The government will take a holistic approach and emphasised that the bill for reform of cannabis laws is absolutely not an incentive for drug use, said Abela at the site of the newly inaugurated therapeutic centre for adolescents at Tal-Ibwar.  

In reply to a question asked by the media about how many drug users end up in the cycle of drug use after first trying cannabis, Abela said that it is definitely not the intention to promote cannabis or any other drug use in Malta.

“At the same time, we must recognise the fact that there are individuals who make use of recreational cannabis despite the education against it, and we do not want to see these individuals end up in prison or with a stained conduct,” said Abela.

He said that projects with NGOs, primarily Caritas, must continue to happen while the main message continues to be the harm reduction approach.

During the inauguration, Archbishop Charles Scicluna appeals that these centres should not become the norm.