In response to Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia’s statement yesterday, ADZ – Malta Green Youth has urged the government to issue an immediate pardon for Daniel Holmes from Ghajnsielem, and to express its view on the required overhaul of drug law legislation.

Reuben Zammit, ADZ chairperson, said, “Daniel Holmes was sentenced to over 10 years in prison in 2011 on charges of trafficking after cultivating a very small number of marijuana plants for personal use. This is a gross violation of his freedom; clearly Holmes is no criminal but a victim of our illogical laws, which automatically conflate cultivation and sharing with trafficking, which is not always the case. Daniel Holmes should be given an immediate pardon. It goes without saying that these laws need to be revised to prevent such violations from occurring in the first instance.”

Robert Callus, ADZ PRO, said, “We also reiterate the Green Party’s stand for the decriminalization of drugs for personal use. It is highly unjust for users and abusers, whose actions have no victims, to be treated as criminals. The criminalization of these people provides absolutely no benefit to our society, and only serves to ruin their lives with never-ending court-cases, a tainted police conduct, and at times incarceration.”

Reuben Zammit ADZ Chairperson concluded by saying that he had no doubt that AD would be more than willing to assist government in kick-starting the long overdue overhaul of drug legislation.

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