On the topic of human rights, I think it is also important to focus on personal rights within the country. One way to focus on this is by looking at the country’s drug policies. Italy decriminalized Cannabis in 1993 however in 2006 a law was passed that would heavily penalize cultivators and consumers with time in prison. Sentences would be tripled if caught. It disregarded previous decriminalization efforts. Last year alone groups were able to get 500,000 signatures on a referendum proposal to pressure the government to change its policies. The group in charge of the referendum argued that the substance being decriminalized makes it safer for people to use. There was no regulation over cannabis making it dangerous for the general public to use. In addition, the country could see 7.2 billion euros in profits in tax revenue and sales.
Italians can still be fined for the usage of Cannabis, the referendum benefits the sellers and cultivators. With other countries in the E.U., Italy’s more liberal policies towards cannabis can foreshadow the event that Italy will become the hotspot for marijuana. A decrease in people being in jail for small amounts of marijuana and more money generated as a country.