Fabrizio Pellegrini is a 47-year-old Italian pianist. He suffers from fibromyalgia, a medical condition characterized by chronic widespread pain and a heightened pain response to pressure.

A gap to fill

One of the possible and more natural therapies for his disease is the use of cannabis. Despite the fact that Abruzzo, the Italian region where he lives, passed a law in 2013 legalizing the therapeutic use of cannabis, it is still too expensive to access this remedy, and is not possible to have it for free.

For this reason, Pellegrini decided to cultivate some cannabis plants by himself. The problem is that the self-cultivation of that kind of "drug" is still a crime, both on a regional and national level.

This is why Pellegrini has been arrested and sent to prison, despite his fragile condition, and, of course, the therapy has been stopped.

A massive mobilization

Pellegrini’s lawyer, Vincenzo Di Nanna, didn’t leave the issue alone. Supported by fellow lawyer Giuseppe Rossodivita and senator Stefania Pezzopane, he mobilized a campaign asking for the intervention of Italian Minister of Justice Andrea Orlando.

Fortunately, the judge hearing the state's case, Maria Rosaria Parruti, considered that a deterioration of Pellegrini's condition had occurred during his detention in prison and decided to put him in house arrest.

“The judge recognized the gravity of the situation and intervened in the best way possible. But until when does the justice system have to repair this political emptiness?” Di Nanna asks.

Waiting for the law

Meanwhile, campaigns for the legalization of cannabis, both for therapeutic and recreational use, are on going. The Parliament's discussion on the legalization has been postponed until September. It’s clear that politicians need to change their mindset about cannabis use and recognize its healing capacities.

We’ll keep on pushing on the Italian government until the law becomes a reality.