Leader of the opposition Adrian Delia this evening called for proper safeguards and regulation in the law being proposed by government regarding the production of cannabis for medical use.
Delia asked on several occasions whether the government, with such a law, was addressing the production of medicine or the cultivation of cannabis.
Delia explained that the bill as it is, does not have the safeguards necessary when dealing with such a serious subject.
Delia noted it is important to pass a law which is rigorous, and not one that can be easily changed with a simple legal notice, which will change the aim of the law from using cannabis from medical use to one of recreational use.
PN MP Kristy Debono also spoke out against the 8 page bill, criticising its vagueness and indicating that eight pages was simply not enough when such countries as Canada, who are seen as leaders in the sector, whose cannabis law is 100 pages long. "It is too short and dry and carries far too many risks as it is today" Debono stated. The PN MP also asked why, since the house had agreed that this was for medical use, was it that the economy minister, Chris Cardona, the one to present the bill.
She questioned whether this was bill was based on an economical scope, with news that the government was already speaking to a company who produces cannabis before the parliament had even agreed upon the bill itself.
Economy Minister, Chris Cardona, retorted that the bill was for medical use and that since the bill regards production and manufacturing of cannabis both locally and for importation, the economic sector comes into it.
Cardona assured that the bill was not written quickly and that it was the mothering law, allowing for legal notices to always be made under the scrutiny of the medicine authority who will be the regulator.
Cardona added that the medicine authority is internationally recognised, and that there is no question that even if a company is bought by another company for example, the medical authority will be still be in control, this is a complete guarantee.