Are you a cannabis user in Italy as a student, on business, or on vacation? Here is a guide we think you should read to avoid problems with the law.
Cannabis is illegal in Italy. Personal use is punished with a penalty, while other behaviours are punished with prison sentences. Often, however, the lines between personal use and sale are blurred, and you could easily find yourself in bigger trouble than anticipated.
Our Know Your Rights guide – part of the Non me la spacci giusta campaign – illustrates the laws currently in effect in Italy, what behaviours are prosecuted, and how. Readers will be able to know what behaviours should be avoided and what to do if you are stopped by law enforcement officers. We also recommend that you read our previous guide that we wrote specifically on this subject.
Many questions are addressed and answered: is the use of cannabis always prosecuted? What are the risks for those who use marijuana and are found in possession of it? How is personal use defined versus intent to sell? What happens if I am stopped while driving under the influence of a prohibited substance? Is it legal to grow cannabis in one’s home for personal use only?
In Italy, more than 6 million people smoke or have smoked cannabis. Many of these are young adults or teenagers. Upon being interviewed, 34% of students aged 15-19 actually said that they have used at least one illicit psychoactive substance during their lives – mostly cannabis. Even in the face of mass consumption, the state has always responded with repression and criminalisation.
That’s why it is important to know the current legislation, what it means and what the risks are for those who decide to use cannabis: read, download, and share our guide!
Andrea Oleandri
