The Italian city of Milan is one step closer to launching a marijuana dispensary scene, with the Milan City Council approving an amendment to its marijuana ordinance on January 9.

Home to Milan Cathedral, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and La Scala, the former house of Da Vinci is gradually adapting to the emerging cannabis scene that's blossoming across the European landscape.Based on details of the amended ordinance, a maximum of two retail locations can be opened across the majestic metropolis. Council members voted unanimously to pass the revised ordinance, which seeks to carve a path for medical, recreational, and agricultural provisioners to kickstart their cannabis businesses in Milan.According to Mayor Ed Kolar, the ordinance imposes a limit of two stores to ensure that the urban area is not saturated with marijuana retailers.

During a discussion with reporters, Kolar highlighted the financial benefits of marijuana retailers for the city's budget. He believes cannabis can quickly generate annual revenue of $50,000-$100,000 per year, but that $200,000 is entirely possible.In addition to the income harvested from local marijuana businesses, Milan will also rake in profit-sharing from the state. Grow facilities formed outside the downtown  area, such as those established in industrial zones, could significantly bolster city revenue and deliver a "financial boon to the city.""We'll be sharing from other towns that are in the system. Residents will love the income to fix the roads," Kolar said. "Some people don't like it and think it's a bad image. But it will look good, and hopefully, it won't bring in crime spikes."

The Majority of Milan Residents Voted in Favor of Legal Marijuana Sales

After observing the results of the statewide election in 2018—which saw 65% of Milan residents vote in favor of legal marijuana sales—members of the Milan City Council decided to pass the ordinance. The results of that election prompted lawmakers to include marijuana on the ballot.The industry in Milan has come a long way. If we peer into the past, we can learn that cannabis was first found in central Italy during the Late Glacial periods. Sediment cores extracted from the Albano and Nemi lakes indicated the presence of cannabis and Humulus in central Italy.In Roman times, cannabis was cultivated in Italy to produce hemp ropes. Although pollen records from core samples show that Cannabaceae plants were found in the Italian peninsula dating back to the Late Pleistocene, the earliest evidence of cannabis use in Italy rewinds as far back as the Bronze Age.

Milan's Marijuana Shops Not Expected to Trigger Crime Spike

First-pass evidence has shown that the statewide legalization of the cannabis market across U.S. states influences a crime drop. Moreover, researchers have noticed a massive reduction in theft, and violent crime in legal cannabis states that share a border with MexicoKolar does not see marijuana shops posing a significant crime issue in Milan. He is confident that Milan's marijuana ordinance will positively impact the city. He noted that he and his team took their time and "let other towns figure this out" before getting involved in the cannabis retail scene."We were always worried about that. Our police chief has found no increase in crime based on marijuana," he said, adding that "statistics don't say it will bring a rash of crime to a small town.

No more than a liquor store. And Milan liquor stores are pretty darned safe."Although Milan is welcoming a new cannabis scene, consumers should be cautious about lighting up in the middle of the street. Since cannabis is illegal in Italy, law enforcement officers can still take legal action against anyone caught using the plant publicly. You are unlikely to be severely penalized if caught with small amounts for personal consumption. Personal use is deemed a misdemeanor, and having marijuana on your person will likely result in a fine.On the other hand, "light cannabis" - when the THC content is below 0.5%, and the main effects are produced by the CNB - has been legal in Italy since the start of 2018.