By Luke Sumpter


Italy stands on the cusp of cannabis decriminalisation. Activists within the nation have campaigned for more liberal laws in the past, but with little success. Now, an alliance of pro-cannabis organisations and political parties have launched a ballot initiative to decriminalise personal cultivation and end fines for personal use. This alliance is also working directly on a decree that could change the fining system for minor offences.

Referendum Cannabis Legale aims to amend certain articles of narcotics law that uphold the punishment for these practices.[1] These alterations won’t legalise recreational cannabis, but they’ll make life much easier for the millions of individuals that grow and smoke the herb within the country’s borders. If successful, the referendum will create the following key changes:

Less severe punishments

A minor offence will be introduced for less serious cases of production and dealing.

Cultivation

The referendum will decriminalise the cultivation of up to four cannabis plants.

Support for the vulnerable

Instead of serving prison terms, drug “addicts” will instead receive employment at a socially useful job.

Increased criminal penalties

Harsher punishments will be assigned for drug offences involving minors and breaches of medical and research authorisations.

Understanding Cannabis Reform in Italy

In accordance with Italian law, Referendum Cannabis Legale[2] needed to obtain 500,000 digital signatures by the end of September 2021 to proceed with the ballot campaign. The stars aligned, and the petition gained over 630,000 signatures. Several factors made this effort an overwhelming success. For one, around six million Italians currently use cannabis recreationally, and a recent poll showed that 47.8% of the population are in favour of the legalisation of soft drugs.[3]

The adoption of a digitised ballot system several weeks before the campaign also contributed to the resounding success; in the past, citizens had to sign petitions in person.

This huge public backing means Italians will get the chance to vote “Yes” or “No” in a referendum that will likely take place in 2022.[4] Citizens won’t only have the opportunity to edge the country closer to cannabis legalization, but they’ll get to cast a vote that will help to deflate the crime-riddled black market that currently rakes in billions of euros from trafficking cannabis.

Political Opposition and Hurdles

Despite the optimism, a political rift exists that could stifle the move toward decriminalisation. Members of the Lega and Fratelli d’Italia parties oppose the movement, calling it a “prelude to legalisation” that would “inevitably end up favouring drug use as well as promoting dangerous behaviours that threaten the right to health enshrined in our Constitution”.[5] Both right-wing parties attempted to block the petition, but centre-left groups Partito Democratico and +Europa managed to reject the obstruction.[6]

With a referendum secured, things are certainly looking up for Italy. If the nation comes together and says “Yes”, cannabis users and growers in the country will breathe a heavy sigh of relief. The ability to cultivate four plants for personal use will allow recreational users to enjoy their passion in peace; many Italians are likely to step out of the cultivator closet and share their hobby openly without fear of prosecution.

As things stand, the possession of small amounts of cannabis is subject to fines and the suspension of personal documents such as driver’s licences. Growing cannabis, however, can land cultivators in prison. While many recreational and medical users opt to grow their own under the radar, the ability to cultivate and carry without punishment will bring peace of mind.

Make no mistake, this change in narcotics law won’t legalize cannabis. We’ll likely have to wait several more years before we see legal coffeeshop or dispensary models lining the streets of Rome, Milan, and Naples. Will Italy ever reach the status of American states such as California, where small independent businesses craft artisan weed to sell to local customers? We hope so.

But the Italian people aren’t new to cannabis reform. The country has seen its fair share of action in the last couple of decades. Below, we’ll delve into the events that helped to shift the nation’s perception of the herb and pave the way to decriminalisation.

Medical and Recreational Cannabis Reform in Italy

Medical Cannabis in Italy: A History

The Italian government legalized medical cannabis in January 2013. This groundbreaking move allowed patients with certain conditions to obtain a cannabis prescription from their doctor. However, the government guidelines require that patients try conventional treatments before resorting to cannabis. To be eligible for a prescription, patients must have one of the following conditions:

Chronic pain Glaucoma
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) Vomit and nausea as a result of chemotherapy,
radiotherapy and HIV therapies
Spinal cord injury Multiple sclerosis
Appetite stimulants in patients with anorexia, cachexia and AIDS







The revised legislation brought relief to many patients, but the country soon ran into some crucial issues. Initially, the state didn’t cover the cost of cannabis-based medicines—which reached up to €50—and many eligible patients couldn’t afford access. Month-long waiting lists only made matters worse. Recognising the problem, the Italian government made a surprising decision: they recruited the army to grow the country’s weed supply. In an attempt to send prices plummeting, the army set up cut-price cannabis farms at a pharmaceutical plant in Florence, with an aim of harvesting 100kg each year.[7]

Military personnel managed the entire production process, from germinating seeds to drying and grinding buds. By 2017, the military managed to decrease the cost of cannabis by around 30%. The army is still hard at work churning out cannabis flowers, with a goal of scaling up production at the facility to produce 300kg of weed per year.

Despite help from the military, the Italian government turned their attention to the private sector to ramp up supply. In February 2021, Bio Hemp Farming became the first company to receive authorisation from the Ministry of Health to cultivate and extract medical cannabis.[8] Placing cannabis production in the hands of private businesses won’t only help to bolster the supply, but it’s set to be a boon for the economy; estimations point to an annual revenue of €1.4 billion from the sector. The medical cannabis market erupted by 30% in 2020 alone.[9]

Medical patients in Italy currently have access to a diversity of products. Unlike patients in numerous other countries, they aren’t only limited to cannabis-based medicines that leverage 1–2 key cannabinoids. Doctors are able to prescribe plant-based products prepared at specialised pharmacies.[10]

The Cannabis Light Debacle

Italians have enjoyed legal low-THC cannabis since the government legalized hemp in 2016. At the time, the law capped these products at a THC content of 0.6%. It didn’t take long for retailers to begin selling low-THC “cannabis light” products, which became extremely popular in 2017.[11] In fact, cannabis light became so popular that it started to have an impact on the pharmaceutical industry. A study published in the Journal of Health Economics recorded an 11.5% drop in anti-anxiety medication sales, a 10% drop in sedatives, and a 4.8% reduction in antipsychotics during peak popularity.[12]

However, in May 2019, Minister of the Interior Matteo Salvini launched a campaign against cannabis light products. Cannabis laws in the country now only allow the sale of cannabis products completely devoid of psychoactive effects.

The Referendum Could Change the Lives of Italian Growers

It’s hard to find a logical argument for voting “No” in the up and coming referendum. Italy is poised to embrace decriminalisation. Allowing growers to raise four plants at home will help to solve supply issues for medical cannabis, and growers will be able to cultivate the varieties most suitable for them. As a complex plant, cannabis produces an array of phytochemicals that work in different ways for different people.

The Italian public also appears ready to deepen their relationship with weed. A large percentage of the population want to see soft drugs decriminalised, and the cannabis light saga only highlights the sheer demand for cannabis in Italy.

External Resources:
  1. Firma - Referendum per la cannabis legale https://referendumcannabis.it
  2. Cannabis, al via un referendum per la legalizzazione - la Repubblica https://www.repubblica.it
  3. Temi etici: l’opinione degli italiani https://www.cnos-fap.it
  4. Italy cannabis referendum likely next year - CNN https://edition.cnn.com
  5. Cannabis, si potrà coltivare in casa. Alla Camera la nuova legge ma la maggioranza si spacca - la Repubblica https://www.repubblica.it
  6. “The coup foiled” – right-wing parties try to block the Italian referendum on cannabis https://canex.co.uk
  7. Italy: Army unveils 'cut-price cannabis' farm https://www.bbc.co.uk
  8. Farmaci dalla canapa, prima autorizzazione italiana https://www.ilsole24ore.com
  9. The Medical Cannabis Market in Italy Grew 30% in 2020 https://prohibitionpartners.com
  10. Cannabis law and legislation in Italy https://cms.law
  11. Italians Love Cannabis Light. What Is It? https://www.greenentrepreneur.com
  12. Do-It-Yourself medicine? The impact of light cannabis liberalization on prescription drugs - PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: