Italian MPs to start debating controversial cannabis law
People would be allowed to grow up to five cannabis plants for personal use and keep up to 15 grams of marijuana at home and five grams on their person
Monday, July 25, 2016
Italian lawmakers will begin discussing a draft bill to ease up on the recreational use and growing of cannabis - a highly inflammatory topic. The draft was submitted for debate by foreign ministry undersecretary Benedetto Della Vedova with the support of 200 MPs and senators. Italy is sharply divided on the matter, with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's government on the fence. Renzi said in May that the issue was "not on the agenda". Catholic lawmakers have made it clear they intend to fight the bill to the bitter end, including drowning the text with amendments. (See also: Cannabis bill to be postponed to September | Saviano steps up for marijuana legalization)