Malta Reacts With Confusion, Disdain After ‘Days-Long Operation’ To Catch Weed Farmer In Gozo
A police bust on a Gozitan farmer’s field over the weekend left many across Malta with a sour taste in their mouth – and they aired out their thoughts on social media.
As the Malta Police Force shared images of growing cannabis plants in Xewkija, Gozo – detailing how officers had undertaken days of surveillance before eventually raiding the field, finding 55 plants, and arresting a 30-year-old farmer – their comments section quickly flooded with people questioning the entire operation.
“In my opinion, news like this is ridiculous. There’s bigger fish to catch… mhux hekk jew?” said one netizen.
“Look what the police corp is focused on, and the real criminals are still running around outside…” said another.
“If a container with alcohol is busted, you don’t write ‘drug’ bust,” said a third. “I wonder why even after the government legalised it, the police still try to manipulate people by using the word drug for weed.”
Malta regulated cannabis for personal use back in December 2021, allowing up to four plants to be grown per household.
The updated laws made global news, with the island seen as a European pioneer on cannabis, just three years after it had legalised medical use of cannabis. But yesterday’s raid shined a light on the island’s particular obsession with continuing cannabis raids.
Malta’s largest pro-cannabis group on Facebook, Legalise It, Malta, was full of people calling out the raid, and expressing sympathy with the farmer involved, who is currently under arrest.
But it wasn’t only there – the comments section of most media houses reporting on the story became inundated with criticism. While some people applauded the police for the arrest, most believed the resources could be better used.
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“The island is choking on cocaine and they catch a guy with some cannabis plants… pathetic,” said one.
“Should have put those hours of ‘days of surveillance’ in making other areas safe, like Paceville. What a waste of policeman hours,” noted another person.
“Always picking on the small fry while the big dealers still get away scot-free,” said a third.
Another farmer in Gozo expressed major concern over the 30-year-old who had been arrested.
“Poor guy, he got screwed over big time,” the farmer said. “It’s such a shame, he had such a beautiful garden and they’ve ruined it, all out of the blue.”
“I hope he doesn’t suffer a serious punishment and I hope he’s let off since this is his first time,” he continued.
Calling for people to keep the farmer in their prayers as he goes through the ringer, he called for a magistrate with a good heart to let him off on a “technicality” – in reference to Malta’s justice system habit of casually letting off people who allegedly committed much more serious crimes.
“Police should spend their energy on environmental criminals like those who litter across Gozo, and not a farmer like this. He is doing good growing this cannabis as there isn’t even enough for the island as is.”
Though there were negligible arrests over simple cannabis possession since the law changed, a number of cases – including the arrest of two 18-year-olds in Buskett with around an ounce of cannabis – has tested the new laws.
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