But will light cannabis shops really close following a directive from Salvini?
And are the first three stops imposed by the Macerata police headquarters a consequence of Salvini? There is perhaps too much confusion and overlapping of different types of news.
It all starts from the statements of the Minister of the Interior who declared that he will close all points of sale of marijuana derivatives as they are drug dealing centres. Adding that the first three closures have already been decided in the province of Macerata. True, but certainly not a direct consequence of Salvini's words. These shops sold real marijuana, so checks are welcome.
The 2016 law and limit of 0.6
The sale of light cannabis is regulated by a 2016 law and is based on a basic principle: the trade of hemp-based products is permitted as long as their THC content (i.e. the substance that gives psychotropic effects) is less than 0.6%. For comparison, a real joint contains approximately 5-8% THC. But if there is a law that regulates an entire commercial sector, it seems difficult that a minister can "disapply" it by signing a letter to prefects and police commissioners, until proven otherwise in Italy there is a parliament that legislates, not a ministry.
The Macerata case: the law was violated
But then how do we explain the three closures of light cannabis shops that occurred in the province of Macerata? The police commissioner of the Marche city Antonio Pignataro explained it in a press conference: the owners were caught selling cannabis inflorescences that exceeded the aforementioned 0.6% THC.
The green light from the Supreme Court
But in the offensive declared by Salvini against them, the store chains have another shield behind which to defend themselves: last January the Supreme Court ruled that the sale of light marijuana-based products is legal, canceling a seizure that occurred against a store in Prato. The important thing is to be able to demonstrate at all times that the famous 0.6% ceiling is respected and that the raw material comes from legal cultivation, as Justmary does by showing analyzes at every check. A further ruling from the Supreme Court, this time by joint sections, is expected at the end of May.
