Group calls for an end to stigmatisation of users, condemns employers’ efforts to invade workers’ privacy

Moviment Graffitti has reaffirmed its stance in favour of the proposed legalisation of cannabis in Malta, describing the new bill as a “substantial improvement” over the White Paper presented earlier this year.

The group also praised the proposed bill which will no longer see cannabis users arrested, searched or otherwise harassed for carrying minimal amounts of the substance.

“The proposed law’s main aim is to regulate an existing market of cannabis users, who will now be given the possibility to buy their product from safer sources, without fear of being hassled by the authorities, and without having to turn to the illicit market,” the group said in a statement. “We are completely in favour of the idea that drug users should no longer go to prison, especially considering the stories coming out of Corradino in the last two years.”

Moviment Graffitti also welcomed the provision allowing users to grow up to 4 plants in their homes, as well as regulations permitting the introduction of cannabis clubs whereby non-profit associations can grow the substance and distribute it among members. “This means that users will have the choice to grow and consume their own product, without being forced to buy cannabis from retailers.”

The group also called for an end to the stigmatisation of users, lashing out at the misinformation and scaremongering campaigns being carried out by a number of critics of the bill. 

“Unfortunately, the debate has seen more and more wild claims being bandied about in the media, with certain organisations quoting statistics that do not exist, or simply twisting facts. The narrative that cannabis users resort to smoking as a result of their failings, or those of society, is patronising and dehumanising. Recreational cannabis use is not an aberration but a choice, in the same way people choose to consume tobacco, alcohol, or meat.

The hypothesis that cannabis is a gateway drug for heavier substances has been debunked time and again by proper scientific studies, however opponents of the new law are intent on repeating it. This misinformation, together with a hazy understanding of the substance’s effects, leads to the further stigmatisation of users.”

Moviment Graffitti also condemned recent statements issued by the Malta Employers Association asking for a “zero-tolerance” approach which would allow them to carry out drug tests on their staff. 

“We find it strange that the MEA is proposing a zero-tolerance approach towards a substance about which it knows nothing. Cannabis remains in the blood for a number of weeks, therefore such tests can never reveal if someone has consumed it right before going to work or on the workplace itself.  Is the MEA proposing that nobody can use cannabis in their free time?”

“Besides this attempt at restricting workers’ quality time, the tests themselves are an invasive measure which will hinder employees’ peace of mind. Government should be wary of giving in to the MEA’s wild demands, which would create a situation where less people are going to prison whilst giving employers the power to restrict the freedoms and dignity of their workers.”

Concluding, the group also called on Minister Owen Bonnici to set up a strong independent regulatory authority, stating that “the cannabis reform will only be as good as the authority overseeing it, and this holds true for every other authority in every other sector.”

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Il-Moviment Graffitti Jappoġġja l-Liġi l-Ġdida Dwar il-Kannabis

Il-grupp attivista jitlob li tintemm l-istigmatizzazzjoni ta’ min juża l-kannabis u jikkundanna l-isforzi tal-impjegaturi biex jinvadu l-privatezza tal-ħaddiema

Il-Moviment Graffitti tenna l-pożizzjoni tiegħu favur il-proposta ta’ riforma tal-liġi dwar il-kannabis f’Malta. L-organizzazzjoni ddeskriviet l-abbozz il-ġdid bħala “titjib sostanzjali” meta mqabbel mal-White Paper ippreżentata aktar kmieni din is-sena.

L-organizzazzjoni faħħret ukoll din il-liġi li bis-saħħa tagħha min juża l-kannabis ma jibqax jiġi arrestat, imfittex jew inkella ffastidjat minħabba pussess ta’ ammonti żgħar tas-sustanza. “L-għan ewlieni tal-liġi proposta huwa li jiġi regolat suq eżistenti ta’ persuni li jużaw il-kannabis, li issa se jingħataw il-possibbiltà li jixtru l-prodott tagħhom minn sorsi aktar sikuri, mingħajr biża’ li jiġu mfixkla mill-awtoritajiet, u mingħajr ma jkollhom għalfejn jirrikorru għas-suq illegali,” qalet l-organizzazzjoni fi stqarrija. “Aħna kompletament favur l-idea li min juża d-droga m’għandux jibqa’ jintbagħat il-ħabs, speċjalment meta wieħed iqis l-istejjer li ħarġu minn Kordin fl-aħħar sentejn.”

Il-Moviment Graffitti laqa’ wkoll il-provvediment li jippermetti lil min juża l-kannabis ikabbar sa 4 pjanti f’daru, kif ukoll regolamenti li jippermettu l-introduzzjoni ta’ klabbs tal-kannabis li permezz tagħhom assoċjazzjonijiet mingħajr skop ta’ qligħ jistgħu jkabbru l-pjanti u jqassmu l-prodott mal-membri. “Dan ifisser li persuni li jużaw il-kannabis se jkollhom l-għażla li jkabbru u jikkonsmaw il-prodott tagħhom stess, mingħajr ma jkunu sfurzati jixtru l-kannabis mingħand il-bejjiegħa.”

Il-grupp appella wkoll sabiex tintemm l-istigmatizzazzjoni tal-persuni li jużaw il-kannabis, filwaqt li tikkundanna bl-aħrax il-miżinformazzjoni u l-kampanji ta’ biża’ li qed isiru minn numru ta’ kritiċi tal-liġi.

“Sfortunatament, fid-dibattitu rajna aktar u aktar dikjarazzjonijiet skoretti fil-midja, b’ċerti organizzazzjonijiet jikkwotaw statistika li ma teżistix, jew sempliċiment jgħawġu l-fatti. In-narrattiva li l-persuni li jużaw il-kannabis jirrikorru għat-tipjip minħabba n-nuqqasijiet tagħhom jew dawk tas-soċjetà hija patronizzanti u umiljanti. L-użu rikreattiv tal-kannabis mhuwiex aberrazzjoni iżda għażla, bl-istess mod kif in-nies jagħżlu li jikkonsmaw it-tabakk, l-alkoħol, jew il-laħam.

L-ipoteżi li l-kannabis hija gateway drug għal sustanzi itqal kemm-il darba ġiet skreditata minn studji xjentifiċi xierqa, madankollu l-għedewwa tal-liġi l-ġdida għadhom jirrepetuha. Din il-miżinformazzjoni, flimkien ma’ nuqqas ta’ fehim ċar dwar l-effetti tas-sustanza, wasslu għal aktar stigma lejn min juża l-kannabis.”

Il-Moviment Graffitti kkundanna wkoll id-dikjarazzjonijiet riċenti tal-Malta Employers Association li qed jitolbu approċċ li ta’ tolleranza zero u li jingħataw is-setgħa li jittestjaw lill-ħaddiema tagħhom għad-drogi.

“Insibuha stramba li l-MEA qed tipproponi approċċ ta’ tolleranza zero lejn sustanza li ma taf xejn dwarha. Il-kannabis tibqa’ fid-demm għal numru ta’ ġimgħat, għalhekk testijiet bħal dawn qatt ma jistgħu jiżvelaw jekk xi ħadd ikkunsmahiex eżatt qabel mar ix-xogħol jew fuq il-post tax-xogħol stess. L-MEA qed tipproponi li ħadd ma jista’ juża l-kannabis fil-ħin liberu tiegħu?”

“Minbarra dan l-attentat biex jirrestrinġu l-ħin liberu tal-ħaddiema, it-testijiet fihom infushom huma miżura invażiva li se xxekkel is-serħan tal-moħħ tal-ħaddiema. Il-Gvern għandu joqgħod attent milli jċedi għat-talbiet eżaġerati tal-MEA, għax faċli tinħoloq sitwazzjoni fejn inqas persuni qed jintbagħtu l-ħabs iżda min iħaddem qed jingħata l-poter jirrestrinġi l-libertajiet u d-dinjità tal-ħaddiema.”

Fl-aħħar nett, l-organizzazzjoni appellat wkoll lill-Ministru Owen Bonnici sabiex iwaqqaf awtorità regolatorja indipendenti b’saħħitha, u stqarret li “r-riforma tal-kannabis se tkun effettiva biss skont kemm tkun effettiva l-awtorità li tissorveljaha, u dan jgħodd għal kull awtorità oħra f’kull settur ieħor.”