International

Malta authorizes self-cultivation and cannabis clubs

Published

2 years ago

November 5, 2021

Owen Bonnici, Minister for Equality, Research and Innovation of Malta. | Photo: DR

The Maltese government has introduced a regulation to authorize self-cultivation and cannabis clubs as a means of access for adult users of the plant. Malta thus joins Luxembourg and Switzerland in the “race” for legalization and could become the first, second or third European country to regulate the self-cultivation and adult use of cannabis.

Owen Bonnici, Minister of Equality, Research and Innovation of the country announced on Twitter that the government will pass a regulation to allow access to cannabis for those over 18, through self-cultivation and cannabis clubs. “The new law for the responsible use of cannabis will bring real changes. The 20-point reform aims to curb the black market and illegal trafficking by providing regularized pathways, subject to strict legal limitations, for people who use cannabis responsibly,” he wrote.

Measures announced by the government include decriminalizing the possession of up to seven grams for personal use, growing up to four plants per household and storing up to 50 grams of flowers at home. The other means of accessing cannabis, in addition to self-cultivation, will be non-profit cannabis clubs, following the Spanish model. Associations will have a maximum of 500 members, being able to dispense up to seven grams per day to each member, with a maximum of 50 grams per month.

The project includes the creation of a regulatory authority that will maintain a register and issue licenses to clubs. The authority will define requirements for the cultivation, drying, transport and quality of cannabis produced by the clubs. It is already defined that the possession of more than seven grams will be punished with a fine between 50 and 100 euros and that consumption by minors will imply a fine between 300 and 500 euros.

“We want to provide a new framework in which people who consume cannabis can grow plants at home and have access to a regulated system where they can obtain cannabis from registered associations, with an authority in charge of regulating this sector. We believe this is a harm reduction effort that will pay off,” the Minister said in a statement.

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[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]

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