Malta will be no Amsterdam, says Rosianne Cutajar as PN lambasts cannabis legalisation

The Maltese parliament entered a second of debate over a Bill to regulate the recreational use of cannabis, that will allow both home-growing as well as limited dispensation of cannabis from non-profit associations.

The divide between government and the Opposition was evident, with Labour MP and the former junior minister who led the drugs reform, Rosianne Cutajar, cautioning that Malta would not be turned into an Amsterdam-type haunt, while Nationalist MP Claudio Grech hit out at the Bill as a mere legalisation of the plant, whose use is currently decriminalised in Malta.

“It is not true that government is promoting cannabis use. I can put everyone’s mind at rest, that Malta will not become another Amsterdam. We don’t want to encourage and normalise cannabis use,” Cutajar said, saying the Bill regulated public consumption by prohibiting it except in private residences.

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Cutajar said the government had decriminalised a “ridiculous” amount of cannabis, 3.5g, while the new Bill would allow the police could focus on crimes that are truly problematic. “Cigarettes are legal but that does not mean that everyone should smoke. Individuals are free to make a personal decision. We have to fight substance abuse with education and not with fear... This legislation will lead to a more socially just country,” she said,

But Nationalist MP Claudio Grech issued a resounding salvo against legalisation, saying there had been no proper consideration of the impact cannabis liberalisation would have on Maltese society.

He justified the PN’s position against the Bill due to the cannabis consumption could have on minors and the vulnerable. “The aim of every legislation should be to protect the vulnerable,” the MP said.

He admitted different perspectives on the issue among the PN parliamentary group, but ultimately the group had a common position. “Our position is not inspired by vengeance or prejudice but based on scientific facts, which are currently very limited,” Grech said.

He accused the government of proposing this legislation without conducting a proper impact assessment, and not having enough evidence to back it up. “Our position is based on responsibility not populism. De facto, this bill is legalisation not decriminalisation […] This bill will do a lot of harm to our society,” Grech stated.

Shadow health minister Stephen Spiteri said the legislation will promote dangerous drug abuse. Spiteri said cannabis consumption leads to psychological problems like paranoia, psychosis and suicidal thoughts, and said the mental health wards at Mt Carmel Hospital was flooded with patients committed over drug abuse. “Let’s be clear on those issues. We don’t want that in ten years’ time, we lead the same fight as we do nowadays against alcohol and smoking,” Spiteri said.

He said that the government had to “pause and think” about this law, as according to him drug abuse leads to many complications. “We are offering the way that could lead to better health and wellbeing of the country,” Spiteri stated.