Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Italy law
Cannabis laws in Catania follow Italy’s national law. Legal status and penalties are set at the country/state level, not by the city.
Recreational cannabis is illegal. Medical cannabis is available by prescription. Possession of small amounts is decriminalized with administrative penalties, and personal home cultivation is permitted under judicial rulings. Enforcement generally targets trafficking over personal use.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Available by prescription
- Possession: Small amounts decriminalized
- Buying/Selling: Illegal except medical
- Tourists: Subject to same rules
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Law Enforcement
In Catania it felt like police had a lot of discretion. I saw how much the encounter could depend on who they were talking to, and I wouldn’t expect someone they treated as an outsider to get the same reception. More than a couple of joints could mean a trip to the station.
Where to Buy Marijuana
At night people smoked around Piazza Teatro Massimo. Fondo Bianco and the steps by Nievski were two of the spots I knew from nights out, when the square filled with visitors.
San Cristoforo, off Via Plebiscito near Castello Ursino, was another scene altogether. It reminded me of the street markets in Naples. There were kids with shaved heads on corners, standing around right through noon, and larger quantities changed hands there.
Marijuana Prices
The price depended on the season and how much you were looking for:
- A stecca: roughly €5–20, described as two to five grams.
- 25 grams: €70; 50 grams: €120; 100 grams: €200.
- A kilogram: around €500 during August–October, or €500–1,000 during the rest of the year.
- Good hash: approximately €10 per gram.
I heard €8–10 for ten grams of skunk or indoor weed. Hash was usually poor. The good stuff could cost €10 a gram.
Types of Marijuana
Sicilian sativa was the standout. It was grown in greenhouses around Pachino, Ragusa, the Syracuse highlands, the province of Catania and Francofonte. A lot of it came out of small towns supplying the rest of the island.
More Information
I saw local sativa for €0.50–1 a gram in Sicily and Calabria, hash below €1 a gram in Puglia and Swiss weed for €3–4 a gram in Campania, sometimes €2.50. Elsewhere in Italy there was often good hash for €2–10 a gram.
The cheap bulk prices in those southern regions made me wonder how much of the trade was tied to organised crime.