CBD Laws in Italy: Where to Buy CBD Oils [2021 Buyer’s Guide]

Summary: Buying CBD in Italy

• CBD in Italy is in a legal grey area
• You can buy CBD with 0.2% THC online
• CBD edibles and beverages are not allowed under the Italian law and the Novel Food Regulation
• You can use a mail forwarding service to purchase CBD from foreign brands
• Possession and cultivation of small amounts of cannabis is decriminalized

Best CBD Oils in Italy

Number	Product	Total CBD	Potency	Cost per mg CBD	Link
1	Nordic Oil Full-Spectrum CBD Oil (Europe)	500 – 2000 mg	50 – 200 mg/mL	€0.08 – €0.09	Get a Deal
2	Endoca CBD Oils	300 – 1500 mg	30 – 150 mg/mL	€0.08 – €0.09	Get a Deal
3	Hemp Bombs CBD Oil	300 – 4000 mg	10 – 133.3 mg/mL	$0.07 – $0.17	Get a Deal
4	Reakiro CBD Oil	300 – 1500 mg	30 – 150 mg/mL	€0.07 – €0.08	Get a Deal
5	Amma Life CBD Oil	400 – 2500 mg	40 – 250 mg/mL	$0.06 – $0.13	Get a Deal
6	Hempura Broad-Spectrum Refined Extract	250 – 1000 mg	25 – 100 mg/mL	£0.06 – £0.08	Get a Deal

How to Buy CBD Products in Italy in 2021

Italy has some of the most complex CBD laws in Europe, but things are not as terrible as they seem. In practice, you’re still allowed to shop for CBD — with some restrictions.

When buying CBD in Italy, online stores should be your first choice. Retailers that operate online offer a broader range of products at reduced prices.

Since CBD in Italy is in a legal grey area, it would be best to shop for products that are closest to the legal lean. In other words, avoid buying CBD with a THC concentration above 0.2% — despite the tolerance to higher THC concentrations from the 2016 law.

As long as you focus on purchasing CBD that’s considered legal and free from psychoactive effects (< 0.2% THC), you shouldn’t have any issues with the authorities.

Most people in Italy are reporting no problems with their order as long as they’re using THC-free extracts (such as CBD isolates or broad-spectrum THC-free extracts).

Is CBD Legal in Italy?

CBD in Italy is hanging in legal limbo.

Until mid-2019, all CBD products were available over-the-counter.

After the change of the government and the arrival of more conservative leaders, cannabis became a subject of many fierce debates. Consequently, in May 2019, Italy’s Supreme Court of Cassation prohibited the sale of cannabis derivatives, including hemp leaves, flowers, resin, and oil.

Before the ban, CBD products with THC concentrations between 0.2% and 0.6% were entirely legal and available in local and online stores.

The new law caused many uncertainties regarding CBD’s legality. Although it says that products derived from Cannabis sativa L. are illegal under the Italian drug control law, it excludes products that are free of narcotic effects. However, it is still unknown what products are considered unable to produce “narcotic effects,” as there is no new THC limit.

CBD is stuck in the legal grey area, stretched between the old and new regulations.

Only medical CBD is legal without any disruptions, and you can purchase it from a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription.

NOTE: CBD edibles are prohibited under the Novel Food Regulation — an EU rule that considers CBD a novel food due to the lack of history of its use as food before 1997.

Cannabis Laws in Italy Prior to May 2019

In 2016, the Italian government allowed the cultivation of hemp with less than 0.2% without a license. Popularly known as cannabis light, the low-THC hemp variety made a boom in Italy’s cannabis industry, and slowly, the legal THC limit went up to 0.6%.

Shortly after the introduction of the loose laws, Italy experienced a thriving period known as the green gold rush.

The law didn’t clarify whether CBD flowers are legal or not. The use of hemp leaves and flowers for edible products was prohibited, but there was no further explanation about the legality of raw CBD flowers.

Thanks to this loophole in the law, the hype around cannabis light escalated, and hundreds of new businesses emerged in the Italian CBD market.

You could indulge in various CBD products with THC levels as high as 0.6%, and shop from thousands of local and foreign brands.

The CBD market was challenging to regulate. While many companies operate with integrity, some retailers jumped into the market, hoping to make a quick buck at the expense of quality and safety. This forced authorities to react with stricter legal changes in 2019.

Although the strict laws overshadowed CBD, cultivating, and possessing cannabis for personal use in small amounts is decriminalized and subjected to minor fines. The law doesn’t specify what a small quantity is.

What’s the Difference Between Hemp & Marijuana?

Although both plants belong to the Cannabis sativa species, hemp and marijuana differentiate in several ways, including their chemical properties and legal status.

One of the main compounds of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, popularly known as THC, controversial for the psychoactive high it produces in marijuana users. 

THC is present in both cannabis plants, but its concentration in hemp is minimal — therefore, hemp won’t get you high. 

In marijuana, THC can go as high as 30%.

Many countries around the world unfairly treat hemp as marijuana — even Italy has done so after signing the narcotic drugs convention. However, today’s Italian law differentiates between hemp and marijuana.

1. Marijuana Laws in Italy

Marijuana in Italy is legal for medical purposes and decriminalized for recreational use. As a member state of the European Union, Italy respects the imposed THC limit of 0.2% — according to the EU, any cannabis plant that has more THC than this is considered marijuana.

However, Italy has tolerated a limit of 0.6%, and plants with THC concentrations varying between 0.2% and 0.6% are known as cannabis light. 

2. Hemp Laws in Italy

Italy has a centuries-long cannabis tradition, and hemp continues to be a significant crop. Hemp with 0.2% THC is legal for cultivation, but only certain varieties approved by the government are permitted. 

Buying CBD Online in Italy

Italians love CBD, and you can notice that by the number of stores that have popped up in the last few years.

However, many retailers focused on selling hemp flowers to satisfy the high demand for cannabis light, and the choice of CBD products was narrow compared to the online options.

Most online retailers will offer you a great deal. Unlike brick-and-mortar stores, online stores don’t have overhead expenses, which allows them to sell CBD at reduced prices and ship their products for free or over a symbolic amount.

Besides saving money, you can save lots of time and nerves. When shopping online, you avoid the parking hassles, the costs for gas, and the crowds. Online stores are available 24/7, meaning you can shop whenever it’s convenient for you.

If you want to learn more about the product before you buy it, or you need advice, you should be able to contact your retailer through a live chat or an email address. Responsible brands offer customer support, and if it takes your seller days to respond to you, it’s best to find another.

Online shopping, however, has its downsides too.

The first and most frustrating obstacle is that customs can seize your product. The restrictions mostly fall on businesses, but don’t get surprised if the authorities take your product. When laws are hanging undefined, it’s not difficult to fall into their cobweb.

Another issue is that some brands may decide not to ship to Italy due to the conflicting rules on CBD. What you can do here is register for a mail forwarding service to get a local address in the region and use it to make online orders.

Pro Tips: How to Spot High-Quality CBD Oil

Amidst the many grey areas in Italy’s cannabis market, take caution when buying CBD.

Depending on what you’re looking for, CBD can vary in properties such as cannabinoid concentration, taste, form, and method of use. However, there are several common quality standards for CBD products.

Here’s what to consider before you spend your money on any CBD product. 

1. Look for a Certificate of Analysis

Italy has a thriving cannabis industry and is known for its high-quality hemp. However, take this with a grain of salt  — some businesses gladly bypass quality standards for the sake of quick cash.

Before you pay for your CBD, examine the product and ask your retailer to provide you with a Certificate of Analysis — a document that guarantees the product’s quality and safety.

2. Great Marketing Doesn’t Always Mean High-Quality

How many times have you bought something with high expectations but ended up disappointed? Ads play an important role in how brands present their products, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that they sell top-notch goods. Retailers often use a gimmick to sell their products — make sure you know your seller before you give him your trust and money.

3. Stick to CBD Products With 0.2% THC

Besides quality, you should also pay attention to the CBD’s legality when you’re shopping in Italy. The rules are messy, and the closest to entirely legal is CBD with 0.2% THC, so it’s best to refrain from buying products with higher THC concentrations.

CBD Brands That Ship To Italy

Nordic Oil

4.67 / 5

Buy from Nordic Oil

Hemp Bombs

4.5 / 5

Buy from Hemp Bombs

Endoca

4.83 / 5

Buy from Endoca

Reakiro CBD

4.33 / 5

Buy from Reakiro CBD

Amma Life

3.83 / 5

Buy from Amma Life

Hempura

4 / 5

Buy from Hempura

A Brief History of Cannabis Laws in Italy

Italy has grown cannabis for ages. As an agriculture-dependent country, Italy found hemp to be a highly lucrative crop.

Hemp cultivation for fiber and textile is an old tradition in Italy, and the crop was used for food, oils for lightning, traditional tablecloths, ropes and sails, clothing, and animal feed.

During the Maritime Republics, hemp was the most important crop because of its flexibility and resistance to water. The Italian fleets needed tons of fiber for ropes and sails, and Italy had the perfect soil for cannabis cultivation.

Italy quickly became one of the largest hemp producers, supplying foreign navies with high-quality hemp fiber, including the fleet of King Henry VIII. 

Italy continued to produce hemp until the Second World War. The US was already fighting its war on drugs, which included cannabis. As Italy’s liberator from the war, the American power demanded Italy stop cannabis production, allegedly, to impede marijuana sales and use. However, the real reason was the expansion of an entirely new industry — artificial fibers that soon overtook the pedestal.

The period from 1945 to the 1950s was turbulent — Italy attempted to reintroduce hemp, but instead, ended up with a ban on hemp after signing the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in 1961.

In the 1970s, then-Prime Minister Francesco Cossiga introduced the Cossiga Law to eradicate all drugs (including cannabis), and the once-vast hemp fields were eliminated.

After more than 40 years, Italy brought a new law (2016) that allows hemp cultivation without a license as long as its THC concentration does not exceed 0.2%.

Many things changed since 2016 — cannabis is once again a hot topic, and hemp and marijuana are regulated under several messy laws. Before we take a closer look at cannabis and CBD in Italy, we want to highlight the differences between hemp and marijuana briefly.

Final Thoughts on Buying CBD in Italy

CBD lives in a legal grey area in Italy.

Make sure when purchasing CBD products, it doesn’t contain more than 0.2% THC. To make sure you’re buying a quality product that adheres to the legal THC limit, always refer to the product’s Certificate of Analysis conducted by a non-bias, third-party lab.

By far, the best place to shop for CBD in Italy is online. Not only do you have access to more products at your convenience, but you’ll find the most competitive prices.

While you may not have access to CBD-infused foods and beverages due to the Novel Food Regulation, you have access to the classic forms of CBD supplementation, such as capsules, oils, and vape products. As the CBD market matures in Europe, we hope to see Italy adopt more lenient laws on CBD. We’ll keep our fingers on the pulse and update you on changes in Italian laws regarding CBD.