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7 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Barbara's comments come as parliament is set to begin discussing on Monday tough- er laws to deter drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The legal changes include random road- side drug and alcohol tests. Concerns have been raised by cannabis users that road- side drug tests could detect the presence of drugs despite having been consumed a day earlier. This, they argue, con- trasts with government's own policy on the regularisation of cannabis. Barbara explained that the drug test would come in the form of a tongue-cell swab. He said cannabis is a fat-soluble substance, and so it is still pres- ent in the body after a period of time even though its psycho- active effects would no longer be felt. "The psychoactive effects are at their most intense for the first three hours, but after that period start to drop gradually," he said. "Therefore, it would not be fair to penalise someone who is responsible when driv- ing, simply because they had a joint the day before." He also pointed out that oth- er factors would affect how long cannabis remains detect- able, such as the person's fat percentage and how often they make use of cannabis. Barbara said that similar to alcohol, in- dividual bodies react different- ly to the substance. "You have people who smoke a joint and don't feel anything, and you have someone who smokes a couple of puffs and cannot stand on their feet," he said. "And that is why Doctors for Road Safety are saying a physical assessment should be carried out to test alertness. These are important aspects to consider." He was referring to a report presented by the doctors' or- ganisation to Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri last week, in which it proposed an impairment approach to clamp down on drug driving. The doctors proposed that in the case of cannabis, a positive roadside oral fluid test would also trigger an impairment test. If impairment is detected, a blood test would become man- datory, and an offence would be deemed committed if the acceptable limit is exceeded. However, if the blood limit is not exceeded, or if the impair- ment test is negative, the re- port indicates that no offence would be recorded. Barbara said the authorities want cannabis to be used re- sponsibly and through the pro- posed law, responsibility will be attained if the necessary amendments are made. Government has so far pushed for a zero-tolerance approach towards drug testing unlike alcohol, where the law sets limits. The proposed bill can still be amended at com- mittee stage in parliament. The legal changes come af- ter a string of high-profile fatal incidents over the sum- mer months involving motor- ists driving under the effect of substances. According to the Roads Policing Unit head Nicholas Vella, data from sev- eral road accidents confirms the higher incidence of driving under the influence. Roadside cannabis tests should focus on impairment not traces, pathologist says CONTINUES PAGE 1 "It is normal to have peo- ple wanting to meet the lead- er when a new one is elected but this time around the level of enthusiasm is different and probably due to Alex Borg having a natural pull factor," a source told MaltaToday. The level of excitement that Borg's election has generated has not been seen at Dar Ċen- trali, the PN headquarters, for years, another source insist- ed. "Some people who were involved in the party at some time but fell by the wayside have turned up at PN HQ or are publicly expressing their views about Alex and the PN, which is a far cry from how things were up to a few months ago," the source said. However, for others who know Borg in Gozo, the situa- tion is not surprising at all. A Gozitan PN member told this newspaper that what is hap- pening now is just a reflection "on a much bigger scale" of how Borg is perceived in his home district. "Alex Borg has always been someone who finds time to meet anyone in Gozo, irrespec- tive of their social, economic or political background and he has this natural disposition to relate with people, so what I am witnessing now is certainly not surprising for me," the source said. They insisted that Borg's personal suc- cess in the last gen- eral election on the 13th District was no coincidence. He achieved the highest per- sonal voting tally after the party leader in an elec- tion the PN lost heavily. "The more than 6,000 votes Alex Borg obtained definitely included Labourites and peo- ple who were adamant not to vote in the last election," the source in Gozo said. But Borg is also carrying out his own outreach with former PN MPs and activists in what the party sources described as an attempt to draw on all re- sources and talents. "Alex Borg has always tried to maintain con- tact, as an MP, with for- mer MPs and activists but this has now taken on a more im- portant di- m e n s i o n in his role as leader," sourc- e s c l o s e to the Borg said. The same feeling of height- ened enthusiasm is also being felt by PN MPs in their respec- tive constituencies. Several MPs who spoke to MaltaToday also noted that Borg has cre- ated "curiosity" even among voters who are not naturally inclined towards the PN. "After every leadership elec- tion we have experienced a wave of enthusiasm but this is on a bigger scale now and more importantly it has got people, even those who may have felt the PN was irrelevant because it had no chance, listening," a seasoned MP said. However, they also acknowl- edged that the hard work starts now. "It is good that people are curious and want to know more about Alex Borg and what he stands for but we have to see whether this momentum is maintained when the leader starts taking hard decisions," the MP said. But for the time being, it's a good thing that Borg's election has generated unprecedented interest in the PN, another MP said. "It puts the onus on us to de- liver substance and policies that make a difference and to communicate them well now that we have a listening elec- torate," they added. Meanwhile, the rigours of re- alpolitik still have to play out and one of the first decisions Borg will have to make is about the shadow portfolios and what role he will assign his prede- cessor, Bernard Grech, and his leadership election rival, Adri- an Delia. Borg has promised no radi- cal changes but many will be waiting for his decisions to de- termine whether he is able to stamp his authority on a party that has been unruly for much of the past eight years. Sources within the PN say party has received positive feedback since Borg's appointment Chris Barbara holding a swabbing device that detects the presence of drugs