Pubdate: Mon, 13 Oct 2014
Source: Scotsman (UK)
Page: 21
Copyright: 2014 The Scotsman Publications Ltd
Contact: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/contactus.aspx
Website: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/406
Author: Steve Scherer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

ITALY'S ARMY ORDERED TO START POTTING MARIJUANA

ITALY legalised marijuana for medical use last year, but the high cost
of buying pot in a pharmacy meant that few people signed up.

Now, the government has found a solution  get the army to grow
it.

Starting next year, a high-security laboratory in a military compound
in Florence will grow cannabis for Italy's health care system in an
experiment the government says could bring safe, legal and affordable
marijuana to suffering patients.

The new army supply should allow the government to lower the price for
consumers, who now have to pay up to ten times as much at a pharmacy
for marijuana officially imported from Holland that they might for a
bag on the street from a local drug dealer.

Regional health authorities are expected to offer the legal drug to
qualified patients cheaply or free, helping to put mafia-linked drug
dealers out of business.

But whether large numbers sign up will depend on cultural factors in a
Catholic country with an historic stigma against drugs. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard