Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1171146
sent a road map with a clear goal because it will take months if not years to come up with a concrete model. In fact Luxembourg has done exactly that by stating its in- tention to legalise cannabis in two years time. 5. The parliamentary secre- tary herself is very cautious Julia Farrugia Portelli, known for her firm stance against the use of the use of drugs, is defi- nitely not the type to rush on a law which may well seal her legacy. Some may question whether she is even the right person to steer the reform. Yet her caution and char- acter may well make her the best person to sell the reform to more conservative elements in both her party and in soci- ety at large. Much depends on whether she has a clear road- map in mind. The question is whether she is able to bring forward a legalisation model which addresses the concerns of more conservative elements or whether these concerns will weigh on her conscience, lead- ing to further procrastination. maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 7 NEWS on legalising recreational marijuana Operational Programme I – European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 "Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges" Advert part-financed by the European Regional and Development Fund Co-financing rate: Public Eligible (80% European Union; 20% National Funds) ANNOUNCEMENT Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes Open Rolling Calls – Cut-off dates Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Fostering a competitive and sustainable economy to meet our challenges The Measures and Support Division within the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality, designated by the Managing Authority for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 as the Intermediate Body responsible for administering aid schemes for enterprises under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014 – 2020, would like to announce further cut-off dates for the submission of applications under the Business Enhance ERDF Grant Schemes initiative. The December 2019 cut-off date is being revised as follows – • Noon of Tuesday, 31 st December 2019 Calls 1, 2, 3, 4 - Business Enhance RD&I Grant Scheme Call 1 - e-Commerce Grant Scheme Call 3 - SME Growth Grant Scheme Call 3 - Start-up Investment Grant Scheme Call 1 - SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme Call 1 - SME Internationalisation Grant Scheme Call 1 - SME Consultancy Services Grant Scheme The Intermediate Body notifies that as of January 2020 the cut-off dates for Calls under the following ERDF Grant Schemes shall start to follow a monthly basis as outlined hereunder: • Noon of Friday, 31st January 2020 • Noon of Friday, 28th February 2020 • Noon of Monday, 30th March 2020 Calls 1, 2, 3, 4 - Business Enhance RD&I Grant Scheme Call 3 - SME Growth Grant Scheme Call 3 - Start-up Investment Grant Scheme Call 1 - SME Diversification and Innovation Grant Scheme Further cut-off dates for the remaining ERDF Grant Schemes shall be published at a later date. Information sessions will be organised for prospective applicants periodically and dates and venues will be notified accordingly. Any information on these calls including the respective Guidance Notes and the Guidelines for Implementation, as well as on the information sessions may be obtained from https://businessenhance.gov.mt. Luxembourg, whose coalition government has a clear mandate to legalise cannabis, intends to en- act the reform in two years time and thus become the first EU country to fully legalise cannabis. Other countries like the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain already permit the sale of the product in licenced establishments or clubs but the sup- ply remains illegal. Outside the EU only Uruguay, Canada and 11 US states have fully legalised the product. While the details have still to be worked out the parameters of the reform are already clear. Adults aged 18 and over to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis while in public. Minors aged between 12 and 17 will not be criminalised for possessing up to five grams of the drug but will not have access to the legal market. The government also intends to introduce strict regulations on the sale of cannabis. The THC content of cannabis will have an upper limit, which has yet to be fixed, and people who sell cannabis outside of the legal framework will face harsh punishments – possibly even harsher penalties than now, Additionally, only Luxembourg residents will be permitted to purchase cannabis – a decision that may have been made following concern from authorities in neighbouring France and Germany. Authorities are yet to decide if resi- dents will be permitted to cultivate cannabis for their personal use. The cultivation and sale of the drug will be highly regulated, overseen by a cannabis agency and all taxes generated from the sales will go into drug education and treatment for drug addic- tion. But it is unclear how the product will actu- ally be grown and sold. One area of contention is whether to ban the use of cannabis in public, which risks discrimi- nating against tenants and people of limited means. The officials recommended allowing use of the drug in specific public areas. How Luxembourg is tackling the issue