Italy's health minister revoked a measure giving CBD medicinal status and defining it as a “narcotic.” Roberto Speranza issued a second decree overturning the measure strongly opposed by Italian and European hemp associations.
Working group planned
The ministry said it would convene a working group to address CBD's status “systematically and comprehensively.”
“We welcome Italy's decision tonight and look forward to a productive discussion that should begin shortly,” said European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) managing director Lorenza Romanese.
CBD levels
Epidiolex, a medicine used for certain forms of epilepsy, is also preparing to enter Italy. Produced by UK-based GW Pharma, it is being introduced in Italy and several other European countries. It has proven effective for Dravet syndrome and Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, two severe forms of epilepsy.
While Federcanapa and EIHA agree that high-dose CBD medicines such as Epidiolex should be prescription-only, they emphasize that foods with low CBD levels should be available without prescription.
