Watch: Scrap Life Sentences For Cannabis Trafficking, Franco Debono Urges
Amidst a public debate about a proposed reform to Malta’s drug laws, one of the country’s top criminal lawyers has proposed another kind of change to the law.
In an interview with Lovin Malta, Franco Debono urged the country to scrap the maximum life imprisonment penalty for cannabis trafficking, arguing it no longer makes any sense now Malta has partially legalised the plant.
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“I understand it’s a hot potato but with common sense, it shouldn’t be,” he said. “Cigarettes are legal and the contraband sale of cigarettes doesn’t result in life imprisonment. If cannabis is legal, why does trafficking it also lead to potential life imprisonment?”
Despite this legal provision, no one has ever actually been sentenced to life imprisonment for trafficking cannabis. According to Debono, this provides further evidence that the law needs to change.
“The same penalty exists for murder, but while people have previously been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, they have never received life for trafficking cannabis.”
However, questioned by Lovin Malta, Justice Minister Jonathan Attard played down such calls, arguing the legal possibility of life imprisonment serves as a strong deterrent against traffickers.
Do you agree with Franco Debono’s proposal?
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