Lawyer Joey Reno Vella has been confirmed as the new executive chairman of Malta’s cannabis authority, succeeding Leonid Mckay.

Vella is a lawyer who specialises in criminal, civil and family law, and who had helped draft the law that established the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis.

He also served as an ARUC board secretary and as a member of ARUC’s board of directors.

Mckay had been appointed as ARUC head in 2022, succeeding Mariella Dimech, whose tenure was marred by a lack of visible progress in the establishment of cannabis associations.

Under Mckay’s watch, licenses for seven cannabis associations have been issued so far.

Mckay has now been appointed CEO of the national employment agency JobsPlus.