Florence, Italy
Last updated on August 26th, 2025 at 07:30 am
Cannabis Travel Guide
Tolerance for smokers
Table of Contents
Marijuana laws and legislation for Florence
Since February 2025, Italy has had a complex legal framework governing cannabis use. Recreational cannabis remains illegal; however, possession of small amounts for personal use has been decriminalized since the 1990s and generally results in administrative penalties such as fines or the suspension of personal documents. The unauthorized sale or cultivation of cannabis is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.
In 2016, Italy legalized the cultivation of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) with a THC content below 0,2%, leading to the emergence of the "cannabis light" industry, which offers products with low THC levels. However, at the end of 2024, the government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed a law banning products made from hemp flowers, citing public safety concerns. This move threatens the burgeoning "cannabis light" sector, which had achieved annual sales of around €500 million.
Italian regulations regarding cannabidiol (CBD) products have evolved. Since September 2023, the Ministry of Health has classified orally administered CBD products as narcotics and requires them to be dispensed only with a doctor's prescription from pharmacies. This reclassification has significant implications for the CBD market, affecting the availability and distribution of CBD oils and related products.
In the medical field, Italy legalized cannabis for therapeutic purposes in 2007. Patients with certain conditions, such as chronic pain or multiple sclerosis, can access medical cannabis through the national health system, provided they present a valid prescription. The military pharmaceutical factory in Florence is authorized to cultivate cannabis for medical purposes to ensure a controlled supply for patients.
Criminal prosecution
While the police don't prohibit smoking, it's advisable to avoid designated smoking and shopping areas. It's best to avoid the areas around Piazza della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, and Piazza del Duomo. These parts of the city center are constantly crowded with tourists and therefore heavily guarded.
Smoking is permitted outdoors, but not in the city center, for example near the cathedral or the Piazza della Signoria. The police are calm, but still cautious; after all, they are police officers.
Where can you buy marijuana in Florence?
Santa Maria Novella is the best neighborhood for shopping, smoking, and basically anything you want. Prices are low (6.7 euros for 1 gram of good African hashish). Be careful, it's not a particularly safe place.
Marijuana is hard to come by if you don't know anyone. Florence has a large student population from all over the world, so it's best to ask an American student who's been living in the city for several weeks and knows their way around. Florence is small, so you can get almost everywhere on foot. The best place to go is one of the nightclubs near Santa Croce. The people you meet there are usually all students in their twenties, which significantly increases your chances of getting some weed.
A few blocks north of Santa Croce, there's a head shop. It's painted with lots of different colored cannabis leaves, so you can hardly miss it. The merchandise is a bargain: I got a 30 cm long bong that looks like an ancient Roman vase for only 6 euros. If you stop by and buy something, the cashier will be happy to help you.
Under no circumstances should you buy marijuana around Santa Maria Novella train station. This is usually the first place tourists arrive in Florence, as until recently, due to renovations at Pisa airport, they had to take a train. The station is usually very crowded and full of shady characters. Don't buy marijuana from gypsies or tramps, as there's a good chance they'll simply take your money and end up with oregano. Not to mention that the station is heavily guarded by the police.
Our latest report reads: “In my city, I'm sure I know a few people who sell good hash/weed cheaply. I usually smoke Dutch weed and really strong Moroccan hash. The best place to find hash is Santo Spirito. At night, it's full of students, so you can smoke in peace. Everyone smokes weed there. San Lorenzo (North African zone) could be an option, but watch your money because it's a dangerous place for tourists and non-Italians. Santa Croce is full of scams. Santa Maria Novella is really dangerous at night. You can find hash in squats (Centro Sociale). For weed, water is a better choice. The weed can be fantastic or bad. Try the university at Piazza Brunelleschi; you'll find everything you want there!”
Don't try it in American pubs or other bad places like the Cathedral, the Andromeda, the Lions, etc."
A local reporter added: “Good idea, don’t buy everything near the train station. I also advise against buying anything in the San Lorenzo area: it’s considered dangerous even by Florentines, so be careful!”
In the evening or at night, it's advisable to visit the area around Brunelleschi and Santissima Annunziata (but you might get bad stuff) or the Santa Croce square, where North Africans will approach you and sell you mediocre hashish. Don't go alone (especially not with girls), watch out for the police, and try to haggle over the price.
"The cheaper prices are in Piagge (a district in the northwest of Florence), but go with someone from Florence because the area is really very, very dangerous."
"There are many places where you can do interesting business. In addition to those listed, I recommend: the African market in San Niccolo, the park in San
Salvi (where there is a good bar called Ulisse and a squat that offers some anarcho-punk concerts) and the San Spirito square (here you can try it right in the square or in an alley where there is a bar called "Caffè Notte").
Near Sant'Ambrogio Square there is an excellent hemp shop where you can buy fantastic seeds and become a farmer.
Latest reports: “The best place I found, with consistent service, was Lungarno. It was at a bus stop on the corner of Valle Antonio Gramusci and Lungarno Cristofo Colombo. There were usually a few Moroccans sitting there who looked a bit shady, but always did a good job. They usually sit on the wall and ask you questions. Just say you want cinquanta (fifty), anything more than that will be a rip-off.”
Marijuana prices in Florence: Nothing in this city is cheap, including marijuana. Expect to pay around €15–20 for a gram of mediocre weed.
A recent report states: "2 gx 20 €
5 g x 50 €
Very good hashish or weed 10/12 € x 1 g"
And also: “For hashish: North African hashish, on the street, €10 per gram. If you know people, the price drops by €5 or €6 per gram. Indian hashish, sublime hashish (!!!) €10 or €12 per gram. In Florence, many people smoke hashish with chilum.”
For grass €10 x 1 g."
Comments
In a crowded nightclub, this guy easily got me some natural, high-quality marijuana, which made my vacation even better. Now I contact him before every trip at securedgreen28@gmail.com. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for top-notch marijuana.
Brands:
North African hashish (called Marocchino, can be bad or really good, it's the most commonly smoked weed in Florence – cheap) Borbuka (very strong and tasty African hashish – expensive) Charas (Indian hashish, fantastic, really strong with an incredible flavor, smoke it with chilum – expensive) Polline (good hashish, spreads well, mainly attracts street dealers – relatively cheap) Weed (many people in Florence grow their own weed, it can be really good or not, weed from Switzerland or Holland is sufficiently widespread, always fantastic, but much more popular than homegrown – generally expensive, it depends on the quality)
Further information
Although cannabis culture is limited in Florence, alcohol is widely accepted as a recreational drug. Bars, pubs, and nightclubs are ubiquitous throughout the city and cater to a diverse clientele. The legal drinking age is 16, but this is never enforced. There are no laws against carrying open containers of alcohol in public (I was constantly walking down the street with a liter of Heineken).
A good piece of advice: I usually acted like a jogger, running along Cristofo Colombo, doing the exchange, and then continuing on my way. In Italy, you don't want to get caught with drugs, otherwise you'll be arrested.
Marijuana, by comparison, is significantly riskier and less readily available. However, it's not impossible to find. Unless you speak Italian well, stick to nightclubs and bars like the Andromeda and the Lochness, which are frequented by English-speaking students, to increase your chances of meeting people.
Florence is a very relaxed city for smoking weed. It's full of hippies, and at night the squares are packed with young people playing music, drinking good Chianti, and smoking strong, tasty chilum. Many people from Pisa or Siena come to Florence to buy hashish or weed because the prices are lower than in other cities. From 50 grams upwards, it's really cheap. The clubs and squats offer tons of reggae/dub parties (Florence loves reggae), a great atmosphere, good music, and excellent opportunities to find as much weed as you want.
Florence is probably the hippie capital of Italy. At night, the public squares are packed with noisy people, jugglers, and students. The police generally don't crack down on smokers, but pay much closer attention to drunks, who often become troublemakers. If you're stopped with a small piece of marijuana, the officer will usually throw it away, take note of you for next time, and let you go.
And furthermore: “Hello, I’m Italian and have been living in Florence for a few years. I’d like to say something about how often I’ve read this profile. I’ve actually noticed some inconsistencies: Whoever claims it’s easier to smoke in Florence, and whoever claims the opposite, is American. I think that’s because whoever claims it’s hard to find hash or weed here is American. Florence is indeed full of foreign students, many of them American. Given their numbers and the many pubs and clubs that cater to American customers, they form groups, only go to certain clubs (like the Lions, the Cathedral, or the Fish), and stay away from the real Florence. Florentines generally don’t associate with American students. I’ve never seen an American student in a squat or at a university party, and I very rarely meet Americans in the bars I usually go to. I think it’s really difficult for them to find good hash for a reasonable price. The street dealers are… You’re very careful about who you talk to.” Something is sold, and Americans and tourists in general are often perceived as people who get ripped off. For example, a piece of hashish that an Italian can get for 10 euros will cost an American 25. It's pointless to constantly argue about it, because the dealers, especially in neighborhoods like San Lorenzo or Santa Croce, aren't the most polite people, and fights are common. I advise you to be very quiet when buying hashish/weed, especially in San Lorenzo (but also at the Santa Maria Novella train station). This area is certainly not the best place to haggle if you don't speak Italian, especially at night. My advice: know someone, make friends, and then the problems should be over. However, the situation is quieter and there are better options in Piazza Santo Spirito, which is crowded every night.
Smoking isn't a major problem in Florence. It's more common in the streets and squares; it's normal, but it's enough to make the situation clear. Here you can find the best hashish/weed without spending too much. Squats and some clubs are ideal places to find everything you need.
During the school holidays, starting April 25th, Florence will also host "72 Ore," a three-day rave party featuring numerous sound systems (reggae, techno, drum and bass, goa, breakbeat, etc.). This event is a protest against Italy's drug prohibition. People from all over Italy come for these three days of total madness, where you're guaranteed to find and see everything. Have fun!