Caritas Malta and major employers' associations within the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) have criticised an agreement between the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) and the Malta Football Association (MFA).

The controversy follows reports that ARUC is sponsoring or being associated with children's football programmes.

ARUC was established as part of one of Malta's most significant drug law reforms, aimed at shifting away from criminalisation toward a regulatory and public-health focused approach to cannabis.

Caritas said it supports youth investment but has questioned the messenger.

It acknowledged the value of funding youth sport and inclusion, however, the concern is not the initiative itself, but the fact that ARUC is behind it.

The organisation said it has a problem with the term "responsible use of cannabis," as the phrase creates "ambiguity" in messaging, especially for children.

They argued that it is hard to reconcile cannabis-related branding with prevention programmes.

Caritas said that the sponsorship poses the risk of mixed messages for young people.

It warned that linking the cannabis authority with youth sport could undermine prevention efforts and send confusing signals about drug use.

The organisation also mentioned broader policy concerns, including weak enforcement of cannabis laws and issues around low-THC product regulation and advertising.

Caritas urged greater caution in public health messaging and emphasised prevention, clarity, and protection of vulnerable groups.

The employers' associations within MCESD called the agreement "a serious error of judgement," and argued that children's sport should never be linked in any way to cannabis.

The associations emphasised that sport represents health, discipline, and clean living, and said that cannabis contradicts these values.

They warned the partnership could normalise cannabis in children's minds and blur important social boundaries.

The associations referenced past efforts to remove cigarettes and alcohol from sports and argued that the same principle should apply to cannabis.

They called for the immediate withdrawal of ARUC sponsorship and replacement with "appropriate" sponsors.

A statement issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Children said that every child has the right to grow up in a safe and healthy environment. 

In line with its mandate to promote and safeguard children's rights as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Office of the Commissioner for Children called on communities to actively support children in adopting healthy lifestyles, including regular physical activity and balanced nutrition.

The Office said that children must also be protected from harmful influences and should not be exposed to unhealthy habits such as cigarettes, alcohol, or illicit substances, all of which can seriously impact their health and development. 

"Protecting children's well-being is a shared responsibility, we must work together to prevent any direct or indirect reference and association to unhealthy habits including cannabis and related products so as to ensure safe environments where children are empowered to thrive and make positive choices for their future," the statement said.