Cannabis legalisation bill tabled in House

(ANSA) - Rome, October 1 - A bill calling for the legalisation of cannabis for personal use has for the first time been tabled in the Italian Lower House.
    The bill, calling for the legal possession of a small amount of the drug for recreational use and the cultivation of up to five marijuana plants, was put on the three-month House roster of business Thursday.
    The Left, Ecology and Freedom (SEL) party called for the bill to be tabled shortly, in October, and House Speaker Laura Boldrini, a SEL member, said she would "listen to all appeals" on the matter.
    Deputy House Speaker Roberto Giacchetti, of the ruling Democratic Party (PD), tweeted: "Great news for the inter-party group. The legalisation of cannabis will be discussed at the House before the end of the year #Now's the time".
    Opposition has been mounting among conservatives since the bill was presented in mid-July.