Million Marijuana March returns to Rome
On May 31, the Italian capital became the centre of nationwide opposition to the repressive policies of the government of Giorgio Meloni. On that day, a mass demonstration took place in Rome, organized by the No DL Sicurezza network, supported by a broad coalition of social organizations, trade unions, civic movements and activists
One of the most striking elements of the demonstration was the return of the Million Marijuana March, an international movement demanding the legalization of cannabis and an end to the repression of cannabis users.
Buses from all over Italy arrived in the capital – from Sicily, Tuscany, Lombardy and the north-eastern regions – underlining the nationwide nature of the mobilization. The streets of Rome were filled with thousands of people representing a variety of backgrounds: from organizations such as Amnesty International, Antigone, A Buon Diritto and Extinction Rebellion, to trade unions (CGIL, FIOM, USB, Cobas) and social movements (including the Tenants'Collectives, student organizations and social centres from the north of the country). Initiatives related to the cannabis sector, such as Canapa Sativa Italia, were also present.
Protest against government decrees
The event had a strongly political and anti-authoritarian character - participants loudly expressed their opposition to a series of regulations introduced by the Meloni government, considered a threat to civil rights. Among the criticized legal acts were: the so-called anti-rave decree, the Caivano Decree that aims to tighten sanctions against people using psychoactive substances, and the Security Decree itself, consisting of 39 articles that – according to protesters – significantly restrict democratic freedoms in Italy.
Against this background, the return of the Million Marijuana March took on particular significance – an initiative that, after a break caused by the pandemic and a period of internal reflection, returned to the streets with the slogan: “We are back to stay”. The organizers of the march emphasized that the decision to resume activities was a response to the increasingly repressive actions of the Italian government against marijuana-related groups and attempts to marginalize the growing cannabis sector.
Banners, slogans and solidarity with Palestine
The Million Marijuana March joined the protest with specific demands: opposition to prohibition, demand for decriminalization and the right to cultivate cannabis – considered a common good of humanity. In addition, the marchers expressed solidarity with the Palestinians, carrying banners and slogans supporting freedom and human rights also outside Italy's borders.
May 31 in Rome showed that there is still a strong and determined opposition to authoritarian tendencies in Italy and that the fight for social justice, civil rights and cannabis freedom continues. The fate of the marijuana market in Italy – like many civil liberties – remains uncertain. However, one thing is certain: in the face of threats, one cannot remain indifferent. The fight for democracy and legal marijuana has only just begun.
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