Cannabis in Italy for Tourists: What You Need to Know

Planning a trip to Italy and wondering about cannabis laws?

Cannabis Italy tourists questions spike every summer, and the answers changed dramatically in 2025. Whether you are heading to Rome, Milan, or Florence, understanding Italy’s current cannabis regulations could save you from fines, document confiscation, or worse. This guide breaks down exactly what travelers need to know before and during their trip.

Italy occupies a confusing middle ground in European cannabis policy. Recreational use remains illegal, but personal possession of small amounts is decriminalized. Then came the April 2025 Security Decree, which banned all hemp flower products and shut down the “cannabis light” shops that once dotted Italian city centers. For a complete breakdown of the legal framework, read our complete guide to cannabis laws in Italy.

Can Cannabis Italy Tourists Legally Possess or Use Cannabis?

The short answer is no. Recreational cannabis is illegal in Italy. However, the system is more nuanced than a simple prohibition.

Personal Possession Rules

Italian law decriminalizes possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use. Quantities under approximately five grams are treated as an administrative offense rather than a criminal one. Here is what that means in practice:

• First offense: You receive a diffida, a formal warning that functions as an injunction not to use drugs again. No fine, no criminal record, but you are now in the system.
• Repeat offense: Fines ranging from EUR 200 to EUR 500, plus possible suspension of your driver’s license or passport for one to three months.
• Multiple violations: Document suspension for up to one year. For tourists, this can mean being unable to leave Italy until replacement documents are issued by your embassy.

The critical detail for cannabis Italy tourists is that “decriminalized” does not mean “tolerated.” Police officers have full discretion to stop, search, and cite you, and the administrative process can disrupt your vacation significantly.

Where You Might Encounter Cannabis

Italy has no legal retail cannabis for recreational consumers. Unlike Amsterdam’s coffee shops or the emerging social clubs in Spain and Portugal, there is no lawful way for tourists to purchase cannabis in Italy. Common scenarios include:

• Street sellers in tourist districts, which is illegal and risky. Quality and safety are unknown, and purchasing exposes you to both legal trouble and potential scams.
• Private settings where cannabis may be shared socially. While personal use is decriminalized, social supply blurs the line into distribution, which carries criminal penalties of two to six years imprisonment.
• Former “cannabis light” shops, which until April 2025 sold low-THC hemp flower legally. Most have either closed or pivoted to selling only CBD cosmetics and seed-based extracts.

City Guide: Cannabis Culture Across Italy for Tourists

Enforcement intensity varies across Italian cities, and cannabis Italy tourists should understand these regional differences before traveling.

Rome

Rome’s police maintain a strong presence in tourist-heavy neighborhoods including Trastevere, Testaccio, and areas surrounding the Vatican. Enforcement is more visible near historic sites and landmarks. A handful of CBD shops remain open, selling oils and cosmetics derived from hemp seeds and stalks (not flower). Do not expect any tolerance for open cannabis use in public spaces.

Milan

Milan’s Navigli district has historically carried a reputation for more relaxed enforcement, and some harm-reduction initiatives operate in the city. CBD shops that successfully pivoted to non-flower products continue to operate. However, police activity near Duomo and Centrale station remains significant, and tourists should not mistake a neighborhood’s reputation for a guarantee of safety.

Florence and Bologna

These university cities foster more liberal attitudes toward cannabis. Bologna in particular holds special significance as the host of the IndicaSativa Trade, Italy’s oldest and largest hemp fair. The 12th edition runs March 27 to 29, 2026, at the DumBO venue, drawing over 200 exhibitors. The event is 70% B2B focused, making it relevant for industry professionals rather than casual consumers.

Naples and Southern Italy

Southern Italy generally sees stricter enforcement, and tourists face higher risk due to less familiarity with local dynamics. The intersection of organized crime and the illegal cannabis trade adds a layer of danger that does not exist in the same way in northern cities. Exercise extra caution.

What CBD Products Can Tourists Buy in Italy?

The April 2025 Security Decree redrew the lines on CBD products entirely. Here is what remains legal for purchase:

• CBD cosmetics (creams, balms, topical products): Legal
• CBD oils from seed or stalk extracts: Legal
• CBD flower: Banned since April 2025
• CBD oils derived from flower: Banned
• CBD edibles from flower extracts: Banned

If you are bringing CBD products from home, verify that they contain zero THC and are derived from non-flower plant parts. Italian customs can confiscate flower-derived CBD products under the new decree. For a full breakdown, see our guide to what CBD products are legal in Italy.

Traveling With Cannabis To and From Italy

Entering Italy

Italian customs screens for cannabis at airports and land borders. Since the 2025 decree, enforcement has intensified. Even CBD flower products that are legal in your home country may be confiscated and treated as narcotics upon entry.

If you hold a valid medical cannabis prescription, you must obtain a Schengen Certificate (under Article 75 of the Schengen Convention) from your home country’s health authority before traveling. The certificate covers a maximum 30-day supply and must be accompanied by your original prescription. Read more about medical cannabis access rules in Italy.

Leaving Italy

Do not attempt to carry any cannabis out of Italy. Quantities that qualify for administrative penalties within Italy become potential trafficking charges at an international border. The penalties for international transport are criminal, not administrative, and can include imprisonment.

What to Do If You Get in Trouble

If Italian police stop you regarding cannabis:

1. Stay calm and cooperate. Resistance or evasion escalates the situation from administrative to criminal.
2. You have the right to legal representation. Request a lawyer before making any statements.
3. Contact your embassy or consulate. They cannot get you released, but they can provide a list of local English-speaking attorneys and notify your family.
4. Document everything. Note the officers’ badge numbers, the time, and the location.
5. Understand the process. An administrative citation for personal possession does not result in arrest, but it does create an official record. If your passport is temporarily confiscated, your embassy can issue emergency travel documents.

Travel insurance that covers legal expenses abroad is strongly recommended for any tourist concerned about potential interactions with law enforcement.

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