Italy Decriminalizes Marijuana, Helps Move Europe Toward Legalization!

[Galaxy Admin]

Last Friday, Italian lawmakers officially decriminalized a number of minor crimes, the most important of which are rules regarding marijuana cultivation, possession, and use.

The changes came about as the result of groundbreaking legislation in 2015 in which a proposal to decriminalize marijuana drew widespread support from leaders across the political spectrum.

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The initial terms of the proposal said that “people over the age of 18 could cultivate up to five plants at home and growers could set up social clubs involving a maximum of 50 people and 250 plants,” according to Italian news sources.

It also called for new possession laws that “would allow people to store 15 grams of marijuana at home and carry around up to five grams of the drug, figures which would be higher if the marijuana was being held for medical use.”

At this point, it’s unclear just how many of these initial proposals were officially enacted in last Friday’s changes, but a report published by Reuters explained that “growing cannabis for personal use remains a crime, though medical use of marijuana in Italy is legal, if it is bought from a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription.”



Italian officials hope that the changes to the country’s marijuana laws will be beneficial in several key ways.

“It will free up courts from issues of little relevance,” state officials said in a statement published recently by Reuters.

This is important for a country that ranks 139th out of 140 for its efficiency in settling legal disputes.

Italian politicians also hope that taking steps to decriminalize marijuana will create positive economic changes, freeing up money from pointless marijuana prosecutions for more important and pressing uses.



An Italian research group also suggested that legalizing cannabis could boost Italy’s GDP by between 1.30 and 2.34 percent, The Local reported. Although the country hasn’t yet achieved full legalization, Friday’s decriminalization is certainly a move in the right direction.

And in a broader context, Italy’s move to decriminalize pot could help move Europe as a whole closer to legalization. Here’s where the continent currently stands when it comes to cannabis:


FDW

[KratomToke]

 


Like that old 70's song, "I think it's coming around!"  Really like to read stories like this!



Far to many are in jail for MJ related so called crimes, let the Tokers out of jail, and put real criminals in!


 

[jones]

I'm moving to Italy!!

Or that is what I could be doing, if only my dream of getting disability
came true. Till then I'll be a conservative I guess-Either way-                                                        Weed is So Fine!
                                                                                                                                                                   It's taking over!

[Uruk-High]

Nice move Italy!