Pubdate: Wed, 15 Nov 2006
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2006 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300

40 JOINTS LEGAL FOR PERSONAL USE

ROME - Italy's Government yesterday doubled the amount of cannabis 
people can possess without risking prosecution and announced a major 
overhaul of the laws on narcotics use.

Causing an outcry from the centre-right opposition, but joy from 
campaigners for drugs liberalisation, Health Minister Livia Turco 
said the maximum amount of marijuana to be considered for "personal 
use" would be doubled to 1g in terms of its active ingredient.

That would allow for possession of up to around 40 joints, the Health 
Ministry said.

"I intervened so thousands of young people don't have to go to jail 
or suffer a criminal proceeding for smoking a joint," said Turco, a 
member of the largest Government party, the Democrats of the Left.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine