CEO of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) Leonid Mckay warned Thursday that the country should be committed at political level to make sure that Cannabis Associations do not steer towards commercialisation, deeming it as dangerous as the illegal market.

McKay was speaking in a press conference on Thursday, where he explained that the authority will be putting harm reduction at the centre of its policy in the language we use, as it will be giving objective information to all those who decide to make use of cannabis, without promoting the use of the substance.

The guidelines the authority will issue to users, founders, and members of associations, as well as individuals who cultivate cannabis, will be focused on harm reduction, without promoting drug use.

“When we speak about harm reduction, we do not stop only on the harm the substance causes, but the information we will provide will focus on the safest way to use it should you decide to consume it, to reduce the harm done,” McKay said.

One of the recommendations for users is to postpone the use of cannabis till after the age of 25, as risk increases with certain ages.

McKay said that the associations who will accept a capped amount of members, for the responsible use of cannabis, will be given training in providing information to its users.

He insisted that the authority does not want to encourage new individuals to make use of the substance but wants to see a shift from people who consume cannabis through the illegal market, to the regulated market led by ARUC, which will provide a tested and safe product.

McKay said that so far, the authority has received 26 applications by associations for licensing, and will be subject to meeting strict criteria and vetting of founders, adding that this does not mean that all applications will be accepted.

Drug policy researcher specialising in harm reduction Karen Mamo described the details on the harm reduction approach for the ‘Cannabis Harm Reduction Associations.’

Mamo said that the members will be given information on harm reduction, and the founder and staff need to be certified in training on harm and risk reduction, as they become the voice of people who use and cultivate cannabis for personal reasons in Malta.

She said that the authority wants to create a reciprocal dialogue with individuals who use and cultivate cannabis responsibly, as well as move into the direction of cannabis education and health, decriminalisation and social justice and cannabis cultivation and sustainability.

Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg said that government had clear aims in its legislation, which is to remove the stigma and decriminalise individuals who use the substance for personal use.

She said that use of cannabis has spread among adults across the world, despite all effort from police forces to reduce the availability of the substance.

“This is not an admission of failure, but rather Malta has adopted a policy which addresses this through a harm reduction model, which is being adopted in other countries,” Buttigieg said.

She said that damage is caused if people who use cannabis are branded as criminals.

“The strategy needs to directly hit the illegal drug market,” Buttigieg said, adding that the ARUC will monitor associations and its members, and provide a clean, tested substance.

“We are not legitimising drug use, but offering an alternative and information for the responsible use,” Buttigieg continued.

Asked for a timeframe for the issuing of the first licenses to associations, McKay said that the process takes long, and it is better to do it right than to do it quickly.

The guidelines are comprised of 12 recommendations for the safer use of cannabis, with the first one being to delay use of cannabis until after late adolescence. 

People who use cannabis should also use ‘low potency’ cannabis products, meaning a balanced THC:CBD content ratio.

People who use cannabis should also refrain from smoking it, and seek other ways of use for pulmonary health protection. 

It is recommended that if use occurs by inhalation, people should avoid deep inhalation, prolonged breath-holding, or similar inhalation practices.

Another recommendation is for cannabis use to be limited and less frequent, rather than daily.

When possible, those who use cannabis should access legal and quality-controlled cannabis products and use devices.

Those who are experiencing impaired cognitive performance due to cannabis use should consider temporarily suspending or substantially reducing the intensity of the product.

It is recommended to avoid driving a vehicle or operating machinery under the influence of cannabis, due to elevated risks of injury and death.

Another recommendation is for people who intend to procreate to abstain from using cannabis due to risks for reproduction and harm to the offspring. 

The guidelines advise against the combination of other substances with cannabis, such as tobacco which increases dependency, as well as alcohol and other substances.

It is also recommended that cannabis use is avoided for people who are more at risk for health problems due to biological pre-dispositions.

The last recommendation is to avoid cannabis use entirely due to a combination of risk factors which amplifies severe harm.