The battle lines for and against the legalisation of the so-called recreational use of cannabis are being drawn up very clearly. The medical experts and those who for decades helped drug victims are adamant that cannabis for recreational use should not be legalised. Those who have little, if any, expertise say that it should be legalised.
In such a scenario the logical conclusion should be not to legalise. But very reliable sources are saying that a political decision in favour of legalising has already been taken. It seems that for government it is a question of ‘when’ and ‘how’ not ‘if’.
Many are the experts who, basing themselves on academic research and their vast experience in the field, are saying ‘no’.
Last November during a discussion on RTK Dr Roberta Farrugia Debono, president of the Chamber of Psychologists, said that she is against the legalisation of cannabis as she had seen enough young people destroyed through drug use. The chamber has yet to take an official stand. But it would be inconceivable for it not to condemn a measure considered by their president as very harmful to society.
While the chamber is still to pronounce itself, the Malta Association of Psychiatrists took an official position months ago. Moreover it recently joined forces with Oasis, the foundation helping persons seeking rehabilitation from drug use, to conjointly say ‘no’.
Both these organisations daily come in touch with the very real harm that cannabis and other drugs do to individuals and their families. It is the harm they witness that made them take their stance. They both retained that legalising this drug would engender harm to society by giving the message that such harm does not exist.
Cannabis use in Colorado has been on the rise since it was legalised and this has led to a substantial increase in emergency department visits
Besides basing themselves on their direct experience, the association and Oasis buttress their position with well-researched peer reviewed studies which show that cannabis use has negative effects on the user’s well-being.
All Maltese should feel indebted towards Caritas which has been at the forefront of the fight against drug abuse. Caritas has given thousands of persons – mainly drug users and their families – a new life and a new hope.
No one in Malta is as experienced as Caritas is about this subject. So how can the government ignore Caritas’s repeated and unequivocal informed and researched ‘no’ to the legalisation of the drug?
Earlier on this March. Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, Dean of the Faculty of Social Well-being, clearly stated that “the negative impact of this substance compared to the ‘benefits’ some might quote in favour of legalising cannabis consumption are unparalleled.”
All the above experts are saying that there is nothing safe or sensible in such legalisation. On the other hand the group Releaf is saying yes to legalisation. They do not have the long experience of working with drug users that Oasi and Caritas have. Releaf does not have the academic clout and professional experience that the Malta Association of Psychiatrists, the president of the Chamber of Psychologists and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Well-being have.
When, during a radio discussion, I challenged a Releaf representative to outline their studies or experience he could only say that they read articles on theinternet. A position which is hilarious were it not shocking!
On their FB page they mention the state of Colorado, the US, as their shining light. It is good to know that a study which has just been published by the UC Health University of Colorado Hospital found that cannabis use in Colorado has been on the rise since it was legalised and that this has led to a substantial increase in emergency department visits by users.
Given such a scenario, why does the government want to legalise cannabis? Why does it want to give in to the lobby of the big moneyed bullies who will line their pockets with more millions if cannabis for recreational use is legalised? When will we see the end of the politicians/big-business tandem that is doing so much harm in our country? Or it just a cynical decision based on polls which could show that a group of people are ready to change their vote if cannabis is legalised?
Votes and profits are no justification for ruining the lives of so many people, particularly youths.
This is a Times of Malta print opinion piece