Italy Issues Authorization To Distribute Medical Cannabis Flower
Against the backdrop of an ongoing legal battle between Italy’s ‘cannabis light’ industry and the Italian government, regulators in Italy have reportedly issued an authorization to Tilray to distribute medical cannabis flower for therapeutic use.
“Tilray’s wholly-owned subsidiary, FL Group, has become the first company in Italy to receive official authorization from the Ministero della Salute (Italian Ministry of Health) to import and distribute proprietary Tilray Medical-branded medical cannabis flower for therapeutic use.” Tilray stated in a company press release.
The company is approved to distribute flowers containing the following cannabinoid content in Italy:
- Cannabis Flowers 25%
- Cannabis Flowers 18%
- Cannabis Flowers 9% / CBD 9%
Meanwhile, Italian companies that distribute hemp-derived products are vowing to continue to operate despite the legal uncertainties involved. Earlier this month, Italian lawmakers approved a ban on cannabis light products.
A ‘security decree’ measure received final passage by Italy’s Senate in early June by a vote of 109-69. In addition to the ban on cannabis light, the measure also involved several other provisions championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition government, including the introduction of 14 new crimes.
“It bans the trade of “cannabis light”, or hemp, which unlike marijuana has no mind-altering qualities, infuriating local entrepreneurs who say the move will cost thousands of jobs and imperil millions of euros of investments.” reported Reuters in its original coverage at the time.
All processing, distribution, trade, and transport of ‘cultivated hemp inflorescences’ is, in theory, prohibited under Italian law, although industry and policy advocates point out that the new law is in direct conflict with European Union policies.
“Italian industrial hemp dealers are regularly operating and their businesses have never closed. They will work as they always worked before the entry into force of Article 18 of the Security Decree.” reported DolceVita about comments made by Negozianti Italiani Canapa (translated from Italian to English).
“Basically, to date, a definitive decision on the issue of industrial hemp, effectively does not exist. There was no warning for commercial activities, there were no indications on how to act towards the products, much less towards the fiscal area. Also for this reason we shopkeepers, arrogate to ourselves the legitimacy to continue working exactly as before.” the outlet also reported.
Ultimately, the situation in Italy will take a while to play out before the various sectors of the emerging industry know what they are truly dealing with. In the meantime, the landscape will continue to shift, and selective enforcement by the Italian government will presumably occur to some degree.