Cannabis reform is sweeping the continent, as evidenced by Malta’s recent passage of the continent’s first adult-use legalization.

some Other countries It has been publicly stated that their current lawmakers plan to do the same in the near future.

Italy is a European countries This has been on the cusp of legalization for several years. Voters are likely to see a legalization referendum on the ballot next year.

Fortunately for the hard-working campaigners pushing for the referendum, Italy’s prime minister said this month that the government has no plans to stop the referendum going forward.

2021 Signature Drive

Earlier this year, marijuana activists in Italy submitted some 630,000 signatures in an attempt to get limited legalization of marijuana in front of voters.

Originally launched in September 2021, the Signature Drive reached the 630,000+ mark in just a few weeks, largely thanks to Italy’s new digital signature collection regulations.

Activists around the world fear the Italian government will at least try to slow down the voting process. The Italian Prime Minister stated otherwise.

“The government will not be formed by the acceptability of the referendum,” Prime Minister Mario Draghi said. at a recent press conference (translated from Italian to English). “In some cases, the government could create conditions to delay the presentation until next year, but it has not done so.”

based on case law

In late 2019, Italy’s Supreme Court ruled that the ban on cannabis related to personal cultivation was unconstitutional, paving the way, at least in part, to legalize adult use in Italy.

The court’s decision provides some protection. It also leaves more questions than answers, which is why the referendum measure is still necessary.

Italian lawmakers have been trying to pass a sweeping measure to legalize adult use since the 2019 ruling. The passage of such legislation remains elusive.

Thankfully, Italy has a referendum process, so Italian voters can do something that apparently Italy’s Supreme Court and lawmakers can’t: end marijuana ban once and for all.