“If I had drunk a glass of wine no one would have been scandalized.” Daniele Nahum, born in 1983, city councilor of the Democratic Party in Milan has no doubts: in Italy there are still those who are scandalized by a joint smoked outdoors, in front of everyone. As he did this morning when, together with the Radicals and + Europa, he presented himself in front of Palazzo Marino and a joint.
Milan, Pd councilor Nahum smokes marijuana in front of the Municipality: “Let’s legalize it”
Why this protest?
«The aim is to support the law that will go to the vote in Parliament that would decriminalize the cultivation of cannabis for personal use. At the moment the text is under discussion in the Justice Committee of the Chamber and in June it should go to the vote ».
What would be the benefits for citizens and the state with legalization?
«First of all, a premise: in Italy it is estimated that there are 6 million consumers. But the number will certainly be higher. We must give them the opportunity to grow the seedlings at home, thus taking them away from the small shop and above all from the mafias. In addition, many people need this substance to alleviate the pains related to diseases: but nowadays it is very difficult to access medical cannabis. For example, in Lombardy there are many companies that already cultivate legal cannabis, why not give them the possibility, by increasing the levels of thc tolerated by the law, to be able to cultivate also that useful for therapeutic purposes? “.
And for the state?
«An income of 7 billion euros a year – which is the amount collected by the mafias for the sale of marijuana – to be reinvested in health, education, services. In addition, 16,000 people are currently detained in Italian prisons, many of whom are minors, who are accused of the crime of selling weed and smoking. But that’s not all. “
Meaning what?
«For the State it has a very high cost – around 800 million a year – the judicial impact: allowing legalization we would streamline the trials and have more empty prisons. This would also mean avoiding continually receiving fines from the EU for the condition of the prisons which are always overcrowded ».
Why did his gesture create so much sensation?
“Because there is still a lot of prejudice. But perhaps we should start reflecting on the data: every day in Italy 48 people die from alcohol abuse, none from smoking a joint. With this gesture I hope to give a wake up call to my party, the Democratic Party, too ».
His protest comes two days after the Supreme Court ruling on Stefano Cucchi, who has been pointed out for years as “the drug addict”, even by many politicians. What value does this gesture he made have for you today?
“Stefano Cucchi is not only a victim of the violence of the Carabinieri: he is also a victim of prohibition”.
What can Milan do to ensure that the cultivation of cannabis for personal use is legalized?
“We, as the Milanese Democratic Party, are also working with other political forces to ensure that the law is approved. In this regard, I also had the opportunity to discuss with Elio Vito, a Forza Italia parliamentarian, who gave me the availability to participate in the States General of Cannabis that we would like to organize between June and July, simultaneously with when the text of the law will go to vote in Parliament. The States General will see the involvement of the scientific, medical and health community. Then we would like the producers of legal cannabis to participate as well, which are more and more: it is an important business for Italy which, moreover, could become increasingly important if we approve this law “.
Mayor Giuseppe Sala a few weeks ago said he was in favor of legalization. Are you counting on him?
“Absolutely yes. Indeed, we hope that he will be able to open the works of the General States of Cannabis. Sala was very courageous to make those statements ».