Nicola Loiotile, a 41-year-old from Bari suffering from multiple sclerosis, has become the spokesperson for many ALS, cancer, and epilepsy patients. His testimony highlights a dire issue facing many patients in Italy: “We suffer every day because it’s now impossible to find therapeutic cannabis through legal channels,” says Nicola. “Those of us who can still leave the house and have enough financial resources are forced to turn to dealers to buy cannabis, exposing ourselves to all the risks associated with the black market.”
Nicola is not only the voice of many ALS patients, but he is also actively involved in the association La Piantiamo, a non-profit organization founded in 2013 in Racale (Lecce) with the goal of promoting the therapeutic use of medicinal cannabis for all patients in need. His frustration is evident as he recounts: “I’ve never been able to follow the therapy prescribed by my doctor because cannabis supplies are often interrupted. After one month of treatment, we’re left without the medication for at least another two months.”
Unfortunately, this is the reality for many patients with chronic conditions that require the daily use of therapeutic cannabis. Despite medical prescriptions, the Italian government fails to provide a consistent supply of medical cannabis. As a result, patients are forced to seek illegal solutions to compensate for the lack of medicine. An effective regulatory framework is urgently needed to ensure that all patients have continuous and safe access to therapeutic cannabis.