Two Cannabis Growing Facility Licenses Have Been Granted In Malta – But Not For Cultivation
The Authority on the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) has officially granted the first two in-principle licenses to potential cannabis associations, marking a significant yet unusual milestone in the ongoing regulatory journey of cannabis in Malta.
These in-principle licenses uniquely permit associations to begin the construction of growing facilities but prohibit any actual cultivation of the cannabis plant.
The cultivation permission will be contingent on an operating permit that will be granted after a comprehensive inspection by the ARUC.
In elaborating on the process, Leonid McKay, ARUC’s executive chairman, noted: “The in-principle licence approves the proposed operational setup. The operating permit will be issued when the associations complete their setup and the authority confirms that it is compliant.”
As it stands, two associations have been provided with these licenses, while others are in the concluding phase of approval.
Another significant move by the ARUC, five months prior, was the a legal notice that clearly delineated revised fines, membership stipulations, and paperwork necessary for cannabis clubs.
Key conditions from the notice dictate that clubs maintain a register of members’ particulars, function on a non-profit basis, and pay their administrators according to rates defined by the Voluntary Organisations Act.
Associations violating these provisions risk severe penalties, including exorbitant fines and possible revocation of their licenses.
What is your opinion on the legalisation of cannabis on the island?