143 Fines Issued For Public Cannabis Consumption In Malta Since 2024

A total of 143 citations or enforcement actions have been recorded in Malta for illegal public cannabis consumption since 2024, according to new figures revealed in Parliament.

The statistics were provided by Home Affairs and Security Minister Glenn Bedingfield in response to a parliamentary question by MP Mariah Meli, who requested a breakdown of enforcement action taken over the past three years.

According to the minister's reply, the figures show a significant increase between 2024 and 2025:

2024: 12 enforcement actions

2025: 66 enforcement actions

2026: 65 enforcement actions (up to 4th November)

This means enforcement actions increased more than fivefold between 2024 and 2025, while the 2026 figure has already nearly matched last year's total.

€235 On-The-Spot Fines Coming Soon

The figures follow a recent announcement by Minister Bedingfield that people caught smoking cannabis in public will face stricter enforcement.

Under the proposed changes, the existing €235 penalty for smoking cannabis in public will be added to Malta's On-the-Spot Fines system, allowing authorities to collect fines immediately from tourists and other individuals who are not ordinarily resident in Malta.

The minister announced the measure on 4th November, explaining that the necessary legal changes were being prepared.

Although Malta introduced reforms allowing limited personal cannabis possession in 2021, smoking cannabis in public remains illegal.

Bedingfield has also called for increased enforcement against individuals who disregard the law and affect those around them.

While the parliamentary figures point towards increased enforcement activity, they do not necessarily indicate an equivalent rise in the actual number of people consuming cannabis publicly.

#MaltaDaily