Malta has legalized consumption and self-production of marijuana. It is the first country in Europe to break the prohibition wall.
"We want to change things - he underlined Owen Bonnici, Minister for Equality of the country - We want to stop humiliating educated people with small amounts and stop the black market. We are not encouraging consumption, but rather trying to reduce the harm."
After years of suffering, finally a glimmer of light illuminates the darkness where, alas, the Europe we live in seemed to have sunk. A law that gives hope for a greener future.
Malta's law on legalization
Presented by the Labor Government led by Robert Abela with the aim of stopping organized crime, the law was approved with 36 votes in favor and 27 against. But what does it involve in detail?
An adult will be able to:
- Own up to 7 grams of cannabis
- Grow until 4 seedlings at home, by family unit
- Store, at any time, until 50 grams of home-dried cannabis
All without the risk of arrest or confiscation by the police. Not bad but there are gods limits to be respected.
The prohibitions to be respected
For i minors the situation does not change. If they are caught with cannabis, they will have to appear before a commissioner of justice for the preparation of a treatment plan.
Furthermore, it remains the ban on smoking in public. Anyone who evades will be fined 235 euros, which rises to 300 in the case of minors.
And for those who don't have the opportunity to cultivate but want to enjoy the effects of weed? The Maltese government has introduced some innovations to satisfy everyone.
Associations ready to dispense cannabis
Consumers, who do not want or cannot grow cannabis, will be able to become members of an association authorized to sell inflorescences.
Members will be able to cultivate and dispense up to 7 grams per day and 50 per month for each member who will also be able to purchase up to 20 seeds per month. But here too there is a thin margin not to be exceeded:
- Every person can be part of a single association
- There is a limit of 500 members for each association
- Each association will be able to store up to 500 grams of cannabis
- The clubs must be a minimum of 250 meters from schools and the places frequented by young people
Finally, all associations will have to register with the new one Responsible use of Cannabis Authority and submit a report every three months.
What about previous cannabis-related crimes?
"The harsh approach against cannabis users was disproportionate and was causing a lot of suffering to people who lead exemplary lives - underlines Bonnici - but their personal use of marijuana is throwing them into jaws of crime."
But with the new law, previous crimes for possession of weed will be possible deleted from own criminal record writing a letter to that effect.
We can announce that the sky over Malta is colored green, giving smiles and light-heartedness to the inhabitants of the island. We hope that Italy will also soon be able to migrate towards this direction and that, the referendum on cannabis don't fall into oblivion.
