Cannabis in Malta is legal, within limits. In 2018, the Parliament of
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
legalised medical cannabis. On 14 December 2021, the
Parliament of Malta
The Parliament of Malta ( mt, Il-Parlament ta' Malta) is the constitutional legislative body in Malta, located in Valletta. The parliament is unicameral, with a democratically elected House of Representatives and the President of Malta. By const ...
legalised recreational cannabis for personal use, becoming the first
EU country to do so.
Guerrilla gardening
In 2014 news media reported that cannabis saplings were appearing in roundabouts and centre strips in Gozo and Zebbug.
2015
In April 2015, new policies to decriminalise cannabis in Malta came into force. Simple possession still remained an "arrestable offense", so that the police remained able to fight drug trafficking. The possession of a minimal amount of drugs (3.5g) for personal consumption was effectively decriminalised. First-time offenders will be handed fines of between €50 and €100 in the case of cannabis possession. Repeat offenders will appear before a Drug Offenders Rehabilitation Board, headed by retired Chief of Justice, which will set conditions for rehabilitation. Breaching the conditions would be tantamount to a criminal offense. The Magistrates Court - in cases not involving the use of weapons or violence - would be able to act as a Drugs Court and refer the accused for treatment to the rehabilitation board.
Medical cannabis
Sativex was approved for prescription use in 2015. As of July 2017, however, no patients have been treated with it.
In March 2018, the Maltese president signed into law legislation approving medical cannabis with a prescription, though the legislation did not detail which specific conditions would merit the use of cannabis.
Recreational cannabis
On 18 February 2021, Prime Minister
Robert Abela
Robert Abela (born 7 December 1977) is a Maltese lawyer and politician who has served as prime minister of Malta and leader of Labour Party since 2020. The son of former President George Abela, he was elected to Parliament in 2017. Abela was ...
announced plans to introduce a law that would legalize possession of a small amount of cannabis and plants for personal use.
On 14 December 2021, recreational cannabis was partly legalized
In Malta, it is now legal to carry up to 7g cannabis and each household may grow up to 4 plants It is also legal to establish cannabis associations, known as
Cannabis Social Clubs, which can cultivate cannabis to distribute among members, up to a maximum of 7g per day and 50g per month. Smoking in public remains banned.
The law came into force with the signature of President
George Vella on 18 December 2021.
References
Further reading
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{{Cannabis by country
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
Society of Malta
Politics of Malta