The Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela, has announced the proposal of a white paper intended to reform Malta’s Cannabis laws.
Cultivation
Under the proposed new laws, every household in Malta would be allowed to grow up to 4 plants, provided they are not in sight or in reach of the public or minors. Any Cannabis grown in that household must be consumed by the people who live there, and cannot be sold to other people.
This would mean that most people still wouldn’t be able to grow their own Cannabis without investing a decent amount of money into an indoor grow setup, unless they own a hidden plot of land that gets many hours of sunlight and is inaccessible to the public.
Possession & Consumption
Possession of up to 7g of Cannabis will be perfectly legal, while people found in possession of 7g-28g will be subject to appear before a drugs tribunal and pay a fine ranging between €50 and €100. Anyone caught with these amounts will not be interrogated by the police, and any existing criminal records due to the possession of Cannabis will be wiped clean.
Consuming Cannabis in public will remain illegal, and anyone caught will have to pay a €233 fine.
Buying Cannabis & Seeds
There will be a legal way to buy Cannabis and Cannabis seeds on the island, though this is still being discussed. “We want a regulated source where people can buy cannabis and its seeds. I believe this will be key to eradicating the black market, together with continued enforcement of existing laws,” Robert Abela said. The government is currently listening to public consultation on this matter.