A lawyer this afternoon vociferously objected to the arraignment of a Macedonian woman for smoking a joint just six days before the simple possession of cannabis is decriminalised. 

Joseph Ellis was making submissions during the arraignment of Elena Zdravskovsa, 28, who was caught smoking with a friend in a toilet at the Meridien Hotel in St Julian's on Wednesday evening. She was charged with the simple possession of cannabis. 

Before Magistrate Giovanni Grixti, Dr Ellis at first insisted for the prosecution to justify the woman's arrest. 

Police Inspector Caroline Fabri said that the accused was found smoking in the toilet of the hotel together with a male companion. When a search was conducted, foil and other drug paraphernalia was found on the woman’s person.

She said that possession of cannabis was, until now and until the law is changed, an offence that merited immediate arrest. She also obtained an order for the arraignment from the Attorney General's office. 

"It is very unfair on the accused that she is arraigned in court six days before the law comes into effect," Dr Ellis complained. 

The inspector argued that nobody knows what will happen in six days and that the possession of cannabis was against the law. 

To this, Dr Ellis replied: "It is an abuse of judicial proceedings."

Magistrate Grixti overturned Dr Ellis's complaint as the law, as it stood today, made possession of cannabis illegal. 

The woman at the end decided to plead guilty to the charge brought against her and she was conditionally discharged for six months.