Lawmakers in Italy signed a motion last Monday to legalize marijuana throughout the country. The proposal’s main support came from the dominant center-left Democratic Party but was backed by some on the right as well.
Sen. Benedetto Della Vedova, who introduced the bill, is a former member of Italy’s Radical Party, which has campaigned for marijuana legalization for more than four decades.
Speaking with reporters, Della Vedoza stated that the bipartisan support for the motion “shows that even in Italy, a pragmatic approach, based on a rigorous cost-benefit analysis, is now increasingly popular in the political and cultural debate, not only outside but also inside the parliament.” He promised that the proposal would be made into a bill soon.
Italy has already passed decriminalization, and a medical marijuana law was passed in 2007.
Last year, in response to human rights groups protesting the country’s swelling rate of imprisonment, Italy’s highest court overturned a 2006 law that classified marijuana alongside cocaine and heroin.
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Photo Credit: Jorge Cancela