Yesterday, 25-year-old Jean-Marc Dalli, the son of EU Commissioner Helena Dalli, was imprisoned for three months for giving his friend six ecstasy pills outside a party eight years ago.

Zammit Lewis said he will refrain from commenting on the merit of the particular case and that “a lot of thought and caution” must be put into any possible legal changes.

“Moreover, it is important to note that the judiciary researches into the merits of the case to give a clear, definitive and just judgment as much as possible,” he said.

However, Dalli’s case shone a spotlight on the state of Malta’s drug laws and the long time courts often take to deliver a verdict.

Criminal lawyer Franco Debono called for a reform of a law which forbids the courts from handing out lenient sentences to people caught with drugs within 100m of places, including schools, parties and bars, where young people tend to gather.

Meanwhile, Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola and Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms Rosianne Cutajar both called out the exaggerated delay between Dalli’s prosecution and conviction as being unjust. 

Former PN leader Adrian Delia warned the laws are creating injustices if the courts cannot properly distinguish drug traffickers from users.

Is it time for Malta to update its drug laws?