TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY ANGUS MACKINNON - A member of the Italian Military's Cannabis Project Team works in the growing room of Marijuana and inspects pristine plant buds destined to be cut and dried into a version of the drug for medical use, on January 27, 2017 at the Chemical and Pharmaceutical institute (ICFM) in Florence.
An estimated 2,000-3,000 Italians currently use medical cannabis for purposes such as relief from multiple sclerosis pain or combatting nausea after chemotherapy. Italy's guidelines also highlight its possible use for glaucoma and in helping to restore the appetite of anorexia and HIV patients. / AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTEFILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
