The House of Representatives started its discussion in the stage of the Second Reading of the Bill to create an authority on responsible cannabis use. 

Owen Bonnici, the Minister for Equality, Research and Innovation, said that the Government is not afraid to change and has already carried out reforms like this it is time for Malta to stop hurting people by treating them like criminals. 

To date, whoever wanted cannabis for personal use had to buy from drug traffickers who do not care whom they sell to. 

The Minister said that the law, which was introduced in 2015, meant that whoever consumes a small amount of cannabis would appear in front of a tribunal and does not go to jail. The next step, said Bonnici, is to remove the fine on those who use cannabis for personal use controllably. 

Explaining the 20 points included in the reform, Bonnici highlighted that whilst the management of a workplace has the right to impose its own rules, there should not be any persecution. 

Opposition MP Claudette Buttigieg criticised the bill because it does not indicate which four plants can be grown at home. 

She also warned against an environment of ‘anything goes’ wherein children would consider such consumption normal. The Bill does not also stipulate how far away from a school a house that grows cannabis can be situated. 

#MaltaDaily