Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1171146
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 NEWS JAMES DEBONO LABOUR promised it would initiate discussions on the use of recreational cannabis for recreational in what was inter- preted as a commitment to le- galise the drug as suggested by the Prime Minister's own dec- larations before the election. Two years on, no concrete plans have been presented and Malta may be overtaken by Luxembourg as the first EU country with a legalised can- nabis market. Why is Labour – once so eager to push the boundaries on gender identity and same sex families – more cautious on this liberal reform? Only last week Julia Farru- gia Portelli, the parliamentary secretary entrusted with spear- heading the reform, expressed her misgivings on acknowledg- ing the drug's recreational use, while still confirming the in- tention to regulate cannabis in what she described as a "harm reduction" measure. Her statement unleashed a storm in her own party, with activists like MEP candidate Cyrus Engerer insisting on her honouring the manifesto com- mitment. Farrugia nipped the controversy in the bud by reit- erating the manifesto commit- ment. But still it appears that the parliamentary secretary is in no rush to present the reform which she wants preceded by an educational campaign. This may well be her way of winning over support among more cau- tious segments of the popula- tion for a reform she ultimately wants to enact. But why is Labour so cautious on what could be the only fore- seeable liberal reform it has left in its arsenal? 1. Malta still lacks a strong movement for legalisation to steer the debate So far the only group to ad- vocate legal changes is Releaf, a self-described community- based pressure group that is de- manding a change in national cannabis policy. The group has engaged in lobbying political parties and broke the taboo by giving a voice to a marginalised seg- ment of the population. Yet the campaign to legalise cannabis has not attracted support from more respectable establishment figures like politicians, law en- forcement officers, artists, public officials, celebrities and public intellectuals who can give legitimacy to an argument associated with a fringe minor- ity. Their support was vital in ensuring a shift in mentality in other countries which have seen drug reforms. On the other hand, established anti-drug charities like Caritas, which are highly influential have remained largely opposed to the idea. George Vella, the newly elected president has also expressed his misgivings. Peo- ple are also bound to change opinions when faced with the experience of people who func- tion well in society and who have no qualms in admitting their recreational use. But so far people have remained reluctant fearing the stigma of being as- sociated with illegal drug use of any kind. 2. Surveys still show wide- spread opposition According to the latest Malta- Today survey on the topic, sup- port for cannabis legalisation stands at 23.6%. Opposition to legalisation ran at 66.6%, and almost 10% were unsure where they stood on the issue. But surveys had also pre- viously indicated widespread opposition to adoption by same-sex couples, something which is now widely accepted. Moreover, surveys indicate that support for legalisation rises to 38% among those aged 18 and 35, and that a tenth of Maltese have smoked cannabis; 30% know someone who does. This may well indicate that le- galising cannabis may turn off some voters but may be a popu- lar measure among strategic cohorts. Moreover legalisation may well give Labour an oppor- tunity to reconnect with liberal voters. 3. Marijuana is already depenalised One reason why the govern- ment may be under less pres- sure to legalise cannabis is that consumers no longer risk pris- on sentences even if they may still be subject to arrest and warning. Moreover consumers still have to rely on the illegal mar- ket to get access for the prod- uct. While conservatives fear that the availability of legal cannabis may encourage law- abiding citizens to try a product which they shun because of its illegality, the current situation is putting otherwise law-abid- ing citizens in contact with the black market, where they may even be exposed to more dan- gerous substances. With a legal product Consum- ers would also have access to a safer product which contains less THC, and higher levels of CBD, the non-intoxicating compound called cannabidiol. In fact one of the problems of keeping cannabis illegal is that there is no control on the prod- uct bought. This has led to a dramatic increase in THC lev- els in the past decade, with cur- rent strains being as much as 40 times more powerful than the stuff consumed in the 1960s. 4. Legalisation may pose logistical problems Legalisation can be achieved through different models, ranging from tight control of the entire supply chain by the state – as is the case in Uruguay where users have to register to collect their ration from pharmacies – and a more open market as is the case with Colorado and Canada, where cannabis can be bought from pri- vate but licenced providers. Another major issue is whether to permit home growing and whether tourists and non-resi- dents will be allowed to buy from the legal market. Irrespective of the model chosen, the state will have to licence growers to secure a legal supply. Moreover legalisa- tion comes with regulations on age, packaging, amounts which one can buy and chemical com- position. In all countries where cannabis has been legalised, ad- vertising and selling to minors is banned. One contentious issue is wheth- er to allow cannabis smoking in public areas or whether to restrict use in public homes. In legalising cannabis, Malta would also have to consider the impact on other neighbouring countries where the product is still illegal. Addressing these logistical issues is one more reason for the government to pre- Five reasons Labour is so cautious on