Following a successful campaign, Italian cannabis advocates said they had gathered more than 500,000 signatures to trigger a referendum on cannabis liberalisation.
According to Reuters, cannabis advocates and campaigners have gathered enough signatures to hold a referendum and liberalise cannabis use in Italy next year.
Those behind the movement are proposing to legalise cannabis for personal use and ease sanctions on cannabis-related crimes that are now punishable by longer jail sentences.
In a statement, the organisers said: “This is an extraordinary result, but it’s not surprising. The speed of the support shows the desire for change on cannabis.”
The signatures will have to be officially verified, but the cannabis advocates are still campaigning and telling people to keep signing the petition to make sure the referendum can happen in 2022.
Reportedly, the parties in Italy are divided on the matter: even the unity government aren’t on the same page.
This news comes after a reform on cannabis was approved by the Lower House’s justice committee last week.
According to the vote, cannabis will be decriminalised, and people will be able to grow up to four cannabis plants in their homes for personal use.
With this move, Italy will be one of the first countries in Europe to permit the home cultivation of the plant.
