The highly anticipated drug legislation review will be tabled before the summer parliamentary recess, Justice Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici told Times of Malta.
“We are in the final stages of this new legislation and will be releasing more information when we are closer to completion,” Dr Bonnici said, adding that a White Paper on the reform should be ready in the coming weeks.
We are in the final stages of this new legislation
The review will see first-time offenders – found in possession of drugs for personal use – avoid being processed through the criminal courts.
Instead, they will be sent before a non-judicial body as part of the government’s planned arrest referral scheme.
Dr Bonnici said he was discussing the law with drug agencies and other stakeholders and had made significant headway.
“I have spoken to Caritas and other agencies and we are working towards a new set of regulations acceptable to all, which regulations I believe are more in line with the realities facing contemporary Maltese society,” he said.
The initial drive to review the islands’ drug laws had exposed a chasm between the body entrusted with drafting the national drug policy, rehabilitation agency Sedqa and the Justice Reform Commission.
The commission, headed by retired European Court judge Giovanni Bonello, had suggested the decriminalisation of possession of soft drugs, a position supported by Sedqa.
On the other hand, the National Commission on the Abuse of Drugs, Alcohol and other Dependencies had insisted that decriminalisation should “under no circumstances” be considered.
Commission chairwoman Marilyn Clarke defended the position, despite it conflicting strongly with reports drafted by the Global Commission on Drugs. She insisted that the aim of the new non-judicial body should be to reduce the negative impact of the label that often resulted from a criminal conviction.
Asked what other measures the new policy will include, Dr Bonnici kept his cards close to his chest, insisting these would be revealed closer to the summer recess.
He did, however, reveal his intention to discuss the introduction of laws to counter driving under the influence of drugs.
The issue was raised by pharmacologist Mario Mifsud during a meeting of the parliamentary Social Affairs Committee on drug use last week.
Dr Mifsud had been behind introducing Maltese breathalyser tests and argued that no legislation existed to govern driving under the influence of drugs.