The legal cannabis market - Italy

1.1 Introduction

The legal cannabis market encompasses the production, sale, and distribution of cannabis products with a THC (the psychoactive active ingredient) content below the limits set by law. This market has developed in response to the growing demand for cannabis products for therapeutic, recreational or other legal uses.

A variety of products can be found in Italy, including:

• Cannabis for therapeutic use: Oils, herbal teas, capsules or cannabis flowers used to treat various medical conditions.
• Recreational cannabis: Cannabis products with a legal THC content for recreational purposes, such as beverages, foods or cannabis flowers with controlled THC levels.
• Wellness products: Cosmetic or wellness products containing cannabis extracts, such as creams, oils or balms.

The history of cannabis legalization in Italy has had several developments over the years. In July 1975, Marco Pannella 's arrest for public consumption of marijuana marked the beginning of a series of legislative changes. In 1976, one of the most prohibitionist laws in Europe was amended, declaring the consumption of soft drugs non-punishable. However, in 1990 the Craxi government reintroduced the crime for drug use, which was later repealed in 1993 through a popular referendum. Over the years, several initiatives have been taken to promote the legalization of cannabis and counter the illegal monopoly. In December 2016, Law number 242 was passed, which introduced the concept of "lightcannabis" with a THC content of less than 0.2 percent (with a tolerance of up to 0.6 percent). This form of cannabis can be marketed like any other good, but purchase is restricted to those over 18 years of age.[Thesubmarine]

The size of the global legal marijuana market has been estimated at $16.7 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4 percent from 2023 to 2030.