Parliament on Monday unanimously passed a series of changes to the country's recreational cannabis laws, clarifying the definition of cannabis as well as putting tighter regulations on cannabis associations regulated by the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC).

Last month, Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality Rebecca Buttigieg presented the second reading of the reform bill in Parliament, speaking of the government's aim to reduce harm and strengthen regulations.

The bill will see offences committed by cannabis associations brought before a Court of Magistrates, instead of the Commissioner for Justice tribunal.

The bill includes new rules which would require a minimum distance of 250 metres from schools, sports facilities, and youth centres. Any association found allowing minors on site could face a fine of up to €10,000.

It also clarifies the definition of what counts as cannabis under Maltese law, with the clearer legal definition including both THC and CBD, and non-psychoactive cannabinoids with less than 0.2% THC will be excluded.

The bill include measures to strengthen the regulatory framework, close existing legal loopholes, impose stricter penalties, provide a clearer legal definition of cannabis to eliminate ambiguity, and reinforce the role of the ARUC by designating it as the primary regulatory body.