The Nationalist Party is seeking an urgent meeting of parliament’s petitions committee to discuss the cannabis law before a vote is taken on Tuesday.

In a statement, the PN said that it had made a formal request on 7 December and had also made contact with Labour MP Joe Mizzi, who is chairman of the said committee.

The reason for the meeting is the petition put forward by 53 organisations for a revisiting of the bill on recreational cannabis use, on which Parliament is to vote on Tuesday.

The PN said it had not received a reply on its request.

It had therefore sent an official letter for such a meeting to be held. In the letter, the opposition explained that all parliamentary procedures can change on the agreement of both sides of the House. This means that there should not be any problems for the committee to meet.

This is a matter of serious nature and of national importance, the PN said.

Its representatives on the committee are prepared to attend the meeting at any time of day, it added.