Italy’s Hemp Industry Hopes the EU Will Save it From Government Bill
The Italian hemp industry is mounting a defense against the Meloni government’s escalating efforts to criminalise light cannabis, including CBD products, amid fears that these measures could violate European Union regulations and devastate the sector.
As Business of Cannabis reported last week, on July 31, the joint Constitutional Affairs and Justice committees of the Chamber voted to add an amendment to the Security Bill, currently being debated in the Chamber, making flowering cannabis of all types, regardless of THC content, illegal and considered a narcotic.
As the Security Bill prepares to head to Parliament in September, the industry has found support from the 5-Star Movement (M5S) in Brussels.
M5S has urged the European Commission to intervene, arguing that the ban contradicts EU laws on the free movement of goods and the non-narcotic status of CBD as established by a 2020 EU Court ruling.
It comes after similar calls were made in June by a number of Italian cannabis and agricultural trade groups, who argued that the recent amendment ‘violate European Union law on free competition and movement of goods.’
Speaking to Business of Cannabis, the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) said it had contacted the EC to emphasise that Italy should have followed the TRIS procedure, which ensures that member states notify the European Commission about any draft technical regulations that could affect trade within the internal market before adopting its national regulations.
Since Italy did not adhere to this procedure, the EC is now reviewing the situation using information provided by the EIHA. In the best-case scenario, the Commission may send a formal letter to the Italian government, addressing this procedural oversight and urging compliance with EU regulations.
The Commission is now reviewing complaints from Italian industry associations, with concerns that the legislation could threaten over 15,000 jobs and a €500 million market.
Even within Italy’s ruling coalition, there are growing doubts, with Forza Italia members calling for a reconsideration of the government’s hardline stance.
This divergence highlights cracks within the governing coalition, with the right-leaning Forza Italia urging a more pragmatic approach that considers the economic impact and aligns with European Union regulations, contrasting with the harder stance of its coalition partners.
A petition has now been started by the ICI Association of Italian Hemp Entrepreneurs, calling for Italian people to show support for the industrial hemp sector and firmly oppose the measures that compromise its future.
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Poland Tightens Medical Cannabis Regulations Amid Growing Prescription Numbers
The Polish government is set to introduce stricter controls on the prescription of medical cannabis, responding to concerns about its potential misuse.
These proposed changes aim to ensure that medical cannabis remains a treatment reserved for those with genuine medical needs, while addressing worries about the possibility of its recreational use under the guise of medical treatment.
Currently, patients in Poland can obtain medical cannabis prescriptions through online consultations, which has led to a sharp increase in the number of prescriptions.
According to local news reports from April, 2024, between 2020 and 2023, the number of prescriptions surged from 11,400 to 313,000, with 4.5 tonnes of medical cannabis prescribed in 2023, four times that of 2022.
This has driven concern among the Polish Ministry of Health that cannabis could be increasingly used for non-medical purposes, leading it to propose new regulations that would limit online prescriptions to ongoing treatments of up to three months and restrict the ability to prescribe controlled substances, including medical cannabis, to general practitioners only during these online consultations.
Additionally, the patient’s identity must be verified during the consultation. For all other cases, including the initiation of treatment, an in-person consultation with both a general practitioner and a specialist will be required.
The proposed changes have not been without controversy. The Polish medical community has voiced concerns that these regulations could unduly limit access to necessary treatment, particularly for patients in remote areas or those with mobility issues. The Commissioner for Human Rights has also raised concerns about the impact of these changes on patient access, particularly in smaller towns where specialist care may be harder to access.
Discussions around these proposals are still ongoing, and more information on the regulations is expected to be published in the coming months.
Norway Puts Forwards Cannabis Legalisation Proposals
In Norway, Arild Hermstad, leader of the Green Party, has put forward a plan to legalise cannabis as a way to combat gang-related crime by targeting their primary revenue source – the illegal drug market.
Mr Hermstad argues that the government’s current strategy, led by Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, is ineffective, and he advocates for the state to regulate cannabis sales, similar to its control over alcohol, to undercut the illegal market.
This proposal marks a significant shift in Norway’s drug policy conversation. While the Green Party and the Liberal Party have introduced similar proposals in the past, this push for legalisation is gaining attention, particularly as discussions around drug policy reform are growing.
However, the proposal faces strong opposition from major political parties, including the Centre Party and the Labour Party, who argue that legalising cannabis could lead to increased drug use and social issues.
This debate over cannabis legalisation comes at a time when Norway, one of the most historically conservative European countries in terms of drug reform, is also beginning to explore medical cannabis more seriously.
In February 2023, Norway held its first public meeting in Oslo to discuss access to medical cannabis, a notable event given the country’s historically conservative stance on the issue. Organised by MedCan Norway, alongside Normal Norge and FTR Oslo, the meeting brought together politicians, medical professionals, patient representatives, and industry stakeholders to address the significant barriers that patients face in accessing medical cannabis.
Although medical cannabis is technically legal in Norway, it remains extremely difficult to obtain, with many patients turning to the black market.
The lack of knowledge and support among healthcare professionals has contributed to the stigma surrounding medical cannabis use.
As Norway cautiously steps into the conversation about cannabis, both for medical and recreational purposes, the debate is expected to continue, especially as younger generations and various political factions push for reform. However, with strong opposition from established political leaders, significant challenges remain in moving these proposals forward.
