Malta are set to make recreational cannabis legal for adults over the age of 18. While many thought Luxembourg would be the first EU country to legalise cannabis use Malta have beaten them to it.

With specific rules in place to govern the use of cannabis including how much you can have and where you can have it & consume it things will work a bit differently. It wont be the same as states in the USA who have previously made recreational cannabis use legal.

Today we will look at:

• The rules & regulations regarding the consumption & growing of Cannabis
• How Cannabis Consumption & Growth Works At Home
• How the change in law happened
• Malta Set To Allow Non For Profit Organisations To Supply Cannabis Following The Legalisation

The Rules & Regulations Regarding The Consumption & Growing of Cannabis

While Malta are set to legalise cannabis use recreationally, this doesn’t mean you can just go ahead and smoke anywhere. Or even set up a weed farm with as many plants as you want at home.

The official rules are as followed – adults over the age of 18 are allowed to carry up to 7 grams. If they are caught with more than this amount in public they face a fine.

Those caught in possession of an amount between 7-28 grams are subject to a fine of up to €100 (~£85).

There are no clear rules set yet for those who are caught with over 28 grams. We are led to believe this will either be a much larger fine or actual criminal proceedings.

7-28 is argued as personal use which is why (we assume) only a fine will be encountered for this amount. This is why it may be more punishable with a larger amount as it usually leads to intent to supply.

Those who are caught smoking cannabis in public are also liable for fines up to €235. If you are caught smoking with someone under the age of 18 present the fine is from €300-500.

How Cannabis Consumption & Growth Works At Home

Those smoking in the presence of persons under the age of 18 is subject to a fine if caught. This includes cannabis use at home as well as in public.

There are no exact guidelines available. As you are limited to your home, garden or balcony you can’t smoke in these locations with someone under 18. If you are by yourself though this will be fine. If you were to go in the garden, not let anyone under the age of 18 that is totally legal.

Malta legalising Cannabis use includes the ability to be able to grow up to 4 plants at home. This amount is associated with personal use. For those who use cannabis as a medicine it will be a real money saver moving forward.

A big criticism of some of the countries who have previously made medical cannabis legal is governments making home grows illegal. This is often to control the distribution of cannabis & get the money from taxes to give back to the government.

While this might make sense as an idea it can, it can often lead to those who require medical cannabis to have to pay higher prices for the medicine they rely on.

How Malta Have Changed The Law To Legalise Cannabis Use

The parliament in Malta took a vote. The results coming out 36 in favour of the legalisation with 27 against, winning by the majority.

While the legalise cannabis vote has passed there are people against the idea entirely. Bernard Grech – the leader or the Nationalist Party voted against the new law. A quote in The Times has him saying it would “only lead to the strengthening of the illegal market, with organise crime taking advantage”. The party who voted against still have some hope they can persuade those who voted for to not go ahead with the proposed plan.

On the other side of this Owen Bonnici – the equality minister of Malta has said the historic move would stop small time cannabis users from facing the criminal justice system while curbing drug trafficking by making sure that users now have a safe and regulated way from where they can obtain cannabis.

Malta Set To Allow Non For Profit Organisations To Supply Cannabis Following The Legalisation

Although Malta are set to legalise cannabis use and growth there are still certain rules and procedures that must be followed. In order for adults to be able to go about there consumption and growing they must abide by the law.

After reading the start of this article you may be thinking “how does it work if you can have the cannabis on you but still be liable to a fine?” “Where can you legally buy cannabis if you aren’t growing it at home?”

Adults will be able to visit non for profit organisations, licenced to grow and distribute to those over 18. Organisations will be permitted to grow and posses larger quantities. Limits will apply on the amount an adult can buy – similar to the coffee shops in Amsterdam.

There is a similar system in place in parts of Spain. You can attend a social club, donate to them in exchange for some weed the similar system in Malta does have its differences.

Each non for profit organisation can only have up to 500 members. Adults can also only sign up to one organisation at a time. In Spain you can access as many clubs as you want. As long as you are happy to pay the yearly membership fee when you sign up.

The non for profit organisations must not be set up near any type of school. This backs the idea to not allow anyone under the age of 18 use cannabis use or witness it.

Could This Lead To Other Countries Following Malta In The Legalisation Of Recreational Cannabis?

This may be said with more high hopes than anything else. But we are hoping that other European countries will follow suit and join Malta in making recreational cannabis legal.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. If you know of any movements being made in any countries we would love to hear about it!

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