In April 2025,Italy struck hard: CBD was officially reclassified as a controlled substance, on a par with narcotics.
👉 The result: shockwaves throughout the industry, from local producers to regular consumers.
With this decision, the Italian government aims to drastically limit access to CBD-based products (oils, capsules, flowers, etc.), now reserved for pharmacies and only available on prescription.
A blow to a booming market... and a decision that is already causing debate well beyond Italy's borders.
A major legislative change⚖️
This turnaround is based on an administrative decision that applies the presidential decree of October 9, 1990, reclassifying CBD despite accumulated scientific evidence showing that it has no psychoactive effect.
A decision that shocks both professionals and consumers alike, and rekindles the debate on the political management of hemp products.
Reactions and legal challenges: an industry under pressure
The announcement of the CBD ban has caused an uproar among Italian players in the sector.
👉 Producers, retailers and consumer associations are denouncing this brutal decision, which threatens not only thousands of jobs, but also the rights of users.
The Imprenditori Canapa Italia (ICI) association immediately retaliated by filing an appeal with the Lazio Regional Administrative Tribunal (TAR) to challenge this legislation.
⚖️ What are their arguments based on?
Lack of scientific evidence: CBD, in appropriate doses, is neither addictive nor psychoactive.
Recognized benefits: studies show that it can help relieve anxiety, chronic pain and improve sleep.
European isolation: while the rest of Europe keeps CBD within a regulated legal zone, Italy runs the risk of cutting itself off from a growing market.
Consequences for industry: a major blow for local companies
Prior to the ban, Italy was one of Europe's most dynamic CBD markets.
Demand for natural products and wellness supplements was growing steadily.
But with this new legislation, an entire economic ecosystem is on the rocks.
Who is most affected?
👉 Small local businesses: specialist stores, artisanal producers, sellers of creams, oils, capsules... All risk massive losses or even sudden closure.
👉 Merchants: those who have passionately embraced the CBD sector see their business threatened, unable to sell their stock legally.
👉 Exports: trade with other European countries becomes uncertain, as many may hesitate to trade with an Italy that has become ultra-restrictive on CBD.
The European context: Italy against the tide
Italy is not the only country in Europe to regulate CBD, but its total ban without a medical prescription stands in stark contrast to the positions of its neighbors.
👉 France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands: all allow the sale of CBD-based products (oils, flowers, cosmetics, e-liquids) in specialist stores and online, as long as they comply with legal THC limits (generally less than 0.2%).
The CJEU: a European call to order
Recently, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU ) ruled clearly:
A member state cannot ban the sale of CBD if there is no proven risk to public health, and if the product is legally circulating in another EU country.
With its new legislation, Italy finds itself isolated from its European partners.
👉 As a result, many observers believe that ongoing legal proceedings could force the Italian government to revise its position.
The scientific debate: why CBD is not a narcotic
One of the major arguments put forward against the Italian ban is simple: lack of scientific basis.
Unlike THC, CBD :
is not psychoactive,
does not alter mental state,
is not addictive.
On the contrary, numerous studies have highlighted its potential virtues: such a decision is not only unjustified: it could be a step backwards in terms of public health.
Looking ahead: what happens next?
Despite the shock ban, all is not yet over in Italy.
The appeal lodged by theAssociation des Entrepreneurs du Chanvre and other players in the sector has already brought temporary respite: the Tribunal Administratif Régional (TAR) has suspended application of the decree.
👉 A key date to remember: October 24, 2025.
On that day, a hearing will determine whether the decree is upheld, annulled or revised.
Hope for smarter regulation
Many CBD advocates hope that this legislative shock will serve as a trigger, not to bury the industry, but to :
Think about more flexible regulation,
Rely on recent scientific data,
And open up a genuine European dialogue on the future of CBD and cannabis-based products.
Conclusion: a development to be closely monitored
Italy's CBD ban marks a major turning point for the future of legal cannabis in Europe.
👉 While Italy finds itself at a legislative crossroads, the CBD industry remains mobilized to defend its rights and guarantee legitimate, secure and controlled access to cannabidiol.
The ongoing legal action could not only shape the future of the Italian market, but also influence future European decisions.
In short, the Italian case is not just local: it opens up a continental debate on the future of CBD.
At CannaHouse, we'll keep you informed, because natural well-being deserves more than a step backwards.
