Yes, Malta has legalized marijuana, with the president signing a new law on Saturday. We reported on the start of work to change Malta's law three years ago. However, the initial premise has changed for the better, with registration of cannabis users being dropped, among other things. Special associations will also be set up in Malta to distribute the seeds, as well as the dried product itself. Plans to liberalize cannabis laws were also recently announced by the German government, but the two legalization models, German and Maltese, differ significantly, here's more information.
Malta has legalized cannabis
We reported on the Maltese government's planned legalization of cannabis in January 2019 T U T A J, at which time work began on a new law. The legislation proposed in 2019 differs from the final solution the Maltese government decided on.
First and foremost, the registry of cannabis users has been dropped. Supporters of this solution believed that it would have been a good tool against cannabis abuse. Its opponents, on the other hand, reiterated that people would be reluctant to sign up to such a registry thus remaining reliant on the black market.
In the end, it was decided to legalize the cultivation of four plants and the possession of up to seven grams of dried cannabis - without any consequences.
Smoking marijuana in public places and in the presence of children will remain prohibited in Malta. A person apprehended with more than the seven grams allowed by law and less than 28 grams will receive a fine of €100. Using cannabis in a public place is punishable by a fine of 235 euros, while smoking in front of minors will be punishable by a 500-euro fine.
Special cannabis associations will also be established to cultivate cannabis for those members who, for some reason, are unable to cultivate on their own. Each citizen can belong to one association, which will cultivate four plants on their behalf. a person taking advantage of this arrangement will receive up to seven grams of dried hemp per day with a weekly limit of 50 grams. The cannabis associations will be non-profit.
The legalization of cannabis in Malta is very different from the legalization of cannabis in Germany, which we wrote about T U T A J.
The Maltese change in the law is clearly aimed at consumers, so that they will not be forced to use the black market, which carries more risks than marijuana itself. From now on, Maltese citizens can simply grow the plants themselves for their own consumption, and when for some reason they can't grow themselves - a local cannabis association will do it for them, non-profit of course.
Germany, on the other hand, clearly wants to shore up its budget with its legalization, and it's the money that's most important here. For the time being, the German government, when asked about home cultivation, remains silent. At the moment one can get the impression (from the behavior of the government) that cannabis will be legal, but home growing is not. Instead, marijuana will be available for purchase in special outlets similar to coffeeshops.
