Lower House approves crackdown on 'cannabis light'

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 12 - The Lower House on Thursday approved an article in the government's security bill banning the sale of so-called cannabis light - hemp flowers and products that have an extremely low level of the psychoactive compound in normal marijuana that makes people high.
    Opposition parties said the move was absurd, arguing it would put many law-abiding producers and shops selling these items out of business.
    "When it has a low THC content, cannabis has the same psychoactive effect as basil," said centre-left Democratic Party (PD) lawmaker Rachele Scarpa.
    "Nutmeg is more of a drug than the substance you are making illegal".
    Gianmauro Dell'Olio of 5-Star Movement (M5S) said the ruling majority was "taking out an entire sector".
    Angelo Bonelli of the Green-Left Alliance (AVS) commented that "the mafia is celebrating the fact that a piece of the economy has gone into illegality". (ANSA).