The Nationalist Party parliamentary group has railed against the government’s proposed legalisation of cannabis, saying that it would normalise and increase drug abuse in Malta.

In a statement, the PN said that its parliamentary group had concluded “detailed” discussions about the bill which would legalise the use of cannabis, having consulted with groups, organisations, and private individuals who work in this sector.

The PN parliamentary group said that in 2015 cannabis had been decriminalised for personal use, noting that the PN’s parliamentary group had supported that amendment.

However, the PN said that the bill as proposed by the government would “normalise and increase drug abuse in our country.”

“The PN’s parliamentary group is not in favour of having a prevalent culture of drug abuse in our country,” the party said in a statement.

 The PN said that the bill as proposed by the government gives no protection or help to those who are vulnerable to falling for the habit of drugs, and offers no new and more effective legal tools for drug trafficking to be fought.

The PN parliamentary group said that it fully believes that Parliament should be the interests of the most vulnerable, particularly children, first.

The party said that the government’s proposed bill turns its back on children and their interests.

Legalisation, it said, should only come to strengthen Maltese society and should never be used by a political party to create divisions on issues which are truly urgent in the country on the eve of an election.