The European continent has served as a hotbed for the reform of medical cannabis policy and the emerging cannabis industry in recent years.
This year, the conversation between European legislators has shifted drastically towards the legalization of adult use, with countries such as Germany and Luxembourg constantly making headlines for their legalization efforts.
However, a lesser-known country could beat both countries in the legalization blow.
Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast, is very close to legalizing cannabis for adult use. So close, in fact, that it could happen any day.
Sailing through Parliament
The effort to legalize cannabis adult use in Malta it’s not new, but a recent move has gained momentum and gone through the commission stage of the political process last week.
The measure is currently awaiting a final reading in the Maltese parliament, which has historically served only one procedure. The move seems imminent according to many political observers in Malta.
The legalization of cannabis in Malta, assuming that the current measure is adopted, would legalize the possession of up to 7 grams of cannabis by adults aged 18 and over.
The measure would also automatically eliminate many previous cannabis convictions.
Opponents of the measure worked hard to derail the legislation, and when that didn’t work, they tried unsuccessfully to change the law.
Will the president sign?
of Malta Chamber of Pharmacists He recently asked President George Vella to refuse to sign the measure if he / she arrives at his / her desk.
Hopefully this is not the case, as legalization is working in other countries that have already adopted legalization.
Uruguayan lawmakers legalized cannabis for adult use in 2013, and Canada did the same five years later, in 2018. The last time I checked, the sky was still intact over these two countries. .
The legalization of cannabis will spread across the European continent in the coming years, and Malta could be the first domino to fall.
However, if the current measure is finally approved, it will need to be improved sooner rather than later.
Compared to the legalization models of Uruguay and Canada, the form of legalization in Malta will be very limited. That said, it is still much better than the ban.
