San Marino has revised its classification of narcotic and psychotropic substances. With delegated decree no. 136 of 10 September, the government updated the list of controlled substances, bringing the Sammarinese system into line with international standards.
The main change concerns the structure of the legislation itself: substances are now divided into five schedules, following the model adopted in Italy. The new document, running to 69 pages, allows for more precise identification of active ingredients, substances and preparations subject to regulation, and makes it easier to introduce future updates.
The measure is the result of work begun in recent months by a group made up of representatives from the Health Authority (Authority Sanitaria), the Social Security Institute (ISS), the Single Office for Authorisations and Administrative Assistance (UGRAA), the Gendarmerie and the Department of Justice.
The first schedule, which is particularly extensive and also covers opiates and related substances, is especially notable, containing around 660 entries. Among the new additions are nitazenes, synthetic opioids that in some cases can be even more potent than fentanyl and which have already been linked to more than 200 deaths worldwide.
The rules on cannabis, however, remain unchanged: in San Marino, its use continues to be permitted solely for therapeutic purposes and only with a medical prescription.
