Italian government in favor of decriminalizing cannabis

In its annual report on drug addiction, the Italian government highlighted the the need to encourage decriminalization, to review the current law and abandon the repressive model.

The 556-page report sent by the government to Parliament incorporates the discussions held at the National Conference on Addictions. in Genoa last autumn, commissioned by Minister Fabiana Dadone, responsible for anti-drug policies.

And conclusions report, Even if it's not a direct statement, it leaves little doubt as to the government's support. to the cannabis decriminalization bill currently being studied by the Italian Assembly.

On page 516 of the report, identified by Wired Italy, In this section, we read about «the need to implement initiatives» aimed at overcoming the social stigmatization caused by years of repressive policies towards consumers, increasing the integration of skills between health professionals and the authorities, developing the participation of all players interested in the phenomenon to reduce the risks associated with substance use, increasing the flow of information to develop better policies, implementing processes to evaluate the effectiveness of actions, identifying the resources needed to solve the problem and, above all, ’encouraging decriminalization«.

The report even gives the method, namely «to revise the current law by moving from a repressive model to one of governance and social regulation of the phenomenon, and by exempting from criminal prosecution certain illicit behaviors, envisaged by Article 73, while re-examining the system of sanctions and excluding the mandatory nature of arrest in flagrante delicto.»

Riccardo Magi, president of the Più Europa party, explains to DolceVitaOnline that «these words follow, with all due respect to Salvini and Meloni, the objectives of the bill I signed for the first time on home culture».

«In fact, the report's suggestions go even further than our text, providing, for example, for the decriminalization of the sale of small amounts when this takes place for non-profit purposes. From now on, the Right has no excuses: Parliament can and must take up the issue and vote. The discussion in the hemicycle will resume in the next few days, and this is the moment of truth. Voters will finally be able to understand who is using this issue for propaganda purposes and who is seriously fighting to change things».

Supporters of the plan to legalize self-cultivation are hoping that it can be voted through the Chamber of Deputies before the summer, so that it can continue in the Senate when parliament resumes in September.