ADPD has said that it considers the white paper on cannabis decriminalisation a “positive step in the right direction.”

“Hopefully this will lead to a mature discussion on the issue. There is much more to be done,” it said.

ADPD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said in a statement that, “as we have always insisted, including in our 2017 election manifesto, the war on drugs has failed miserably.”

“It is therefore positive that the government is at last moving away from criminalisation of cannabis users. It is about time that people’s lives are no longer destroyed by the justice system for smoking a joint, doing more harm than what the drug could have ever caused,” he said.

Cacopardo concluded that, “the freed-up police resources, which are currently strained on pursuing cannabis users can be used for more important work such as combating corruption in high levels of authority, including at Cabinet level.”

ADPD spokesperson Samuel Muscat pointed out that the white paper does not mention anything on the sale of cannabis.

“While possession of a certain amount is made legal, selling is illegal under the same legislation as before, leading to grey areas. ADPD proposes the regularisation of the drug and sale can be controlled under licensed shops,” he said.

Muscat went on to say that, “we hope the next step in our drug policy is the decriminalisation of all drug users and addicts, following the Portuguese model, as has already been vaguely promised by the Labour party. It has been shown to be the most effective model for harm reduction from drug use.”

He concluded by stressing that “drug addiction and abuse needs to be addressed as a medical and social issue not a criminal one. Those who are already rendered victims of drug abuse should not be victimised again by the criminal justice system.”

Photo: ADPD

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