Italy is aiming to loosen the military’s grip on the cultivation of medical marijuana, increase productions substantially, and make medical marijuana “available in all pharmacies” across the country.
Italian Health Minister Giulia Grillo made the official announcement in a Facebook post after his tour of the Military Pharmaceutical Chemical Plant, the only licensed cultivator in Italy.
The move demonstrates the first sign of political willingness to ramp up production via licensing public-private partnerships. Doctors in Italy have been able to prescribe marijuana since 2007.
“The Italian authorities appear to realize that the government alone is not in a position to satisfy the quickly growing demand for medical cannabis in the country,” Pavel Pachta, a consultant with International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute, said (h/t MJ Biz Daily).
“This is an important change in the government policy, and it seems to be the first step towards the establishment of a commercial medical cannabis industry in Italy.”
If the plan is fully executed, there will be a sharp increase in interest from international companies.
“It is very positive from Italian patients’ perspective that the government will seek to broaden both the range of products available and reduce the cost incurred,” said Stephen Murphy, managing director of United Kingdom-based Prohibition Partners. “It opens the door, but major question marks (remain) about how wide.”