Malta should stop making criminals of people in possession of drugs for their personal use, Alternattiva Demokratika said yesterday.

Instead it should follow the “successful model” of Portugal, the Green party said at a press conference.

Portugal reclassified drug possession from a criminal to an administrative offence in 2001.

It placed great emphasis on drug treatment and prevention services, and encouraged addicts to seek help.

AD said the Portuguese model had successfully reduced drug deaths and HIV infection rates.

“Education remains a key tool for policies on drugs,” said AD chairman Michael Briguglio.

Drug users should be aware of the effects of the substances they take and should receive help if they seek it.

“But criminalising people for making use of drugs has been a failure not only in terms of policy but... has resulted in a spiral of hardships,” Mr Briguglio said.

“Victims of drug addiction and dependency should be considered as people in need of help and not as criminals.”

A change in policy would also ensure that recreational drug users, including those who cultivate soft drugs for personal use, were not criminalised for their lifestyle, the chairman added.

AD citizenship spokesman Robert Callus said drugs should be reclassified according to their effects.

Nurturing a cannabis plant for personal use should not be considered a separate crime of cultivation, which carried a mandatory minimum prison sentence, even if the user had no intention of selling the drugs.

The Government and the Labour Party have consistently reiterated their opposition to drug decriminalisation.