Italy is set to decriminalise small-scale cultivation of cannabis plants in residents' own homes after a reform was approved.
The domestic farming of the drug will be allowed for personal use only and people will be limited to up to four plants.
In an announcement, Mario Perantoni, president of the Chamber's Justice Commission, said: "The cultivation of hemp at home is essential for patients who have to make therapeutic use of it and who often do not find it available as well as to combat the sale and the consequent criminal undergrowth."
He went on to explain that despite home-grown cannabis set to be legalised, the punishment for dealing and trafficking the drug will increase: "If it decreases the penalties for minor facts, it increases the penalties for crimes related to trafficking, drug dealing and detention from six to ten years, for the purpose of selling cannabis."
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He went on to wrap things up, saying: "Finally, a novelty for the protection of minors and young people: it will never be possible to consider the sale to minors or in the vicinity of schools as a minor fact. A tightening up to fight crime and strengthen the protection of the youngest."
According to Huffington Post, after the vote on the basic text, the deadline for tabling amendments must be set, to be discussed in committee.
In the UK, home cultivation remains illegal along with possessing, selling, or distributing the drug however, the Health Secretary has recently been urged to intervene over medicinal cannabis prescription costs.
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The medical form was legalised in November 2018 and now the government has received calls to save families 'from the pain' of paying the costs for conditions such as epilepsy.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has now been asked to intervene again because some families are having to shoulder the cost of the medicine after it has been prescribed.
Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West Christine Jardine said that following the change in 2018 'we all believed I think that parents would no longer be forced to watch their children suffer when they knew a treatment was available'.
She added: "What has happened since is heart-breaking.
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"In the intervening years they've been forced to source medication themselves, sometimes travel abroad to collect it, again at huge costs, challenge the medical authorities and face rejection of repeated appeals for NHS prescriptions."
Ms Jardine spoke about a young boy call Murray Gray, who she said suffered with a 'rare form of epilepsy which was blighting his childhood', and who was prescribed medicinal cannabis, but the cost of which was not funded on the NHS.
She said in parliament: "Medicinal cannabis has transformed his life. When his mum Karen first came to see me, he was a very, very unwell wee boy who was constantly in and out of hospital with dozens of seizures a day and his family were worried they could lose him.
"Now since being prescribed cannabis oil he is seizure free and a happy young sir who plays football with his dad."
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Ms Jardine added: "Murray is still unable to access that life-changing treatment on the NHS. His family have to find the money themselves every month. And that's not just Murray, it's not just his case, his life, it's not a one-off."
She went on to suggest that 'until a more widespread solution for prescribing can be agreed, and it must be, the Government should save these families from the pain of paying for prescriptions'.
Featured Image Credit: PA