|
 Luxembourg announced similar plans in October but its parliament has
yet to give its green light to the measure.
The law will allow adults in Malta to possess up to seven grams
(0.25 oz) of cannabis and grow up to four plants.
The bill was promoted by Equality Minister Owen Bonnici, who says
Malta has adopted a "harm-reduction approach" with the establishment
of an authority to regulate the sale of cannabis for personal use by
adults from non-profit associations.
Smoking cannabis in public will remain against the law and anyone
caught consuming cannabis in front of a child will be liable for
fines of between 300 and 500 euros ($340-$564).
The legislation was rushed through parliament in the face of fierce
criticism from the centre-right opposition, medical associations and
the church who complained that their suggestions for a watered-down
law were ignored.
Bonnici has rejected suggestions that the law will increase drug
abuse on the Mediterranean island.
[to top of second column] |
 "The government is in no way
urging adults to resort to cannabis use or
promoting a cannabis culture. The government
always urges people to make healthier choices,"
the minister wrote in an op-ed in the Sunday
Times of Malta newspaper. Malta
is also seeking to position itself as a European leader in the
production of medical cannabis having approved legislation in 2018
to permit the production of such cannabis for medicinal and research
purposes.
The Netherlands also has a liberal attitude towards cannabis,
allowing the sale of small quantities in a policy aimed at managing
crime and health risks, though officially it is illegal.
($1 = 0.8862 euros)
(Reporting by Christopher Scicluna; Editing by Crispian Balmer,
Robert Birsel)
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