Malta: Market and regulatory data analysis of the cannabis sector

31st January 2024: Malta: Yesterday (30th January), the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) issued a statement announcing that Malta's first cannabis harm-reduction association is now fully operational and has started distributing cannabis to its members.
11th January 2024: Malta: An applicant for a Cannabis Harm Reduction Association (CHRA) licence is taking legal action against the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) for repeated delays and a lack of communication in processing its licence application, press reports. The action is backed by most of the cannabis industry members in Malta, who argue that CHRAs are facing significant challenges in the country. One of the major drawbacks that the industry brings up is the current 500 g limit on dried cannabis flower allowed in a CHRA, a rule that the industry claims is an “arbitrary” one that “directly undermines the operational efficacy of licensed CHRAs”.
9th January 2024: Malta: The Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), in charge of granting licences to cannabis harm-reduction associations, has issued a statement to express its great concern over the wide availability of HHC products, sold openly in various shops and via food delivery couriers. In addition to advising the public to be wary of synthetic and semi-synthetic low-THC products, ARUC has announced that, in the coming weeks, it will be setting up an expert Consultative Committee, which will be tasked with discussing with other EU countries the challenges and solutions linked with emerging semi-synthetic cannabinoid products.
27th November 2023: Malta: While commenting on the news that the government is considering stopping smoking for future generations, a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations have reportedly called on the government to enact additional measures, such as stopping self-cultivation of cannabis, so children who live with parents who cultivate cannabis are protected.
24th October 2023: Malta: The Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), in charge of granting licences to cannabis harm-reduction associations, has awarded its first-ever operational licences to two associations, press reports. These associations will now be allowed to start cultivating their own cannabis, which they can distribute to their members after it has been tested by the ARUC.
13th September 2023: Malta: In a webinar held today (13th September) by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) on selected countries’ experiences with cannabis regulation, executive chairperson of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) Leonid McKay said that Malta’s first cannabis harm-reduction associations will be operational by the end of this year. McKay emphasised during the webinar that the focus of the country's cannabis regulation is public health and harm reduction, rather than perceiving cannabis as an economic commodity. He said that a commercial scheme around recreational cannabis would run counter to the harm-reduction concept.
11th August 2023: Malta: Leonid McKay, the executive chairperson of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), has confirmed that the ARUC has granted its first two "in-principle" licences to prospective cannabis associations. These licences approve the proposed operational setup, meaning that they allow the start of the construction of growing facilities, but do not allow growing to take place. Growing would be allowed once an operating permit is granted following further inspections by the ARUC.
19th July 2023: Malta: Cannabis harm-reduction associations, which will be allowed to grow cannabis and distribute it to their members, could be up and running by the end of March 2024, press reports. Leonid Mckay, CEO of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), said last month that the authority had received 26 applications for the licensing of cannabis clubs.
29th June 2023: Malta: The Ministry of Social Policy and Children’s Rights has launched a National Drugs Policy covering the decade 2023-2033. The paper proposes a zero tolerance policy towards drug users, recommending random drug testing for all drivers, including testing for cannabis. Malta decriminalised recreational cannabis in December 2021.
9th June 2023: Malta: At a press conference held yesterday, the CEO of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC), Leonid Mckay, said that the authority has received 26 applications for the licensing of cannabis clubs, though he added that this does not mean that all applications will be accepted, press reports. Mckay also warned that the commercialisation of cannabis is as dangerous as the illegal market, explaining that harm reduction must be put at the centre of the cannabis clubs' policies, while cannabis use must not be promoted.
30th May 2023: Malta: Following feedback obtained in its stakeholder consultation, the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis has updated some of the regulatory framework for nonprofit associations distributing cannabis for recreational purposes, as provided in the legislative reforms enacted in December 2021. The new rules fine-tune the licence application format, the transportation of cannabis between cultivation and distribution sites, the disposal of waste and the testing of cannabis.
13th March 2023: Malta: The Responsible Use of Cannabis (Licensing of Organisations) Regulations, 2023 were published in the Official Gazette on 10th March. The regulations further develop the provisions to set up cannabis harm-reduction associations (nonprofit organisations that will be allowed to grow cannabis and distribute it to their members), legally underpinning all the guidelines that have been issued by the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis.

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