Italian lawmakers from both conservative and liberal parties are pushing back against a proposed ban on industrial hemp flowers, warning that the measure would harm the economy and go against European Union policies.
Flavio Tosi, a Forza Italia Member of the European Parliament (MEP), said the proposed amendment to Italy’s Security Law (DDL Sicurezza) would hurt thousands of farmers and businesses, many led by young entrepreneurs who have invested heavily in the hemp industry.
The bill, backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, would classify hemp flowers as narcotics under Italy’s drug laws, despite their THC content remaining below the EU-permitted 0.3% THC threshold, and a 0.6% THC limit generally observed in Italy.
‘Serious supply chain’
“We are not talking about drugs or drug dealers but about a serious supply chain that follows rigorous scientific standards and complies fully with EU regulations,” Tosi said. He also warned that banning hemp flowers in Italy would not stop consumers from accessing such products, as they are widely available online from other European countries.
Forza Italia, which commands between 9-10% of the vote in Italy, generally opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana, aligning with its center-right coalition partners in advocating strict drug policies. The party has shown some support for industrial hemp, particularly regarding its agricultural and economic potential, though it has not been a strong advocate for expanding hemp-related regulations.
Meanwhile, Riccardo Magi of the liberal pro-European +Europa party, also condemned the proposed amendment to Italy’s sweeping – and controversial – Security Bill, which strengthens law enforcement’s powers and creates criminal penalties that could be applied to violations of the hemp amendment. He accused the government of treating hemp farmers like criminals for ideological reasons.
Killing business
If enacted, the amendment would entirely block the hemp extract subsector, affecting CBD and other non-psychoactive hemp cannabinoids used in herbal medicine, cosmetics and food supplements. Italian hemp stakeholders have warned that passage of the amendment would bring the closure of 3,000 businesses and idle 15,000 workers.
Leonardo Fiorentino of the Fuoriluogo.it drug policy forum echoed those concerns, warning that shutting down Italy’s legal hemp sector would only drive consumers toward unregulated markets, creating more opportunities for illegal operators.
Forza Italia has also raised the issue within the European People’s Party (EPP) and is backing a petition filed by hemp producers and trade associations to challenge the Italian amendment at the EU level. Tosi said he looks to the European Parliament to intervene to prevent Italy from becoming the only EU country to outlaw hemp flower sales. “As a liberal, I always prefer common-sense positions over absolute prohibitions,” he said.
Attack on CBD
In a related move by the government, a decree that took effect last August placed CBD (derived from hemp flowers) on the country’s list of narcotic drugs, forbidding products taken internally by consumers. But a regional court temporarily suspended the decree the following month.
Italy has a history of legal uncertainty regarding hemp and CBD products. Despite an EU-wide ruling in 2020 that CBD is not a narcotic and that hemp flowers under the THC threshold can be legally traded across member states, Italian authorities have repeatedly targeted the sector. Previous efforts to classify hemp extracts as narcotics or strictly medicinal products have been overturned by the courts, highlighting the ongoing regulatory conflict between Italy’s national policies and EU law.
The bill, backed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, would classify hemp flowers as narcotics under Italy’s drug laws. Read More
