Italy
Is Hemp Legal in Italy?
Status
Restricted
Covers
Jurisdiction
Last updated
May 28, 2026
The short answer
Industrial hemp cultivation is legal in Italy under Law 242/2016, but the 'cannabis light' market (low-THC hemp flower) was effectively criminalized in April 2025 by Decree-Law 48/2025 (Decreto Sicurezza), converted into Law 80/2025. Hemp cultivation for fiber, seed, and certified industrial use remains permitted using EU-registered varieties with field THC content not exceeding 0.2% (with a tolerance margin up to 0.6% before the crop must be destroyed).
Law 80/2025 amended DPR 309/1990 to prohibit the sale, transport, possession, and consumption of hemp inflorescences and derivatives regardless of THC content, targeting the previously tolerated 'cannabis light' sector (products with THC at or below 0.5%). The decree treats hemp flowers as narcotic substances under Tables I and II, exposing operators to the criminal penalties of Article 73 (6 to 20 years' imprisonment, EUR 26,000 to EUR 260,000 fines). Industrial uses for fiber, seed oil, cosmetics, and certified animal feed remain lawful, but the retail sale of inflorescences for human consumption is banned.
The 2025 reform has triggered constitutional challenges. The Tribunale di Firenze and Tribunale di Genova referred questions to the Corte Costituzionale in late 2025 on grounds of disproportionality and conflict with EU free movement of agricultural goods. The European Commission opened an EU Pilot procedure (2025) examining compatibility with Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 (CAP) and the Court of Justice's Kanavape ruling (C-663/18). A constitutional ruling is expected in late 2026.
Key facts ·
Italy
Key facts
Rules at a glance
THC limit
0.2% THC in field cultivation (0.6% destruction threshold); inflorescences banned regardless of THC content
Regulator
Ministero dell'Agricoltura, della Sovranita Alimentare e delle Foreste (MASAF)
Key regulation
Law 242/2016; Decree-Law 48/2025 (Law 80/2025)
Effective
April 9, 2025
Adult-use cannabis
Illegal
Medical cannabis
Legal
For brands and importers
Import and export rules
Import and export of certified industrial hemp seed and fiber for non-consumption uses remains permitted under EU free movement rules and Law 242/2016, provided varieties are listed in the EU Common Catalogue and THC content does not exceed 0.2% in the field. Following Law 80/2025, the import, export, transit, and intra-EU movement of hemp inflorescences (flowers and leaves) for human consumption - including 'cannabis light' products - is prohibited and treated as narcotics trafficking under DPR 309/1990 Article 73. Hemp seed food products (hulled seeds, oil, protein powder) compliant with EU Novel Food rules continue to circulate freely.
FAQ
Common questions
Latest