No formal applications for the setting up of non-profit cannabis clubs have yet been submitted to the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), a spokesperson for the authority told The Malta Independent.
On 28 February, people interested in setting up a non-profit cannabis club were able to start applying for a licence. Licensing is subject to a set of standards concerning operations, cultivation, sampling, testing, packaging and labelling.
Responding to questions asked by this media house, a spokesperson for the Authority said that the application process aims to regulate Cannabis Harm Reduction Associations (CHRA) and facilitate the provision of recreational cannabis to their members. “The Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis organised a convention earlier this year during which it introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework that Associations must follow and implement. Following consultations with the stakeholders in the sector, the implemented framework has been designed with the ultimate goal of promoting the safe and responsible use of cannabis.”
To qualify for registration and licensing, Associations must meet a number of requirements, the spokesperson said.
“The main criteria include having two or more registered founders, ensuring that all administrators have good conduct, and meeting the authority's standards for the cultivation, sampling, testing, packaging, and labelling of cannabis. Additionally, administrators must have been residents of Malta for at least five years, and members must be at least 18 years old and only belong to one Association at a time. No advertisement will be allowed and they are prohibited from operating within 250 metres of a school or youth centre. All applications will be thoroughly reviewed by the Authority to ensure that the required criteria have been met,” the spokesperson said.
“According to its founding principles, the Authority will be providing harm and risk reduction training to all associations to ensure that the spirit of the law is respected to the full. The review and approval process of an application is contingent upon the fulfilment of all the necessary requirements by prospective associations. Since prospective associations are currently in the process of gathering all the necessary documents required by the application, no formal application has been submitted. Once the eligibility criteria has been reached, a license will be issued.”