Yesterday afternoon, the Court of Cassation gave the green light for the cannabis legalization referendum, validating the more than 600,000 signatures collected by the “Referendum Cannabis Legale” committee. This important milestone marks a decisive step toward a public vote, with the Court confirming the validity of the signatures. The matter now passes to the Constitutional Court, which will assess the admissibility of the referendum question.
A Decisive Step Towards Cannabis Legalization
The cannabis referendum aims to decriminalize the cultivation and personal use of cannabis, a highly relevant issue in Italy, championed by prominent associations such as the Luca Coscioni Association, Meglio Legale, Forum Droghe, Società della Ragione, and political groups like +Europa, Italian Radicals, Italian Left, and Possibile.
The proposal seeks to legalize self-cultivation of cannabis for personal use and decriminalize therapeutic use, giving millions of Italians the right to legally grow cannabis for personal and medical purposes. This referendum represents a historic turning point, not only for individual rights but also in the fight against the illegal cannabis market.
Towards a Public Vote
Now that the Cassation Court has validated the signatures, the next step is for the Constitutional Court to decide on the admissibility of the referendum question. If approved, the vote could take place as early as spring 2022, finally allowing Italian citizens to directly express their stance on a crucial societal and political issue.
This is a historic moment for the pro-cannabis movement in Italy, with the concrete prospect of legal regulation of cannabis use. The final word now rests with the Constitutional Court, which could definitively pave the way for a public vote.
