Many have been left fuming after famous US rapper Wiz Khalifa plastered himself all over social media smoking marijuana in his hotel room and the Blue Lagoon in Comino without repercussions; while 11 people were later arrested for simple drug possession while attending the Isle of MTV concert he performed at.
Last year saw an overhaul in drug penalties for simple possession. As is, a maximum of 3.5gramms of marijuana will land you a fine between €50 and €100, however the police still reserve the right to detain an individual for up to 48 hours.
The pictures posted of the rapper in his hotel room clearly indicate that there are over the 3.5gramms legal limit – however even if it is unclear as to the quantity. Though the evidence was available online, there was no search of the rapper’s hotel room or at the very calling him in for questioning.
Many have said on social media that this is a classic case of two weights, two measures: The famous rapper can happily publicise himself as breaking the law by smoking marijuana, but don’t dare try it if you are just an ordinary citizen.
The crux of the issue, according to popular opinion, is not so much as whether marijuana should be legal or not, but rather that everybody should be treated equally and fairly. A whopping 78 people were arrested for drug related charges at the popular Earth Garden Festival at the beginning of June. This, some argued begs the question as to why the police would not arrest an influential figure such as Wiz Khalifa in their line of duty, but choose to go after groups of revellers?
At a press conference which took place ahead of the Isle of Mtv concert, many journalists reported that the rapper was visibly smoking a marijuana joint before and after the conference took place at the Excelsior hotel – but the police were not brought in.
When contacted by this newspaper, Inspector Sandro Camilleri, the President of the POU-GWU, said his phone had been inundated with calls over the past few days. “Many people have called me and complained that it was not fair that a singer bragged about smoking joints went unpunished but then the police arrested 11 people who were doing the exact same thing at his concert. I told them to keep calm and that the authorities had been informed but I understand their frustration.”
Inspector Camilleri referred to a statement released by the Police Force, in which it said that it had investigated the Blue Lagoon photos and found that no criminal act had been committed. “I understand that an investigation has been carried out. Then again it is illegal to be in possession of cannabis in the Maltese islands and the law is the same for everyone, even for international artists.” If the photo was not some form of bluff, it could constitute evidence, he said.
The Inspector said his job was as a union boss and he could not speak on behalf of the police force. He said he was not aware the US rapper had smoked what appeared to be joints during a pre-show press conference at the Excelsior and said this might change the situation. “What was he trying to do, promote weed in Malta? This is certainly not setting an example.”
‘The law applies to everyone’
The President of the Malta Police Association, Inspector Malcolm Bondin said that the law is the law, and it applies to everyone.
Inspector Bondin was reacting to the news that 11 people had been arrested over cannabis possession, while American rapper Whiz Khalifa bragged about smoking marijuana joints while in Malta. He told this newspaper that the police do not discriminate and insisted that everyone is within the reach of the law, even VIPs.
He then explained that the police could only base their evidence on a photo and an allegation made by Khalifa himself.
It is understood that under the revised drug laws, simple possession is no longer a criminal act but an arrestable offence, in view of the police reserving the right to detain a person for up to 48 hours.