ADPD considers the white paper on cannabis decriminalisation a positive step in the right direction. Hopefully this will lead to a mature discussion on the issue. There is much more to be done.
ADPD Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo said: ”As we have always insisted, including in our 2017 election manifesto, the war on drugs has failed miserably. It is positive that the government is at last moving away from criminalisation of cannabis users. It is about time that people’s lives are no longer destroyed by the justice system for smoking a joint, doing more harm than what the drug could have ever caused. The freed-up police resources, which are currently strained on pursuing cannabis users can be used for more important work such as combatting corruption in high levels of authority, including at Cabinet level.”
ADPD spokesperson Samuel Muscat pointed out that the white paper does not mention anything on the sale of cannabis. “While possession of a certain amount is made legal, selling is illegal under the same legislation as before, leading to grey areas. ADPD proposes the regularisation of the drug and sale can be controlled under licensed shops.”
“We hope the next step in our drug policy is the decriminalisation of all drug users and addicts, following the Portuguese model, as has already been vaguely promised by the Labour party. It has been shown to be the most effective model for harm reduction from drug use. Drug addiction and abuse needs to be addressed as a medical and social issue not a criminal one. Those who are already rendered victims of drug abuse should not be victimised again by the criminal justice system.”
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Kannabis – pass fid-direzzjoni t-tajba
ADPD tqis il-white paper dwar id-dekriminalizazzjoni tal-kannabis bħala pass pożittiv fid-direzzjoni t-tajba. Nittamaw li l-white paper twassal għal diskussjoni matura fuq is-suġġett. Hemm ħafna aktar x’jista’ jsir.
Iċ-Chairperson ta’ ADPD Carmel Cacopardo qal:”Kif dejjem sostnejna, inkluż fil-manifest elettorali tal-2017, l-hekk imsejħa gwerra fuq id-droga falliet totalment. Hija ħaġa pożittiva li fl-aħħar wara ħafna dewmien l-gvern qed jagħżel li jwitti t-triq biex min juża l-kannabis ma jibqax jitqies bħala kriminal. Iż-żmien li l-istat jagħmel il-ħajja ta’ min juża l-kannabis miżerja u jkaxkru quddiem il-ġustizzja ilu li spiċċa. Ir-riżorsi tal-pulizija għandhom jintużaw għal xogħol ħafna aktar importanti milli joqgħodu jxammu lil min juża l-kannabis. Il-pulizija għandha tiffoka fuq xogħol bħall-ġlieda kontra l-korrotti u l-korruzzjoni fl-organi tal-istat, inkluż fil-kabinett tal-Ministri.”
Il-kelliem ta’ ADPD Samuel Muscat qal:”Il-white paper ma ssemmi xejn rigward l-bejgħ tal-kannabis. Għalkemm il-pussess ta’ ċertu ammont ta’ kannabis mhux se jibqa’ reat kriminali, il-bejgħ donnu se jibqa’ illegali. Din hija lakuna li hemm bżonn tiġi indirizzata. ADPD tipproponi l-bejgħ minn ħwienet regolati u liċenzjati apposta.”
“Nittamaw li l-pass li jmiss ikun id-dekriminalizazzjoni ta’ min juża jew jabbuża mid-drogi kollha skont il-mudell Portugiż, xi ħaġa li l-Partit Laburista kien b’mod vag alluda għaliha fil-passat. Dan il-mudell huwa ippruvat li huwa effettiv biex titnaqqas il-ħsara li ssir lil min juża d-drogi, partikolarment dawk qawwija. L-abbuż mid-droga għandha titqies bħala problema medika u soċjali u mhux bħala problema li tidħol fiha l-pulizija u s-sistema ta’ ġustizzja kriminali. Dawk li huma vittmi tad-droga m’għandhomx jispiċċaw vittmi tas-sistema tal-ġustizzja wkoll.”
