A parliamentary intergroup for the
legalisation of marijuana presented a bill on Wednesday that
would allow legal possession of a modest quantity of marijuana
for recreational use as well as home cultivation of up to 5
plants.
The proposal has the support of 218 MPs and was presented
in a press conference by intergroup leader Benedetto Della
Vedova.
The law, if passed, would also permit "Cannabis Social
Clubs" - a sort of non-profit growers' collective - as well as
simplify delivery, prescription and dispensation of
cannabis-based pharmaceuticals.
Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy's anti-immigrant Northern
League party, spoke out against the proposal.
"I'm personally in favor of legalizing prostitution,
because until proved otherwise, sex isn't bad for you, but
cannabis is," Salvini said.
Adriana Galgano of the Civic Choice (SC) party said the law
would reduce crime.
"With eight million consumers, the legalization is already
in the facts. From this situation criminals gain and taxpayers
lose, given that 60% of trials and incarcerations are due to
small-time drug deals. It's time to take this traffic away from
criminals and use the profits from taxes for prevention and
rehabilitation of people with drug addiction problems and
support for their families," Galgano said.
The 5-Star Movement (M5S) party made a similar argument in
favor of the proposed law.
"Nowadays in the world we see multiple virtuous examples of
reasonable and controlled legalisation, so we can't do less than
follow these examples, which take an advantageous market out of
the hands of the mafia," said Vittorio Ferrarese, M5S leader in
the Justice Committee of the Lower House.
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