Archbishop Paul Cremona said this evening that decriminalising the use of Cannabis could lead users to forget the negative effects of drug-taking.
He was addressing guests at the graduation of former addicts who have completed rehabilitation programmes at the Caritas Centre in San Blas.
The Archbishop referred to a number of studies in the United States which showed that the prevalence of drug use had increased as a result of decriminalisation.
"We must keep in mind that drugs are not considered bad because they are illegal, but they are illegal because they are bad," he said.
Earlier, Mgr Carm Farrugia, assistant director of Caritas, said the majority of heroin users treated by Caritas over the past year had started taking the drug when they were 14 years old.
He said that in the case of cocaine, most users started the drug at age 16.
Mgr Farrugia said that Caritas last year helped 613 drug addicts, a 26 per cent increase compared to 10 years ago. Caritas started its programmes 30 years ago.
85 per cent of those treated by Caritas over the past year were men. Nearly half were unemployed at the time of starting their rehabilitation. Five per cent could not work because of their addiction. Seven per cent were students.
Mgr Farrugia said that over the past 10 years, those undergoing rehabilitation for cocaine addiction increased by 25 per cent.
He referred to the White Paper on the decriminalisation of drugs and reiterated the Caritas position that while there was need for change, this could not come with a new acceptance of drug use, even if this was limited. In a reference for the removal of criminal penalties for Cannabis use, he said no distinction should be made on drug types. He also reiterated the need for a drug court and said Malta needed to update the penalties which the courts handed down.
Those present for this evening’s ceremony include President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Archbishop Paul Cremona, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil and Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech.