Is CBD Legal in Italy?

Italy’s CBD laws have recently been in flux. Here’s the short answer:

• Yes, topical CBD cosmetics with low THC remain legal.
• No, oral CBD oils, flowers, and edibles are currently banned without prescription — considered narcotics under 2025 decree.
• Prescription-only CBD medicines are legal with a valid medical prescription.
• Recent court rulings (June 2025) have tentatively challenged the ban, but enforcement is still active.

Below is the latest breakdown.

Pre‑2023: Growing “Cannabis Light” Market

• Hemp products with ≤ 0.6% THC (formerly 0.2%) were widely available since 2016 CMS Law+7Hempo Solutions+7Essentia Pura+7Essentia Pura+8Sensi Seeds+8Leafreport+8CannaConnectionEssentia Pura+2Essentia Pura+2Medium+2Leafreport+1CannaConnection+1.
• CBD oils and flowers sold as novel food or cosmetics were legal under EU rules Wikipedia+3CannaConnection+3CMS Law+3.

2023–24: Reclassification and Court Suspension

• A 2023 Ministry of Health decree reclassified oral CBD as a narcotic, restricting its sale without a prescription Mondaq+2Insights+2Reddit+2.
• In October 2023, the Lazio Administrative Court overruled the decree, temporarily reinstating legal sale of ingestible CBD Wikipedia+12CMS Law+12Essentia Pura+12.

2025: Emergency Ban & Continuing Legal Battles

• April 2025: Government issued emergency decree reclassifying all oral CBD and hemp flower products as narcotics, banning them except via prescription Hempo Solutions+5Medium+5Essentia Pura+5.
• April 2025: Lazio court upheld the ban Essentia PuraEssentia Pura.
• June 2025: Parma court challenged the ban, ruling low-THC CBD products align with EU law — creating a legal conflict Reuters+15Essentia Pura+15Medium+15.
• Meanwhile, EU scrutiny is ongoing Essentia PuraMedium.

What CBD Products Are Currently Legal?

• Topical cosmetics (creams, lotions): legal if compliant with EU Cosmetic Regulation and containing no natural-extract CBD Reddit+12CMS Law+12CannaConnection+12.
• Prescription CBD medicines (e.g., Sativex, nabiximols): legal via pharmacy Essentia Pura+2Wikipedia+2Insights+2.
• Oral CBD oils, gummies, flowers: currently illegal unless prescribed, due to narcotics classification Mondaq+13Medium+13Essentia Pura+13.

Why the Legal Conflict?

• Italian federal decree classifies CBD as narcotic, banning most non-prescription products.
• EU law, and Parma court, supports low-THC hemp products’ freedom of movement and sale Essentia Pura+3Essentia Pura+3Medium+3.
• European Commission has initiated a review of Italy’s compliance Medium+2Essentia Pura+2Essentia Pura+2.

Expect legal shifts in early summer 2025.

Tips for Consumers

• Use topical CBD cosmetics: legal if synthetic or compliant.
• Access medical CBD with prescription: via pharmacies only.
• Avoid buying oral CBD oils/edibles/flowers in Italy unless prescribed—risk of legal penalties.
• Monitor legal developments around June–July 2025 for possible market reopening.

Final Verdict