Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1363999
15 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 21 APRIL 2021 ANALYSIS the evidence and come up with solu- tions. A cautious white paper Grech is probably in synch with public opinion when saying that his party can- not discount the harmful effects of can- nabis. But so is the White Paper itself as proposed by the government, which goes as far as banning the consumption of the drug outdoors even where cigarette smoking is allowed. The government is only proposing to decriminalise the possession of 7 grams of cannabis. Canada, which legalised cannabis in 2018, allows the possession of up to 30g of cannabis. Luxembourg al- so intends to legalise the same amount. But as proposed in the White Paper, Maltese consumers would still be fined if found in possession of between 7 and 28 grams, while those in possession of greater amounts would still be prosecut- ed. But it is still unclear whether the PN wants to keep or lower the thresholds in the White Paper. It is on this aspect that the PN's commitment for decriminalisa- tion will be tested. For any suggestion of lowering these thresholds will come at the risk of criminalising more harmless people. But even if the PN is fully committed for decriminalisation, it can't escape the reality that once cannabis is decriminal- ised, one also has to look at how users get their supply. For if personal consumption is sim- ply decriminalised but the supply re- mains illegal, users will still have to rely on the black market for their personal provision. The fundamental question is whether we want users to continue buy- ing from the black market or whether we want to offer legal and thus more regu- lated alternatives. Therefore by supporting decriminalisa- tion while remaining hesitant on offer- ing a legalised supply of the product, the PN is also shunning attempts to regulate the market and take it away from organ- ised crime. In this sense decriminalisation will simply leave things as they are now, with the only difference being that consumers of less than 7 grams, will no longer suffer any legal sanctions. This will simply re- sult in a bizarre situation in which users will still be relying on the black market for the provision of product whose con- sumption is no longer illegal while sup- pliers will still be hounded for catering for a legitimate demand. Operation 'greenfingers' The White Paper as proposed still does not completely address this problem. While home-growing of up to four plants will be legalised, it remains unclear how those who are unable to grow their own plants will get their own personal supply. Surely by focusing on home-growing any proposed Bill would seek to avoid the takeover of the cannabis market by big business or shady criminal elements. If anything this suggests a cautious and prudent approach on the government's part. But one cannot ignore the fact that a large number of present consumers will not be growing their own supply and will still buy from the black market if an al- ternative legal supply is made available. The government has hinted that it is open to suggestions on how to address this lacuna. This could be a way for the government to put the onus on further liberalisation on civil society itself rather than being seen as the one pushing for a more comprehensive legalisation model. One possible solution which still falls short of a fully-fledged cannabis mar- ket was that advocated by Labour MEP Cyrus Engerer, which would allow no-profit organisations to grow canna- bis for those who can't do this at home. This may well be the Rubicon which the PN will never dare cross, irrespective of any evidence which may be presented supporting such a stance. Grech may be far more effective if he spells out a clear position on the princi- ples guiding him on this issue, leaving the details to after the consultation pro- cess. Voters tend to reward clarity over muddled messages like the one deliv- ered by Grech on Sunday. young and Labour's bait