The proposed drug reform could play into the hands of drug barons, according to Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna who is calling on MPs to hold a deeper debate before “rushing into” new legislation.

“My question is who is going to benefit from this new legislation?

“Is it society, or is it the drug barons who are already profiting from drug sales?” he asked.

Mgr Scicluna made the comments following details of the proposed drug reform, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament next month.

Details on the legislative review remain sketchy, but the government appears to be moving towards a more liberal legal stance on personal drug use.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had said drug reform was next on the government’s agenda following the Civil Unions Act last April.

This proposed reform has sparked contrasting views – a recovering heroin addict had told this newspaper he felt decriminalising drugs would remove one of the main incentives for kicking the habit.

On the other hand, drug expert Mario Mifsud, who is advising Parliament on the future of the island’s “outdated” drug laws, feels decriminalisation is inevitable.

Mgr Scicluna expressed concern over the blanket removal of criminal sanctions for repeated drug use during a programme on the Church radio station RTK. Such a move, he said, could have the undesirable effect of removing deterrents to drug use.

“We do not want to be telling youngsters that taking drugs is OK. We need a policy that will remove the stigma placed on drug users, but we also need to be careful not to deliver them into the hands of drug dealers,” he said when contacted by Times of Malta.

Asked if he thought drug users were criminals, Mgr Scicluna said he viewed them as citizens who committed a criminal act.

“I would condemn the action, not the perpetrator,” he said.

Pressed on the possibility of removing the criminal label often attributed to drug users, Mgr Scicluna said it was too early to comment.

“I wouldn’t necessarily be against this. But commenting at this point would jumping the gun,” Mgr Scicluna said, as he called on politicians to heed the advice of Pope Francis ­– who last week urged society to stand up to drugs in all circumstances.

Mgr Scicluna said he was alarmed that the public was being “passive” over an issue that affected the whole of society.

The country should be discussing the ramifications of such a move, said.

Treating addiction

Drug addiction should be “treated as a disease just like HIV or cancer”, according to Alternattiva Demokratika.

The Green Party yesterday presented a position paper on the proposed drug reform to the Justice Reform Commission.

The paper highlighted a number of proposals, including the promotion of treatment over punishment.

In a number of comparisons to the Portuguese drug legislation, AD suggested moving towards a “more humane” policy on drugs.

Portugal decriminalised simple drug possession back in 2001.

AD also suggested increased measures for harm reduction, including prescribing controlled heroin for long-term addicts as practised in the UK and Switzerland.

Children’s coping mechanisms also required closer attention.

If not strengthened, this could lead youths to drug abuse irrespective of whether they were illegal, AD said.