Malta will this week legalizecannabisfor personal use , becoming the first European nation to do so .
Those senior 18 and over will be allowed to own up to 7 grams ( 0.2 ounces ) and grow up to four plant life at rest home – up to 50 g ( 1.8 oz. ) of dry Cartesian product from these plants can be stored .
“ There is a wave of understanding now that the surd - fist coming against cannabis users was disproportional , unjust and it was rendering a lot of woe to mass who are leading monitory lives , ” Owen Bonnici , the minister responsible for for the new legislation , told the Guardian , explaining the conclusion .
The new approach , he added , will seek to address this by avoiding the criminalization of any cannabis utilisation . There will , however , be regulation put in office to boil down scathe . amercement , for example , of € 50-€100 for possession of up to 28 grams ( 1 oz. ) and € 300-€500 for consuming marijuana in front of a child . Under-18s will be advocate a care architectural plan by a mission should they be found in possession .
It is think that the novel laws from the European Union ’s ( EU ) smallest appendage state will inspire reform of drug laws across Europe . In fact , Malta will just narrowly beatLuxembourg – who proposed something similar back in October – to this European first .
Elsewhere in Europe , the tides have been turn too . Switzerland and the Netherlands have both of late announced proposal akin to Malta ’s , while Germany intends to found a legally - shape market . There is a referendum on decriminalizing cannabis planned inItalynext year .
Across the Atlantic , Malta will join 18 US state , as well asCanadaand Mexico , in legitimatize cannabis for personal use .
This potential overhaul in drug law across Europe play along theUnited Nation ’s decisionto no longer sort cannabis alongside the most addictive and dangerous drugs , and to acknowledge its potential fortherapeutic role .
While decriminalization of drugs is view by some to be the good andsafestway of dealing with recreational drug habit , it is not without risk of exposure and there is much for government to consider .
In Malta , Bonnici says , much cerebration was collapse as to whether to restrict the strength of hemp that can be used or grown . finally , however , they decided against it .
“ We had a huge discourse internally on that . And we resolve that if a limit [ can be put ] on the speciality of the cannabis , the THC levels , you will be creating a new market for the black market place .
“ What we need to do is to school people and inform them day after mean solar day . ”
