Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1426475
Andrew Bonello is president of Releaf Malta Andrew Bonello 13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 NOVEMBER 2021 OPINION Wuthering heights on a nascent sea of green MANY have forgotten about Daniel Holmes, Christopher Bartolo, Marie-Claire Camilleri, the hundreds of people incar- cerated and the thousands more with a tainted police record for the possession, cultivation and sharing of cannabis. We have not. Many ignore the plies of can- nabis consumers lamenting poor quality and tampered can- nabis, or worse of being sold a synthetic or sprayed product. We have not. Many conveniently embarked on a scaremongering campaign instead of promoting education and a more respectful and in- clusive dialogue. We have not. These are just a few of the wuthering heights battering a nascent 'sea of green' for Malta and the introduction of a less criminal and punitive approach to cannabis consumption, cul- tivation and sharing. ReLeaf Malta remains com- mitted to counter the ongoing witch-hunt and coordinated attempts at dehumanising and discrediting the voice of people who consume cannabis. Build- ing our core messages on hu- man rights, justice, social equi- ty and sustainability, together with our team of collaborators we have always provided evi- dence-based information and balanced proposals advocating for a more just, less punitive and inclusive approach. Our work and determination to push forward a human rights agenda could not have been possible without close dialogue and collaboration with foreign institutions and experts in the field of drug policy. To mention just a few, the European Coali- tion for Just and Effective Drug Policy (ENCOD), DrugScience spearheaded by Prof. David Nutt, Transnational Institute, VolteFace, Drugs n Me, the In- ternational Centre for Ethno- botanical Education, Research and Service (ICEERS), and the Global Commission for Drug Policy (GCDP). Today, Malta has finally been presented with a comprehen- sive legislative framework that aims to be a first step towards a more just and healthy society. The 20 proposals set forward by the Government, together with the consultation process which took place in the first quarter of 2021 are a clear indication of the State's commitment to push forward increased human rights for all. The 20 proposals set for- ward by the government, to- gether with the consultation process, are a clear indication of the State's commitment to push forward increased human rights for all. Although the proposed law presents a partially decriminal- ised system and has margin for improvement, it is a bold state- ment in favour of a more re- sponsible approach, both from the user side and from the leg- islator side, on how cannabis consumption, cultivation and sharing should be addressed. In full respect of basic human rights, including the right to health, privacy and freedom of assembly, the proposed Bill takes a broad understanding of issues related to cannabis and includes changes that are con- scious of the important nexus between law enforcement ap- proaches and society's percep- tions about cannabis and can- nabis consumers. Published in 2019, ReLeaf Malta's proposal for a regulat- ed and legalised cannabis mar- ket by 2020 acted as a catalyst to further spur discussions on the health and social benefits of a regulated non-commer- cialised market. It is therefore very encouraging that the Gov- ernment has finally recognised the advantages of giving can- nabis consumers the necessary legal safeguards and tools to consume cannabis in a respon- sible way. Whilst recognising that the amounts proposed are still somewhat low, especially for people who intend to trans- form their produce into oil or edibles, the set of proposals are an initial laudable step that will also place Malta at the helm of drug policy reform in Europe and throughout the world. The focus on harm reduction and privacy for cannabis con- sumers is imperative to ensure the wrong doings and abuses of the past no longer hinder the well-being and livelihoods of nonviolent law-abiding citi- zens. Complemented with the possibility to grow cannabis and form an association to col- lectively pool in resources and knowledge (without the need to resort to the criminal market), are important public health de- velopments. Presently an adult that wishes to consume can- nabis is unable to choose the THC:CBD ratio and is also un- able to ensure their product is free from mould or other adul- terants. This type of informa- tion, together with other harm reduction tips amongst which on tolerance breaks, increased risks of dependence when mix- ing cannabis with tobacco, risks when consuming alcohol and cannabis etc, are imperative to ensure cannabis consumers take informed, reasoned, and responsible decisions. As Malta finds itself at a very important juncture, choosing to go green in a non-commer- cial manner is of pivotal impor- tance for the whole of society, and not only people who con- sume cannabis. ReLeaf Malta augurs' discus- sions in the House of Repre- sentatives are of a mature and informed nature, without fur- ther dehumanising the capa- bilities and qualities of people who consume cannabis. The voice of people who con- sume cannabis should contin- ue to be at the helm of every decision taken and ensure de- ceiving and divisive wuthering tactics make way for a more inclusive, lush, and nascent sea of green.