Italy is leading the way in asserting Europe’s specific indigenous development rights, but this remains a thorny political issue almost everywhere on the continent.

Italy And that’s not relaxing the cannabis home talk. In fact, the issue has refused to die after the Constitutional Court refused to allow a referendum on marijuana. It now appears that a legislative mandate allowing up to four plants to be grown at home for personal use is being submitted to the Italian federal legislature.

Whether it passes is another question, but the truth of the matter is that the Italians have been one of the main proponents of native European cultivation for the past few years.

everyone else? Not so much.

why not?

The main reasons why home cultivation is unpopular in the cannabis industry

There are several reasons why home farming is unpopular in the political discussion about legalization and in the industry itself. These include:

1. Home farming is difficult to legislate, monitor and control. Arguments against it include: People who grow their own marijuana at home can sell it; poison themselves and/or those they distribute to in some way; expose minors to high levels of THC.
2. However, even where home cultivation must be licensed (see Canada and some U.S. states) or in a nonprofit setting that is also licensed, it remains unpopular with existing powers. That’s because such collectives will always offer cheaper prices than commercial marijuana—whether medically designated or “just” recreational. This is a direct threat to the ‘for-profit’ medical and entertainment industries.
3. It cannot be taxed and is often involved in “grey market” distribution.

Yet in an environment where patients are repeatedly denied access because marijuana is too expensive, it is precisely the sickest marijuana users who are excluded from the revolution.

solution

There are several options in the table Europe Now. The bottom line is that with decriminalization, home farming must be at least lightly regulated. It is unlikely to be banned outright. This means a licensing system – perhaps similar to German dog licenses. However, how many plants are allowed (and what the penalty for exceeding this minimum number is) is a different topic – and has largely been left off the table for now.

However, this is a crucial step in normalizing the whole discussion. With the full and eventual legalization of Europe, it cannot be ruled out forever.

This article first appeared on InternationalCannabisChronicle.com.