Cannabis marchers on campaign for reform
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Some 300 young people, mostly dressed in green, marched the streets of Valletta yesterday calling for the decriminalisation and legalisation of cannabis.
Chanting “marijuana is not a drug” and “we are not criminals”, the demonstrators stopped in front of the law courts and Parliament, as they called for a national discussion on drug law reform.
The protesters handed out information leaflets to passers-by which they claim dispel some of the misconceptions about the substance, while others played instruments to liven up the crowd.
Some held banners with phrases such as: ‘Cannabis cures cancer’ and ‘God made marijuana’ but one unimpressed passer-by was heard saying the protesters should get a job rather than grow the illegal plant.
Meanwhile, a plainclothes policeman was seen taking close-up photos of the demonstrators, causing some to remain cautiously at the sidelines.
“We should have decriminalised cannabis and created a system of classification 10 years ago,” organiser David Caruana told those present through a megaphone.
Mr Caruana is facing charges over growing the plant in his balcony for his own consumption. Cultivation, even if for personal use, is considered to be trafficking, which translates into a definite jail term of between six months and life imprisonment.
“Now many of us want legalisation and regulation,” he added to loud cheers of “legalise it”.
Some 800 people had confirmed their attendance on Facebook, where the protest was promoted. But Mr Caruana said the brave participants who actually showed up would encourage more to attend in the future.
“This is the just the beginning of a long road ahead of us,” he said.
Mr Caruana extolled the potential benefits of cannabis as a medicinal product and a potential source of “bioenergy”. “The real crime is denying this plant to the people who need it for medical reasons,” he said.
He lashed out at the Nationalist Party for saying the plant should be turned into artificial medicine rather than using it in its cheapest natural form. Only pharmaceutical companies stood to benefit from this, he said.
Through regulation, he argued, the government could ensure control over cannabis and take it out of the hands of children and criminals, who do not ask for ID when selling.
Adults, on the other hand, should have the right over their mind and body and should have the right to buy, grow and consume the substance without committing a crime.
TV presenter Peppi Azzopardi, who joined the protest, told The Sunday Times he attended a similar manifestation some 20 years ago, though only 30 people had showed up.
He said no drug users – including those who sell drugs to sustain their habit – should ever be imprisoned. Instead, the government should focus its energy on education and prevention.
Pointing out that he never took drugs or consumed alcohol, Mr Azzopardi said he had no personal interest, but always believed the current system had failed.
“President Emeritus Guido de Marco had said once on Xarabank that no drug user should end up in prison,” he said, adding that the country should be ashamed of itself for imprisoning Josette Bickle for operating a small drug empire from her jail cell.
“It was the state’s duty to prevent this crime,” he said, adding that the country had failed Ms Bickle from the age of 13 when she was charged with prostitution.
Another protester, Ramon Casha, 41, said he never consumed the drug but had carried out a lot of research which showed it is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco.
“The laws are not based on fact,” he said, adding that it was unfair to send people to jail because of unfounded laws.
Amber Degiorgio, 21, said she believed in freedom of individual choice, even though she accepted that it could have harmful effects if abused, like alcohol and tobacco. No one from any of the three main political parties attended the protest. Alternattiva Demokratika recently said it agreed with decriminalisation of all drugs, but not that cannabis should be sold in shops. Yesterday, AD welcomed the appeal of President George Abela and Caritas to reconsider drug legislation so that drug users are helped rather than sent to jail.
One of the reasons behind the protest was the recent 11-year jail term handed to Welshman Daniel Holmes who admitted to cultivating cannabis but said it was for personal use.
A number of attendees told The Sunday Times they would soon face court proceedings for marijuana possession.
When asked if they were planning to use the photos of protesters for drug investigations, the police said it was standard practice for a police photographer to be present at public manifestations in case of any incident.
“Once incidents do not arise, photographs are not retained.”
Protesters’ 12 demands
• Formally withdraw Malta from the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs to ensure autonomy in drafting drug laws.
• Classification of all substances, including tobacco, alcohol and prescription drugs, based on scientifically proven harm.
• Legalisation of cannabis possession of up to 15 grams from age 21. Decriminalisation for under-21s but obligatory rehabilitation courses for under-18s.
• Legislation of cultivation of up to four cannabis plants from age 21. Decriminalisation for under-21s with obligatory rehabilitation courses for under-18s.
• Legalisation, regulation and taxation of cannabis sale from licensed outlets. Harsh penalties, including closure of premises, for those who breach regulations and sell to under-21s.
• Harsher penalties to anyone caught selling any substance, including cannabis to under-21s.
• Government-commissioned research on industrial use of hemp, including bio-fuel, and licensing of industrial cultivation or industrial production of hemp products.
• Government-commissioned research on marijuana’s medical use and licences for medical professionals to research or prescribe marijuana for medical reasons.
• Increase legal drinking age to 18 for beverages below 22 per cent volume and 20 for beverages above 22 per cent volume. Stricter controls and harsher penalties for breaches, including outlet closure.
• Increase legal smoking age to 18 and total ban of cigarette vending machines to avoid abuse. Harsher penalties for breaches.
• Life skills courses as part of national curriculum in all primary and secondary schools.
• Increase spending on police drug squad, rehabilitation programmes and awareness, from funds of cannabis sales.
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29 Comments
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Joe Mallia
Feb 10th 2012, 21:04
If there is any doubt that the use of cannabis is unhealthy see this link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16961112
A.R Bonello
Nov 6th 2012, 00:41
Or try this link... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/marijuana-and-cancer_n_1898208.html?src=sp&comm_ref=false
Jack Spiteri
Apr 19th, 17:38
Unhealthy side-effects of marijuana have about as much to do with the need for its legality as those caused by smoking and drinking have to do with theirs.
Your article is about driving under the influence, something which is also illegal when under the influence of alcohol. Your argument is pointless and just accentuates how little you know about the subject.
Stanley Colombo
Dec 21st 2011, 08:45
So they expect the right to take cannabis whioch increases the risk of schizofrenia as well as opening the door to other drugs, then expect ME to pay for THEIR treatment from MY taxes...u tghid mhux hekk!!!
L. Schulte
Dec 22nd 2011, 11:03
oh la la, calm down. None of the pre-conceptions you just mentioned are based on any facts whatsoever. if you wont read scientific literature, at least read the leaflet, sleep on it, then go ahead and voice a well-informed opinion.
Stanley Colombo
Dec 22nd 2011, 12:18
NONE? I suggest you wake up then. It is proven YES that cannabis opens the door to other drugs...and as far as I know only some 5% of cannabis users stop there and do not start other hardcore drugs like heroin and cocaine. The shizophrenia part is also vouched by doctors. I do not need anymore facts to form an opinion which I expect everyone to respect in a democratic country.
L. Schulte
Dec 22nd 2011, 17:23
I dont know what your scientific background consists of, or where you get this information, but if you had read any scientific article you would know that there is no evidence of cannabis leading to schizophrenia. In fact, if you kept on reading in more detail you would learn that certain strains of cannabis can potentially be used to decrease symptoms of schizophrenic patients.
furthermore, the only reason why a cannabis user should get into contact with more serious drugs such as cocaine and heroin is because he has to purchase his cannabis on the black market. Because of the high addiction rate and price of these other drugs, your dealer will push them on you in replacement of cannabis, because HE KNOWS that cannabis doesnt make his client addicted and he can make much more profit from cocaine and heroin.
There is no physiological reason to move on to other drugs after having used cannabis. In fact, using cannabis decreases your tolerance for heroin, but does not increase your desire for it. Go on google SCHOLAR and read the facts yourself.
Jack Spiteri
Apr 19th, 17:43
@stanley, your arguments are irrelevant. Your statistic about 5% of cannabis users stopping there is untrue, it is considered a gateway drug because most heroine addicts started from cannabis. That is a fact, but I bet that the also smoked a cigarette and cracked a beer before their first joint should those be illegal too? Also, would you deny an alcoholic medical attention from OUR taxes?
Ms.D. Galea
Dec 18th 2011, 20:15
Today's anything-goes motto;
FIRST break the law and THEN agitate publicly to have the law changed to save your skin.
I'm impressed.
Jack Spiteri
Apr 19th, 17:49
Its not about saving skins its about solving a problem. If you lived in 1940s America would you speak in favour of prohibition just because its the law? If a law is incorrect we have every right to protest against it. How can you pass judgement on a topic that you are unaffected by and obviously uneducated in? Do you think so many people worldwide are making this fuss just to save their skins??
L. Schulte
Dec 18th 2011, 17:07
So humans and cannabis sativa lived side by side for what, around 5000 years (that we know of)? If it had been this detrimental to one's health, personal life, and the life of the entire community, don't you think that at some point, from an evolutionary perspective, someone would have had the smarts to say 'Hey, I think this plant is not that good for us!' ? Or the people who consumed it would have simply died out (natural selection for those unfamiliar with the theory)? No, we instead have receptors for the substance in our brain. Receptors that are crucial in functioning as a normal, healthy human being...
Why is it that this plant has only become EVIL and UNHEALTHY and SCHIZOPHRENIA-PROVOKING since the 1930s? Can one really be this naive?
David Caruana
Dec 18th 2011, 15:14
"The other paradox is that schizophrenia seems to be disappearing (from the general population) even though cannabis use has increased markedly in the last 30 years. In fact, where people have looked, they haven’t found any evidence linking cannabis use in a population and schizophrenia."
Professor David Nutt (Centre for Crime and Justice)
Professor Nutt was quoted by the Sedqa representative on Dissett so no one can say we're quotingbiased literature.
http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/opus1714/Estimating_drug_harms.pdf
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 19th 2011, 17:58
@ David Caruana.
If you insist on quoting David Nutt please state also that his views are in open conflict with those of similarly qualified psychiatrists, so much so that the UK government dismissed him from the chairmanship of its Advisory Council of the Misuse of Drugs.
Paul Smith
Dec 18th 2011, 13:22
I can understand the Government/police taking pictures of anarchy supporters whom threaten legitimate democracy - but taking photo's of people on a peaceful legalize cannabis march? All i can say is back in the USSR
BTW: The post by charles tabone is utter gibberish the only part of his post i understand is the part about schizophrenics - even that is a misinformed opinion with no scientific value as no link has ever been proven and if it were the case that cannabis use led to schizophrenia then the UK would have had a schizophrenia time bomb exploding in the last decade whilst in fact it actually went down, Cannabis has been decriminalized in the Netherlands for 30 years - where are all the schizophrenics? I doubt the 16 US states would allow medical herbal cannabis to be sold if there were any evidence schizophrenia
In fact Cannabis with high CBD levels has been shown to help schizophrenics see the BBC horizon on sativex please Mr. Tabone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2gqoU2w_rY
Im waiting for the religious right wing to turn up, come on Doctor
Joseph Agius
Dec 18th 2011, 12:55
And I have to pay tax for their mental care! Prosit!
Michael Zarb
Dec 19th 2011, 08:59
I agree - but that is why it is better to tax them for it, at least we recover some costs and reduce the earnings of organised crime.
Also, I think there may be some substantial tourism benefits/costs that should be considered.
Robert Agius
Dec 19th 2011, 11:00
Why don't you tell us what you have in your fridge and I am sure you are more likely to find things that will cause more health risks. Heart disease is the biggest killer and I challenge to find ANY mental illness which costs taxpayers the same amount of money or remotely close. Actually, I doubt you will find if you combined all mental illnesses.
Robert Agius
Dec 19th 2011, 11:04
Please also note that it is untaxed precisely because it IS illegal. So even if finances are your issue, you wouldn't even go for decriminalization but legalization.
charles tabone
Dec 18th 2011, 12:28
Mr Caruana. you want youngstrers and individuals to be free as as they have the right over mind and body. And when you all become schizophrenic, you turn to the health authorities for a possible cure at OUR expense. You and those who support you do have the guts. The same can be said, by your line of reasoning, that a girl or a gay can prostitute oneself, and pimps should be above the law since you are reasoning that cannabis should be legally grown and sold. What I suggest in your name are harsher penalties for both users and pushers.
Roger Camilleri
Dec 18th 2011, 13:14
that is laughable mr tabone:
1) there are just as many studies disproving the link between cannabis and schizophrenia
2) the studies that DO show the link show a very minuscule amount of people that actually do 'develop' the condition.
This will soon be brought to light dont you worry
Ramon Casha
Dec 18th 2011, 13:19
"And when you all become schizophrenic..."
Are you for real? Please inform yourself before making such absurd statements.
The indications so far are that a person already would have schizophrenia, in which case cannabis can increase the incidence or severity of psychoses, which means that there is a contraindication for the use of cannabis by schizophrenia sufferers - no different than a person who's lactose intolerant should avoid milk, and coeliacs should avoid gluten.
"What I suggest in your name are harsher penalties for both users and pushers."
Who are you to suggest anything in anyone's name but your own?
If you want harsher penalties for users and pushers, then if you want to be consistent you should aim for even harsher penalties than that to anyone who sells or consumes alcohol in any quantity and in any form, including wine and beer.
Of course since that means most of the adult population of Malta, the easiest thing to do is to declare all of Malta a prison, maybe leaving a small area such as Cordin for those who have never tasted alcohol and declare that to be "outside the prison".
Stefan Micallef
Dec 18th 2011, 13:25
Get your facts straight ;) you sound like a parrot repeating the misinformation given to the public by government people who don't know the facts and have their best interest in keep cannabis illegal. The rate of schizophrenia among cannabis users is extremely extremely low, i can't be arsed checking exactly cause frankly I know this will fall on deaf ears but be my guest and search yourself via the internet. While cannabis use has grown dramatically during the last few decades, schizophrenia hasn't, additionally, using your logic then the taxpayers should stop paying for people's lung/liver cancer disease treatment cause they brought it on themselves by smoking/drinking alcohol.
Robert Agius
Dec 18th 2011, 19:52
are you for real Mr. Tabone?
J lanzon
Dec 18th 2011, 11:47
What about The Data Protect Act? I'm not entirely sure, but If they do not need the photos anymore, it's illegal to keep the pictures. So Police/government who ever controls the pictures, may we see the release of the photographs?
David Caruana
Dec 18th 2011, 12:37
Don't worry James, you all looked good!
Eric Sammut
Dec 18th 2011, 10:26
The decriminalization of Marijuana is to stop treating users as criminals and to stop criminals from making money from something God created. Marijuana became illegal because of the competition with the cotton crop. Marijuana is useful to make paper, cloth, and to help one relax. The amount of money the world spends in keeping marijuana illegal is phenomenal yet it is kept illegal to be used as an under-world commodity. Legalize it, its what the people want. If you don't like it, don't smoke it. I have yet to meet somebody who can honestly say Marijuana would ruin their life if it was legal. Its the laws against it that is ruining people's lives.
Philip Mamo
Dec 18th 2011, 10:09
"Meanwhile, a plainclothes policeman was seen taking close-up photos of the demonstrators", isn't that against data protection?
J lanzon
Dec 18th 2011, 11:48
Completely, for the reason he took them. But if he just deletes them after the use is invalid, then it's ok. But if it's kept longer then supposedly, that's against the Data protection act.
Johnathan Cilia
Dec 18th 2011, 12:33
This is a really totalitarian practice still used in "democratic" Malta.
Please choose the reason of your report below: