22 entities have presented a position paper on the recreational cannabis bill to members of parliament, expressing ”serious concern about the short and long term effects on society of the proposed legislation and calling for a serious, mature and researched debate on the subject.”

The proposed bill will be presented today for debate in Parliament.

All of these entities, which are listed below and many of which work with children and young people, said that the ”strongly believe that as currently presented, the bill will have a negative effect in normalising drug use while failing to protect both society and drug users.”

While the 22 entities said they support the current law which decriminalises the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use, they are very critical of the ”rush with which, at the tail end of this legislature and on the eve of a general election, Parliament is being asked to pass this new law proposing radical and risky changes.”

The entities are calling on Government to press the ”pause button” and to put the draft bill on hold until a ”serious, independent, and researched study is carried out about the social impact of the proposals listed in the bill.”

In their position paper, the entities give detailed feedback on various proposals while pointing out that the draft bill creates a very weak regulated model with huge loopholes for abuse.

They have also expressed serious concern about a number of aspects proposed in the law including the very limited regulation of cannabis grown in households, as well as the weak regulation of the opening of cannabis growing associations in all towns and villages.

Another serious concern they said, is the possibility of using loopholes in the proposed law to allow the use of cannabis in public, despite declarations to the contrary made in the law.

The Position Paper is available to read in full by clicking here.

The 22 signatories of this position paper presented today to members of parliament are: Caritas Malta, Church Homes for the Elderly, Church Schools’ Association, Dar Merhba Bik Foundation, Dar tal-Providenza, Fondazzjoni Sebh, Justice and Peace Commission, Kummissjoni Djocesana Djakonija, Malta Catholic Youth Network (MCYN), Mater Dei and Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre Chaplains, Millenium Chapel, Oasi Foundation, Paulo Freire Institute Foundation, Peace and Good Foundation, Secretariat for Catholic Education, Social Assistance Secretariat (SAS), Society St Vincent de Paul, SOS Malta, St Jeanne Antide Foundation, the Conference of Religious Major Superiors (KSMR), Ufficcju Hidma Pastorali mal-Persuni Separati and YMCA Malta.

Photo: Archdiocese

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