Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515242
11 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 JANUARY 2024 MALTA has its first cannabis association that is fully operational, just over two years since recrea- tional cannabis was legalised. The association obtained clearance from the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) to grow and distribute cannabis to reg- istered adult members. The development marks an important mile- stone in Malta's road to regulate recreational cannabis that started with an electoral pledge made by the Labour Party in 2017. It is important to note that the association had to successfully pass all mandatory laboratory testing of its products by ARUC before it start selling. This is crucial because it ensures the product is free from unwanted contaminants, giving cannabis users peace of mind that the product they are consuming is of good quality. It was always crucial for the success of a reg- ulated model to have a seed-to-distribution ap- proach. In this way, the product being sold has traceable origins, making it easier to monitor its quality and the robustness of the growing pro- cesses. This approach eliminates one of the potential risks associated with illegality, whereby canna- bis users are at the mercy of those supplying them with the drug. Having regulated associations also allows us- ers to cut off links with the criminal underworld and buy their product from a trusted source. So far, the prices being offered by the organi- sation that has started selling cannabis to regis- tered members, compare favourably with what is available on the black market, making it not only a safe and legal alternative but also a finan- cially viable one. This is not a flippant reason since price sensitivity does play a role in the wider picture. As more associations come on stream and the legal market starts to set, ARUC would do good to carry out an ongoing evaluation of the situa- tion to identify any challenges that may crop up. This will enable the authority to change regula- tions or propose amendments to the law. One such challenge this leader believes could crop up is the distribution channel of regulated cannabis. As things stand today, registered can- nabis users have to physically go to the prem- ises of the association they form part of to buy their supply. This may not be the most efficient way to distribute the product and thus legisla- tive changes are required to allow associations to deliver the product to where their users are. A second consideration is the need for fuller disclosure of who the associations are and what products they are selling to enable prospective members make an informed choice when decid- ing which association to join. As things stand, associations cannot advertise themselves and ARUC's website only contains a list of registered organisations, their respec- tive contact person, their phone number and an email address. This leader believes the ARUC website should provide more information on the products be- ing sold by the individual associations or else al- low the associations to have publicly-accessible websites. The underlying aim of the cannabis reform was to foster a safe and clean environment for users thus removing the stigma of criminality. The authority must ensure that these aims are continuously met. The authority's executive chair Leonid McK- ay is a social researcher at heart. Wherever he has served, most notably Caritas and the Hous- ing Authority, he has always adopted an evi- dence-based approach to policy making. This leader trusts that McKay will adopt the same approach at ARUC to ensure the legal cannabis market functions in the best interest of consum- ers and society. Malta's legislative and regulatory set up in the recreational cannabis sector has been somewhat of trailblazer in Europe and it must remain at the forefront. ARUC must ensure continuous monitoring and evaluation to fine-tune and change the regulatory framework as necessary to keep the shadow economy at bay and foster a safe environment where adults can make in- formed choices. A cannabis milestone maltatoday MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR: KURT SANSONE EDITOR: PAUL COCKS Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt plicates the situation and makes it less likely that the U.S. attacks Iran in retaliatory strikes. But adopting a targeted ap- proach, such as striking militia leaders outside of Iran, raises questions about the effectiveness of U.S. tactics in deterring Iran and its proxies. This strategy has been employed in the past, yet it has not signifi- cantly curbed Iran's or its proxies' aggressive actions. The concern is that while such strikes are precise, they may not be enough to deter ongoing or future attacks. The key to the strategy's success may rest in identifying the most influential factors, or "centers of gravity," that can effectively influ- ence Iran's behavior. This means determining key leaders, critical infrastructure or economic as- sets, which, if killed, destroyed or seized, could substantially alter Iran's decision-making or opera- tional capabilities. The Biden administration's need to balance a strong response with the geopolitical consequences high- lights the difficulties of navigating a tense and evolving situation. How might the attack affect the wider Middle East conflict? How the U.S. responds could re- shape the Middle East's geopolit- ical landscape and influence the dynamics of proxy warfare in the region. A strong military response from Washington might deter Irani- an-backed militias from future attacks, but it could also provoke them into taking more aggressive actions. In the short term, any U.S. re- taliation – especially if it targets Iranian interests directly – could escalate tensions in the region. It could also exacerbate the cycle of tit-for-tat strikes between the U.S. and Iranian-backed forces, increasing the risk of a broader re- gional conflict. And given that the attack's pre- text involves the Israel-Hamas war, any U.S. response could in- directly affect the course of that conflict, impacting future diplo- matic efforts and the regional bal- ance of power.