Italy's CBD Ban Suspended By Regional Court, Stakeholders Argue It's Like Saying Non-Alcoholic Beer Gets You Drunk

The Lazio Regional Administrative Tribunal suspended a decree classifying CBD as a narcotic.The court's order was a response to an appeal by stakeholders represented by Imprenditori Canapa Italia (ICI), a hemp trade group, writes Hemp Today.

"The decision of the Lazio Regional Administrative Court on this important debate. . . it’s not only appropriate but also clarifies many points and gives hope to many people who resort to these treatments, and to many industrialists," Michele Anzaldi, a former deputy in the Parliament wrote on HuffPost Italy.

The decree by the Ministry of Health took effect on August 5, placing CBD on the country's list of narcotic drugs. If upheld, the ban would affect supply chains that make and sell CBD-based products in dietary supplements and herbal medicine sectors.

Read Also: ‘Grotesque Crackdown’ On Hemp In Italy Puts 11K Jobs At Risk, Experts Cite EU Law Violations

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‘Hemp Can’t Be Classified As Narcotic'

Stakeholders argue they are fighting against the government of conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Melona who previously supported strict enforcement of all cannabis laws. Her government is also behind an amendment to the Security Bill that would prohibit all types of hemp flowers. If passed into law, the amendment would classify all cannabis and hemp flowers as narcotics regardless of THC content.

The proposal was first introduced in June, aiming to ban hemp flowers from "import, processing, possession, transfer, distribution, trade, transport, dispatch, delivery, sale to the public and for consumption, even in semi-finished, dried or shredded form." This would effectively ban the entire flower tips of the plant, including stems, stalks and flowers.

Shortly after that, the Constitutional Affairs and Justice Committee proposed an amendment effectively killing the hemp sector, cannabis trade groups, including Canapa Sativa Italia (CSI) and Federcanapa, sent a letter to the EC contesting the amendment. They argued it could “violate European Union law on free competition and the free movement of goods.” The groups said the sector employs more than 15,000 workers and has a turnover of 500 million euros ($546 million).

Recently, the European Commission (EC) confirmed it has launched an investigation into Italy’s efforts to ban trade in CBD and hemp flower.

Following the Lazio court's decision, CSI president Mattia Cusani commented. "The confusion that surrounds the debate on industrial hemp in Italy is similar to that which would be created if a non-alcoholic beer were accused of making you drunk. Hemp, whatever its use – whether it is flowers, oils or other derivatives – cannot be classified as a narcotic."

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