufacture of by-products for the building industry, the textile sector, etc.

In 2016, Italy discussed the possibility of allowing growing of up to 5 Cannabis plants for personal use. However, many conservative voices opposed this possibility, like the Catholic Church and the extreme right and they completely overturned this path.

Marijuana sales in Italy

Selling marijuana in Italy is totally prohibited and punishable. However, the penalties for offenders are less than those imposed on traffickers of more harmful drugs such as heroin or cocaine. In other words, a person arrested for selling Cannabis can face up to 6 years in prison, while a person arrested for selling heroin can face up to 22 years in prison.

As in other European countries, aggravating circumstances can also increase prison sentences. On the other hand, if the marijuana seizure is deemed to be small, the penalties may be exclusively financial and the accused may not face prison sentences.

Medicinal Cannabis and CBD situation in Italy

From 2013 medicinal Cannabis use in Italy is decriminalised. Thus, with a doctor's permission it is possible to use medicinal marijuana-based drugs. The only problem is that until 2017, medical cannabis patients could only access Bedrocan, a high-priced drug that not all users could afford.

In 2014, the Italian Parliament goes one step further and allows marijuana growing for medicinal purposes. However, the monopoly on the Italian medical cannabis production fell exclusively on the Ministry of Defence, which meant that just a few laboratories could carry out research and produce effective drugs for different pathologies. Today, Florence is the only city in Italy where medicinal Cannabis is grown, as the headquarters of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Products is in that city.

Despite the fact that Italy does not have a very extensive list of medicinal Cannabis drugs, the demand for this type of drug is increasing every year in Italy, which is already one of the major countries demanding this type of drug. The problem is perhaps the lack of variety and the high price of these products, which forces many Italians to get their medicinal marijuana illegally.

Finally, it is legal to use CBD in Italy. The THC concentration of CBD-rich marijuana can never exceed 0.6% to be legal. This is why there are many dispensaries for hemp flowers with a high CBD content throughout the country. 

Marijuana use Fines and Penalties in Italy

As we have seen, marijuana possession is not illegal as long as it is for personal use. What is illegal is the consumption of marijuana in public. If the Cannabis or marijuana resin seizure is less than 1.5 grams, it may all result in a warning and the seized person may not face fines or imprisonment. However, if the amount exceeds this figure, the seized person may have to pay a sum of 200€ on the spot. 

On the other hand, penalties for selling marijuana are up to 75000€ and imprisonment of up to 6 years. Furthermore, depending on the conditions of the warning and the aggravating circumstances, these penalties may be up to double. This is the case for drug trafficking with minors, organized gangs, weapons use, etc.

Sending Marijuana Seeds to Italy

It is totally legal to sell or buy marijuana seeds in Italy. There is also no restriction on receiving seeds from other countries. But growing them is not allowed and many growers have to operate illegally.

At Experiencia Natural there is one of the largest catalogues of marijuana seeds and shipments are made to most places in Europe. We are experts in safe and discreet shipments.