The Head of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) Joey Reno Vella said that discussions should be held on the ethics and responsibility of smoking tobacco products in public spaces, as it causes just as much a nuisance as smoking cannabis in public does.

In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Vella was asked a multitude of questions related to the authority, the cannabis legislation, and the associations which started being set up, and licensed, in October of last year.

Over the last 20 years and more, there has been an entire campaign against smoking cigarettes and tobacco. Advertising has been prohibited, while cigarette packets contain images aimed to discourage smokers from continuing their habit.

Asked why society has moved to making  smoking “more difficult”, yet it has been made "easier" to smoke cannabis, Vella said that although there are campaigns against smoking, tobacco products are sold over the counter.

Cigarettes are legal and can be bought without any fear of prosecution. There are no restrictions and one can go buy as many packets of cigarettes as they want. With regards to cannabis, there are limits imposed, which sends a message that this is not a legal substance, and we urge you to use responsibly, Vella said.

Vella said he was aware of complaints about consuming cannabis in public, reiterating that first and foremost, the authority makes it clear that the consumption of cannabis in public is prohibited and illegal. It is clear in the law, he said.

"Indeed, the authority has made educational and informative video-clips on this aspect, so that the population understands that consuming cannabis is not okay," Vella said.

He continued that apart from the legal part, there are also ethical considerations to be made by the individual consuming cannabis on their surroundings.

Vella reiterated that this aspect must be seen in a holistic approach, advocating on the responsible approach.

"If you are consuming cannabis, first of all, consume in private, and make sure that you do not create nuisance or harm others around you," Vella said.

He said that this ethical consideration should also be extended to the consumption of tobacco products in public.

Vella recalled an instance where he recently dined on the terrace of a restaurant. He said that the person sitting in the next table pulled out a cigarette and started smoking.

"That also causes nuisance to the public. I believe that this ethical consideration should also be extended to the consumption of tobacco products in public, as ultimately, they too tend to cause a nuisance to individuals who are passively smoking," Vella said.

He said that there is, rightly so, an emphasis against consumption of cannabis in public, but he thinks that there is too much focus on cannabis, when there are other instances which cause similar nuisance and harmful effects, which are not really spoken about.

Vella said that firstly, the user has to be more ethical and responsible in whatever they consume, but he believes discussions should be held in this regard. These discussions should not solely target cannabis.

"If cannabis may pose harmful effects to passive smokers, then so do tobacco products," Vella said, adding that despite this, consumption of tobacco products in public spaces is allowed.

Synthetic cannabinoids

Vella was asked if the authority is doing anything about the rise of synthetic cannabinoids, such as HHC.

Whilst it does not fall directly within the remit of the authority since the associations cultivate and distribute natural and quality-tested cannabis, Vella said that the authority has been made aware of the rise of HHC and other synthetics which are "sifting through the market at a commercial level."

The authority has issued a strong statement against the use of these HHC, and has also established a multi-disciplinary consultative committee which is comprised of representatives from the Superintendence of Public Health, the Police executive, the Customs department, Health department as well as the toxicology department, the main key players in this regard.

Vella said that the committee was created to tackle the subject of HHC and other synthetics being produced, and to devise a plan for the way forward, to be eventually presented and submitted to the government to be implemented at a political level.

In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday published last week, toxicologists from the Malta National Poisons Centre said that they had noted a significant increase in the number of people seeking treatment following cannabis intoxications.

Asked about this, Vella said that he was aware of the report, as well as a report which recently highlighted increases in drug-related emergencies.

"In this regard, from what I have seen, there is absolutely no links between these drug-related emergencies reported and any cannabis product being cultivated and distributed by the associations," Vella said.

He reiterated the importance on the quality of the product, which is free from harmful substances which could lead to such problems and risks related to health. The limit imposed by the authority is also there to avoid the possibility of overdose, he said.

Vella said that ARUC has also reached out to the Malta National Poisons Centre immediately after the publication of the article in TMIS, to set up a meeting, as there had been no requests for a meeting before publication.

"I want to make it clear that the authority remains ever-committed to listen and engage with any organisation that wants to express any suggestions, recommendations or even complaints, as ultimately, through engagement, we can foster a better culture in this regard," Vella said.

Protection of children

Asked about the normalisation of cannabis consumption among youths, or even minors, due to family members consuming or cultivating cannabis, Vella said that with regards to youths, there are measures and processes which are intended and targeted to protect them.

"Consumption is prohibited in public, and adults are also prohibited from using cannabis in the presence of minors," Vella said.

The associations require new applicants to present their ID card to make sure they are over 18 years of age, while someone selling cannabis in the illegal market would not bother to do so, he said.

Vella said that the authority is also tasked with educating about a responsible approach to the use of cannabis, which should be seen as a holistic approach.

"We are not just purely focusing on the individual and his health, and stop there. A responsible approach is also being responsible for your surroundings and others around them. That is what ARUC is advocating," Vella said.

Apart of the fact that the law itself prohibits adults smoking cannabis in front of minors, Vella said he believed these adults should be responsible enough not to expose their children to cannabis cultivation or smoking.

He said he did not believe these issues came into light after the reform was established, as an irresponsible adult now, would have been irresponsible prior to the reform.

Vella was asked if cannabis has been de-criminalised because of the legislation, rather than being made illegal, since the legislation does not distinguish whether the cannabis in someone's possession for recreational use is from a harm-reduction association, or from other sources, even illicit ones.

"The legislation is based on a de-criminalised model that if one is carrying an amount of cannabis up to 7 grams in a manner which is not indicating that it is intended for trafficking purposes, then they are permitted to do so, but ultimately, cannabis is still not legal," Vella said, reiterating that unlike tobacco and alcohol, one cannot simply go to any shop to purchase it.

"It is de-criminalised, and it is regulated. But it does not mean it is legal," Vella said. He said that if it was legal, there would be no prosecutions if one is found to have over the limit of 7 grams.

Vella was asked if he believes that, despite not being the authority's goal, the legislation as well as the creation of the associations has, inadvertently, increased the number of cannabis users in the country.

"I do not concur with this impression," Vella said, pointing out an argument he heard that the reform has normalised the use of cannabis.

He said he disagrees with this statement, adding that in fact, gathered information has shown that members who are resorting to the associations are not new users, but rather users who frequently make use of recreational cannabis, and have done so for a long period of time.

"Even the law itself has introduced several mechanisms which work against the normalisation of cannabis use," Vella said.

The reform also imposes restrictions and limitations, with regards to possession (7 grams, 4 plants) as well as in the associations with regards to how much one can obtain cannabis (not more than 7 grams per day, not more than 50 grams per month).

Vella said that these restrictive measures in the law are purely introduced to show that the use of cannabis is not legalised.

"There is also this misconception out there that cannabis is now legal. The reform did not legalise cannabis, what is legal is alcohol and tobacco, where an individual can walk into a shop or a bar and buy as many as they like, without restrictions," Vella said, highlighting the limitations on cannabis.

If something is legal, then there are no limitations, Vella said, adding that cannabis still features in the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance in Malta's laws, which "precisely shows that cannabis is not legal."

A second part of the interview will be carried in The Malta Independent tomorrow