Marijuana Monopoly
Inside the Italian Army's marijuana factory
In Italy, the army manufacture marijuana to service the country's growing demand for medicinal cannabis. Yet they are struggling to keep up with this demand, opening the door to the black market.
Colonel Antonio Medica oversees an Italian army team with an unusual job: growing enough medical marijuana for all of Italy’s needs. “The army was already responsible for producing “orphan drugs” that treat rare diseases. Then the Defense Minister asked us to launch marijuana production in 2014.” Medica’s facility is the only one of its kind in Italy and his team are struggling to keep up with demand. Girogio Nenna, a pharmacist, has run out of the marijuana his patients need. “My patients have gone months without being able to fill their prescriptions.” In response, Italy has been importing marijuana from the Netherlands and Canada. Yet demand still outstrips supply. John Doe (pseudonym), who grows his own marijuana illegally, believes the shortage is forcing people to turn to the black market. "They’re not producing enough for the people who need it. That opens up the door for the mafia.”
FULL SYNOPSIS