Alternattiva Demokratika today expressed satisfaction that the Prime Minister was now convinced that its proposal on the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use was valid.

Chairman Arnold Cassola said: "We are glad to see that after following in Alternattiva Demokratika's footsteps as regards first the issue of divorce and then the issue of Civil Unions, now the Prime Minister has also convinced himself that AD's proposal on decriminalisation of drugs for personal use is a valid one too."Prof. Cassola asked how was the Prime Minister to reconcile his stand on this issue with that of his star candidate Alfred Sant, who was adamant against the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use.

Spokesman for social policy Robert Callus said that the government was at last realising the harm the war on drug users was doing to society and intended to do something about it.

"However, unlike Prime Minister Muscat, AD suggests that it is not only first time offenders who should not be treated as criminals for simple possession for personal use.

"Will people still get arrested until it's established whether they're first time offenders?

"And what about the second offence of people who's only crime is simple possession for personal use?

"While such a move by government is commendable, it is equally important that the devil in the detail of the law doesn't make it ineffective," he said.