Be the first to comment!Cannabis White Paper as presented “simply does not cut it,” say KSU
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The Kunsill Studenti Universitarji (University Students’ Council) has said that while welcoming the government’s publishing of a White Paper on the Responsible Use of Cannabis, KSU and its Social Policy Commission (KPS) in a position paper, are calling on the government to provide more detail on the proposed reform.
The KSU argued that “this is further compounded by the fact that this subject has been at the forefront of the national agenda for some time now, and the White Paper as presented simply does not cut it,” said the KSU.
It said that the results of a soon-to-be-published survey commissioned by KSU through MISCO, clearly show that this reform is necessary in order to reflect the realities faced in today’s society.
KSU stressed that “the White Paper fails to make clear reference to scientific research carried out by experts in the field or to peer-reviewed journals.”
It pointed out that definitions on key terms which can drastically alter the upcoming bill and its prospective effects on Maltese society are absent, “resulting in a lack of clarity on what is being proposed by the government.”
As the White Paper stands, KSU said that “the only access to cannabis would be through the cultivation of such plants within one’s household.”
It also stressed that no specifications are given as to the relevant enforcement. “The reality faced by thousands of households which cannot run their own private lab to cultivate cannabis is entirely bypassed.”
Of particular note are the scant proposals in relation to education, which KSU said it believes to be of the utmost importance in the run-up to and after this reform is enacted.
KSU concluded by calling on the government to present supplementary detail to the White Paper as proposed. “For civil society to actively contribute in a truly meaningful process of public consultation, the legislator must present more detail and concrete proposals to that effect.”
KSU said that this position is endorsed by the following student organisations: ALLT, ASCS, Betapsi, CSA, ELSA Malta, ESO, GhSL, ICTSA, Insite, JCA, JEF Malta, KSJC, MAKE, MHSA, MIRSA, MKSA, MUHS, PULSE, S-Cubed, SACES, SDM, SHS, The Third Eye, TSA, UESA, UM Futsal, UM Rowing and USPA.
