No proposals aimed at strengthening the fight against trafficking are included in the proposed drug reform, according to the Nationalist Party’s youth forum.

In a consultation document released yesterday, Moviment Żgħażagħ Partit Nazzjonalista said the government had pledged a harder stand on traffickers but, so far, did not make any suggestions as to how this would come about.

The proposed reform also failed to identify who would classify as a trafficker, it said.

Such individuals should not automatically face criminal proceedings

The document was drafted after a series of discussions with stakeholders, including rehabilitation agencies, the University Students’ Council, pro-legalisation lobbies and the public.

The government is proposing an overhaul of penalties with users being given an administrative fine the first time they are found in simple possession.

The fine, expected to be pegged on those given for smoking indoors, will also be the only penalty in the case of those found in possession of cannabis, regardless of the number of offences, a main bone of contention in the reform.

Repeat offenders found in possession of other drugs will face a specially set up board that will set conditions the user would have to adhere to. These could include community service and enrolment to a rehabilitation programme.

Failure to abide by the conditions will be deemed a criminal offence, meaning that, contrary to popular belief, the reform will maintain a form of criminal deterrent.

Opposition justice spokesman Beppe Fenech Adami had said in June drug users should be given a second chance to reform but eventually face criminal proceedings for drug possession.

When asked whether the PN would be sticking to its original proposals or accept those being made by the government, a spokesman said the party had not yet formulated a position.

The PN youth forum agreed with the appointment of a Justice Commissioner to oversee drug cases.

It recommended a more lenient model than what the government was suggesting when repeat offenders violated the conditions set.

Such individuals, the forum said, should not automatically face criminal proceedings. Instead, it should be the special board that would decide, thus limiting the involvement of the courts.