Don’t call it marijuana ice cream: It’s cannabis creme gelato. Lucky locals from the quaint coastal village of Alassio—situated in Liguria, along the eastern coast of Italy—can now enjoy a scoop of the aptly dubbed “Marley” (as in Bob) flavor at Perlecò, a local gelato shop.

Emanuela Baudana, the owner of the shop, has long been known for launching far-out flavors like beer and lavender creme. But for the cannabis gelato, she had a little help from her friends at Canapa Ligure, a legalization advocacy group.

Italy spent last week reforming policies related to a number of minor offenses, including lessening penalties for the cultivation of cannabis for medical reasons.

Justice Minister Andrea Orlando approved the bill to decriminalize growing cannabis for medical use, but warned, “This does not decriminalize those growing weed on their terrace,” an exceptionally Italian way to phrase it. Cultivating cannabis for personal use still carries a harsh penalty — up to a year in prison and a fine of €4 million.

More than 250 lawmakers from across the political scale have shown support to a proposed decriminalization of producing, distributing, selling and consuming marijuana in Italy. If this will be pushed through, Italy will become the biggest European country to legalize marijuana. The new proposal also allows people to cultivate marijuana inside their house.

ITALY HAS EASED up slightly on cannabis growers, decriminalising those who violate agreed terms on cultivating the plants for therapeutic purposes.

“This does not decriminalise those growing weed on their terrace,” warned Justice Minister Andrea Orlando. Under the new bill, people who abuse their permission to cultivate cannabis will be slapped with a fine rather than a prison sentence.

Those caught growing their own personal crop without a license still face up to a year in jail and a €4 million fine.

The aim is to help ease Italy’s notoriously congested justice system and “make sanctions more effective”, Orlando said.

Medical marijuana growers in Italy can breathe a bit easier. On Friday, Italy eased the punishment for those who violate the terms for being a medical grower, reported the Local. Should Italian pot enthusiasts be tempted to grow pot for personal use, however, they've been warned. 

Rome (AFP) - Italy eased up slightly on cannabis growers Friday, decriminalising those who violate agreed terms on cultivating the plants for therapeutic purposes.

"This does not decriminalise those growing weed on their terrace," warned Justice Minister Andrea Orlando. Under the new bill, people who abuse their permission to cultivate cannabis will be slapped with a fine rather than a prison sentence.

Those caught growing their own personal crop without a license still face up to a year in jail and a four-million euro fine.

The aim is to help ease Italy's notoriously congested justice system and "make sanctions more effective", Orlando said.

According to estimates, Italians consume about 3 million pounds of cannabis each year. The debate "legalization, or not" has been going on for years without ever leading to concrete results. In 2015 something moved when a bill for cannabis freedom came to the House, ready to fill a legal vacuum that has lasted two years. So 2016 might truly be the year of the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes? The Minister of Justice Orlando brakes, but there are those who bet on the legalization creating the first Italian brand for the sale of cannabis and open selections for the franchise.

2016 will be a breakthrough year for marijuana lovers, according to a group of Italian agronomists and entrepreneurs. 

Over the last year or so, the level of innovation within the cannabis industry has reached staggering heights, showing that the industry is ready to take itself to the world stage.

While we can’t yet review any of these things for quality assurance, we can comment on the innovation factor!

#1) CBD Chewing Gum

CBD gum could potentially be a much more efficient delivery system than regular edibles.

Minister denies any other use than therapeutic considered

(ANSA) - Rome, January 12 - A group of Italian agronomists and entrepreneurs have begun to lay the foundations for the sale and marketing of cannabis, saying that it will soon no longer be illegal.