As the once-thriving hemp-and-CBD industry of Italy, which was once booming, is battered and stifled by its hard-line government
Nevertheless, there is some optimism that last month’s ‘emergency’ court decision equating industrial hemp to high-THC cannabis can be overturned.
Italy has declared CBD a narcotic. This is contrary to European Union’s position, which Italy is an important member of.
Georgia Meloni’s government has had a negative impact on the hemp and CBD industries.
‘A terrible development for the industry’
Italian national Lorenza Romanese, Managing Director of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), says last month’s decision to force through revisions to Article 18 of Italy’s Security Bill, which equates industrial hemp flowers with high-THC cannabis, has been a ‘terrible development for the industry’.
It is implied that the Italian seed market has disappeared because CBD, flowers and other cannabis products have been prohibited. The flower is the only way to get the seeds, she said. MEDCAN24.
The decision prompted the Italian Regions to write a coordinated response to the government requesting an amendment to Article 18.
In a press release, Venetian Regional Councillor for Agriculture Federico Caner, speaking on behalf of the Agricultural Policy Commission of the Conference of Regions, called for a Government rethink.
The Ministry of Agriculture of Italy, Francesco Lollobrigida has been asked to reevaluate Article 18 of the Constitution.
Mr Caner commented: “All of the Regional representatives found themselves agreeing unanimously that the Security Decree is causing difficulties for the Italian hemp sector, with its 3,000 firms, 30,000 employees and 500 million euro turnover. 90% of it goes to export.
We want to work with government to come up with a solution that will allow farmers with a quality product and certification to maintain the supply chains. This would balance the legitimate concerns of legislators for the safety of the public with investments over the years made by the companies, and the funding provided to the supply chains.
In this case, the law will be implemented in July of this year. Ms Romanese is optimistic, but she believes that it’s misplaced, since the bill sits alongside issues like immigration and prisons.
She stated: “This law is unfit for its purpose. This type of legislation is not appropriate for the framework. You can resolve this by applying the correct pressure to the government.
All of Italy’s regions have sent a letter to the Minister of Agriculture, voicing their concerns. I remain optimistic about finding a solution.
There is a possibility that some changes will be made due to the increasing pressure from all regions.
The sledgehammer is used to crack nuts
The legal framework of the European Commission provides a boost to the Italian Government’s initiative on CBD legislation.
The EU Directive says that if a drug falls under the definition of a medicine, and also falls within another regulatory framework the Medicinal Products Directive will prevail.
She says: “This means that, if an EU member states determines a substance such as CBD is therapeutic, they are entitled to classify it and authorize its exclusive sale as a drug, under the condition that marketing authorization from a competent authority has been granted.”
She contends that the Italian government is effectively using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, with the nut in this case being the ‘cannabis light’ or CBD industry.
“The current situation is an absolute disaster. Initially, the government intended to prohibit only cannabis lights, but due to this legislation, it has effectively prohibited all of its varieties.
The parties in power do not approve of cannabis. When they promised that we would ban drugs, they kept their word to the voters.
In ruins: Industry
This is in direct opposition to the EC position, as stated by the KanaVape 2020 decision which acknowledged CBD was not a narcotic.
Nevertheless, Ms Romanese thinks that this may have grounds for challenge as the government has chosen to ignore the EU Technical Regulations Information System. This system is intended to prevent the creation of new trade barriers among member states.
In the interim, industry faces extreme pressure. Ms Romanese said: “We are losing members to countries such as the Czech Republic.”
The larger firms are leaving. “The smaller companies are tired of the barriers and are switching to corn. As a result, hectares are decreasing and the industry will not grow.
The court action is not worth the effort or cost. They prefer to take their case elsewhere.