«Smoke a joint, but do it right»: surprising advice from Italy's Agriculture Minister

On Monday, the italian minister of agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, made headlines by refusing a «light cannabis» joint offered to him by a journalist.

His response, «If you're going to smoke a joint, you might as well do it right,» was deemed both humorous and controversial, sparking a wide-ranging debate on the topic of "smoking joints. cannabis light in Italy.

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The context of cannabis light in Italy

The cannabis light, containing less than 0.5% of THC, is legal for production and on sale in Italy since the end of 2019. Despite its legality, the current ultraconservative government led by Giorgia Meloni, in office since October 2022, plans to ban sales and production, a position that contrasts both with the prevalence of CBD hemp and its derivatives in Italy, and with other political factions that advocate the general legalization of cannabis to combat illegal trafficking.

Lollobrigida's categorical refusal and his subsequent comments highlight the political and social debate. around cannabis in Italy. His response to the journalist at an election rally not only underlined his opposition to diet cannabis, but also reinforced his more general stance against its cultivation.

«I have no intention of converting our grain fields, our crops, into light cannabis fields. Quite the contrary. I think we can survive without it,» he declared firmly.

Public and political reaction

The minister's comments quickly went viral, sparking a mix of criticism and amusement on social media. His remarks were widely circulated and many users mocked his position.

On the political front, reactions were more divided. Riccardo Magi, General Secretary of the Centrist Party Europa, took advantage of the incident to call for the legalization of cannabis, thus reflecting a a sentiment shared by many Italians.

Towards a ban on CBD hemp?

The potential ban on light cannabis could have significant social and economic consequences. Since its legalization in 2019, the light cannabis industry has grown in Italy, offering new opportunities to farmers and companies that work for Italian stores but also export massively throughout Europe.

A reversal of this policy could not only stifle economic growth, but also drive consumers into illegal markets, thwarting the very problems the government aims to solve.