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MALTATODAY 8 December 2024

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JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt 11 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 DECEMBER 2024 PEOPLE who admitted smoking cannabis in the past year account for 4% of the popu- lation, a decline from 7% in 2021, a Euroba- rometer survey shows. The result suggests that the fear that partial legalisation of cannabis in Malta will lead to an increase in consumption were misplaced. Moreover, despite the opening of can- nabis clubs where the sale of the drug is restricted to members, 34% still consider it is very difficult to obtain cannabis in 24 hours. Nonetheless, the percentage who think that obtaining cannabis is very easy has increased from 26% in 2021 to 35% in 2024. The Eurobarometer survey shows that a narrow majority of Maltese respondents fa- vour the regulated sale of recreational can- nabis, although support for regulation has dropped. The survey shows that while 46% want can- nabis use banned, 50% think it should be reg- ulated and 1% favour complete liberalisation. However, compared to a similar survey conducted in 2021, before cannabis was de- criminalised and before people were allowed to grow up to four cannabis plants at home, and its sale was allowed in regulated clubs; support for banning the substance has in- creased by eight points. In this regard, public opinion in Malta fol- lows European trends. The survey shows that 53% of respondents across all EU mem- ber states are in favour of regulating canna- bis for recreational use. However, this share has decreased by nine percentage points since 2021. The survey highlights contrasting views across Europe on regulating cannabis for recreational use. While a majority in 19 countries oppose banning the substance, in eight countries, a majority of respondents think the recrea- tional use of cannabis should be banned. The number of countries where a majority support a ban on cannabis use has doubled compared to 2021. The survey also reveals that 49% of Maltese consider smoking cannabis in public areas to be a problem in their locality, while 50% do not. Although a slight majority do not see public cannabis smoking as an issue, the percentage of those who do has increased by 14 points since 2021. Small minority support heroin, cocaine regulation The survey suggests that while most Mal- tese agree with regulating cannabis, only 12% support regulating heroin, 11% support regulating cocaine and 14% agree with the regulated sale of ecstasy. When asked about the most effective ways for public authorities to address drug traf- ficking and use, only 8% of Maltese respond- ents agreed with tougher measures against users. While 22% mentioned tougher measures against traffickers, a substantial proportion opted for regulating the sale of drugs (13%) and harm-reduction measures (16%). Most Maltese favoured health and preven- tion measures, such as greater investment in rehabilitation programmes (43%) and more education on drugs (40%). THREE years since Malta par- tially legalised cannabis use and distribution, 39 people were fined for smoking the drug in public, figures tabled in parlia- ment show. In one of the cases, the person was smoking cannabis in the presence of children, something that incurs a steeper fine. The information was tabled in parliament by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri in re- sponse to questions by National- ist MP Ivan Bartolo. Under the current regime, car- rying up to 7g of cannabis in public is allowed but smoking in public is prohibited and can car- ry a fine of up to €235. Smoking in front of a minor, ir- respective of the location, is pro- hibited and can incur a fine of up to €500. The figures also show that 30 persons were arrested because they had more than four canna- bis plants at home for personal use. In three of these cases, the plants were grown in the pres- ence of children. The law allows individuals to grow up to four cannabis plants at home but these must not be visible to the public and not in the presence of children. Camilleri said nine people were arrested because they had more than 50g of cannabis for personal use at their home. The law allows a person to be in possession of up to 50g of canna- bis at any one time at home. In two instances, the accused also had minors living with them. The Maltese parliament ap- proved a new legal regime in December 2021 to allow people aged 18 and over to use cannabis for recreational purposes. Cannabis is still considered an illegal drug but laxer regulations apply for users thus ensuring the cannabis they consume is safe and does not have to be sourced from the shadow market linked to the criminal underworld. Malta's cannabis law allows us- ers to purchase up to 7g of can- nabis every 24 hours, with a max- imum possession limit of 50g per month. The cannabis can be pur- chased from licensed clubs and users have to enrol as members. The law also created the Au- thority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) to oversee the sector and issue regulations, which clubs, known as cannabis associations, have to abide by. These associations must be run on a not-for-profit basis and can have a maximum of 500 mem- bers each. Users cannot be mem- bers of multiple clubs. Possession of up to 7g in public is allowed but anyone caught car- rying between 7g and 28g of can- nabis will appear before a tribu- nal instead of the criminal court. Users can also grow up to four cannabis plants at home for per- sonal use but these must not be visible outside the house. The law does not allow minors under 18 to use, carry or possess cannabis. Part-legalisation of cannabis has not led to higher consumption, survey suggests 39 fined for smoking cannabis in public

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