ReLeaf Malta Tentatively Hopeful Malta’s Cannabis Users Will Be Given A Voice On Social Clubs
Cannabis registered NGO ReLeaf Malta has tentatively expressed its approval in the wake of a new press conference on the future of cannabis social clubs on the island.
The press conference comes after the removal of the former head of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis Mariella Dimech following a controversial 11-month tenure – read more on that here.
“It is very encouraging to hear the new Chairperson of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis, Leonid McKay, declare that people who use cannabis deserve to be listened to and their voices respected at all levels of decision making, and policy design, implementation and scrutiny,” ReLeaf Malta president Andrew Bonello told Lovin Malta.
Yesterday’s press conference announced that non-profit organisations will be able to register for a license to grow and sell cannabis to the public as of February 28th, 2023.
ARUC has committed itself to meet regularly with NGOs that reflect cannabis users on the island to ensure that the law is reflecting their needs.
ReLeaf Malta has previously been concerned about the commercialisation of cannabis and have been advocating that a bottom up-approach, one prioritising the well-being of the cannabis community without invasive practices, is one of the main tools to directly impact the monopoly of illicit and criminal markets.
- Bonello expressed his desire for the three main stakeholders involved in this process – civil society, ARUC and the cannabis associations – to work together to avoid going down the commercial route and instead head
towards a more transparent, people-centred, approach.
ReLeaf Malta lauded the focus on the non-commercial aspects of the cannabis associations
“Yet, it is imperative to ensure even third parties providing services, such as packaging, testing and labelling also adhere to a non-commercial philosophy and human rights ethos. ”
- ReLeaf Malta also suggested that ARUC would take up the commitment to organise a yearly convention for people who use cannabis in Malta and act as an important research platform.
Bonello also stressed the importance for the associations to uphold users’ rights, namely the right to privacy, right to health (providing a safe, labelled product) and legal rights (moving from punishment to harm reduction).
Do you agree with the direction this process is taking?
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