San Marino like Amsterdam? First yes to recreational cannabis
Cultivating, processing, selling and consuming the plant for recreational purposes "like in Dutch coffee shops": an application has been approved, but the process could take another six months
San Marino is a candidate to become the Amsterdam of Italy. Or at least of the Riviera Romagnola. Last Wednesday, the Great and General Council (the parliament) approved a request presented by a group of citizens to "request to regulate the use of cannabis for recreational purposes". Translated: if the legislative process were to be completed, in the Republic of San Marino it will be possible to grow cannabis, work and transform the plant "in order to obtain derivatives", sell them and consume them for recreational purposes in any non-public place and in specific premises. "On the model of Dutch coffee shops", precisely.
A real revolution, especially if you consider that "to date the Republic of San Marino is one of the states with the most prohibitionist policies on cannabis in Europe". It is no coincidence that the document was approved by chance, at the end of a night that was, to say the least, hectic. In these days the Serenissima Republic is in the midst of a government crisis, since the councilors of the "Movimento Civico 10" have effectively pulled the plug on the Executive.
The parliamentary session last Wednesday was therefore particularly hectic, with frequent summits and corridor meetings. Result: when the motion was voted on, only 33 of the 58 councilors were present in the Council. "I don't think the parliamentary majority was in favor," explains Roberto Ciavatta, councilor of the Movimento Rete, "many people were out. In any case, we are happy. In December we had a similar amendment to insert into the Budget, but it was rejected."
To be fair, the Secretary of State (i.e. the Minister) for Health had been working for some time on a reform project to regulate the production and processing of hemp, but only for therapeutic purposes. "Our mandate was that - confirms Franco Santi, now in charge of ordinary administration until the installation of a new government - we thought of working on the plant with low THC content and also modifying the penal code, allowing it to be grown below a certain concentration with well-established limits". In short, San Marino wanted to become part of the network of therapeutic cannabis producers, and in this sense it had already initiated contact with the Italian Ministry of Health.
The Istanza d'Arengo - one of the three institutions of direct democracy provided for in the legal system of the Republic of San Marino (in addition to the referendum and the popular legislative initiative) - presented by the citizens' group and approved by the Council goes beyond this approach, extending the regulation to recreational purposes. The document proposes to allow possession "for personal use up to a maximum quantity to be established (approximately 30 grams)", consumption by adults "in any non-public place or place not open to the public in which there are no minors or pregnant women", the production and transformation of cannabis and self-production, "or the possession of cannabis plants at one's residence". But also to allow the sale - foreseeing shops intended for sale only (on the US model) and premises intended for sale and consumption on site - and association for the purpose of collective cultivation of cannabis ("along the lines of the Spanish Cannabis Social Clubs").
Music to the ears of consumers, especially those who are used to spending their holidays on the Riviera. After all, not even the request denies "the economic importance that legalization could have, in terms of sales taxes and job creation", without forgetting "the tourist opportunity that it could represent, by virtue of the large number of young people that the Riviera Romagnola attracts in the summer".
But it is advisable to wait a few months before rejoicing: the new regulation is still far from coming into force, and it is not certain that it will see the light in the terms described so far. Within six months the minister should report to the Council Commission, and only in the event of a favorable pronouncement could the process for legalization begin. Furthermore, the government crisis risks extending the times, given that the return to the polls has been set for December 8. "If all goes well - concludes Ciavatta - it should be approved by the summer season 2020". Just in time for tourists on the Riviera.
