Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici today launched a Government White Paper which proposes the setting up of a new board in order to decide within a three month period what penalties to impose on repeat offenders found in the ‘simple’ possession of drugs.

The Minister said the published White Paper on drug laws will offer “more help and rehabilitation to genuine victims, as well as more tools to fight pure drug traffickers.”

Users found in ‘simple’ possession for the first time will stand before a Justice Commissioner, who can administer warnings and administrative fines.

Any repeat offenders would stand before a Social Board made up of experts which will set conditions for rehabilitation. Breaking a condition would be deemed a criminal offence.

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