Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544245
CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Writing in MaltaToday (see MT2), Dimech says ARUC's aim had been to adopt a harm reduction approach towards cannabis use, insisting, how- ever, this does not mean "nor- malising the use of mind-alter- ing substances". "Offering finances [sponsor- ships] gained from substance use and from persons who are spending money on canna- bis is hardly a harm reduction and preventive gesture on any counts," Dimech says. And if ARUC really wanted to donate without the children or their families knowing who is providing the financial aid, "it should not have promoted the event to try and look good", she adds. The controversy erupted af- ter ARUC signed a sponsorship deal with the Malta Football Association to finance 75% of football nursery fees for under- privileged children. Photos of the signing and details of the deal were disseminated by the Department of Information. Parliamentary Secretary Re- becca Buttigieg, who is respon- sible for ARUC, was present for the signing and publicly defended the agreement in the wake of widespread criticism over the association of can- nabis with children's sports. Significant was the critical comment by Sports Minister Clifton Grima, who said the agreement showed "lack of foresight". Opposition leader Alex Borg said the government's decision to associate an authority linked to cannabis reform with chil- dren's sport was "scandalous" and "irresponsible". The agree- ment was also slammed by employers' organisations and Caritas, among others. The backlash led the MFA to create a safeguarding com- mittee, chaired by academic Andrew Azzopardi, to oversee sponsorship agreements in- volving children. In her opinion piece, Dimech outlines the principles of what a harm reduction approach should look like: "It is about respecting a user; being total- ly committed to scientific evi- dence and data collection, and providing extensive knowledge of all risks involved. Harm re- duction is also about providing non-judgemental opportuni- ties for individuals who choose to take such substances, to do so in safe respectful ways." The sponsorship deal, she notes, does not fall within these parameters, lambasting it as a contradiction. She adds: "On a practical lev- el, the sponsorship deal sounds like a marvellous idea—invest the money in positive activi- ties which will indirectly show that ARUC promotes healthy living. But no, ARUC does not have this privilege. It may look lovely on a political level—or so some thought— but it is a contradiction. It would have been more effective had ARUC provided real harm reduction and prevention initiatives for society that are effective." Dimech called on the author- ity not to dismiss the feedback from all drug agencies, profes- sionals in the field and genu- inely concerned people about the sponsorship agreement. "There is much more ARUC can do and sponsoring chil- dren's sports is definitely not one of the options," she says. 4 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 APRIL 2026 NEWS PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT OF CALL 27 FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS UNDER ASYLUM, MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION FUND (AMIF) 2021-2027 The Ministry responsible for European Funds and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme would like to pre-announce the following call under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF): Specific Objective 2: Strengthening and developing legal migration to the Member States in accordance with their economic and social needs, promoting and contributing to the effective integration and social inclusion of third country nationals (TCNs). The envisaged call shall cover one of the following funding priorities: � strengthening multiculturalism and cultural mediation � addressing information gaps that inhibit local integration � reducing language barriers in schools to facilitate integration among children � provision of language learning to TCNs through digital means � promoting diversity in the educational sector to address current and future needs of society � cultivating ethnicity in the social and educational sectors � provision of support services to migrant families to facilitate access in the education system The call will be launched on 6 th April, 2026 and it will close on 5 th June, 2026 at noon. The application form, details of eligibility and indicator guideline notes will be made available with the launch of the call. Prospective applicants are encouraged to refer to the AMIF Programme available on https://fondi.eu/wp- content/uploads/2023/10/AMIF-Programme-v-2.0.pdf in order to check whether their proposals are eligible for funding through this call for project proposals. An information session will also be held on the contents of the application form and respective guidelines. For further information, the Managing Authority can be contacted by email on fondi.eu@gov.mt. Cannabis sponsorship controversy 'On a practical level, the sponsorship deal sounds like a marvellous idea— invest the money in positive activities which will indirectly show that ARUC promotes healthy living. But no, ARUC does not have this privilege. It may look lovely on a political level—or so some thought— but it is a contradiction Mariella Dimech, former CEO of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis