14 medical associations in Malta show solidarity with medical doctors in the besieged Gaza strip, urge government to advocate more strongly for cessation of hostility
Medical organisations on Thursday welcomed the proposed decriminalisation of cannabis and applauded the government’s commitment to direct users to treatment rather than criminal justice.
But their endorsement also included a list of warnings about regular use of the drug.
According to the proposed reform, cannabis users will be allowed to grow their own plants at home and legally carry up to seven grams of the drug for personal use.
In a position paper, the Maltese Association of Psychiatry (MAP) warned that early regular use is associated with symptoms of psychosis and bipolar disorder in younger people.
It noted that cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance among Maltese youths and it said it can affect brain maturation in a negative way.
A number of medical specialist associations have said they are “disturbed and dismayed” by the resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases, as Malta grapples with a post-Christmas resurgence of coronavirus cases.
“Although most people are behaving responsibly, a small section of the public have acted carelessly and irresponsibly over the festive season. This was compounded by a lack of political will to restrain social mixing. Let us hope there will not be a repeat during the carnival recess. Government needs to be proactive and increase restrictive measures. Politicians must refrain from any discourse that is unscientific and that confuses the public,” said Malta College of Pathologists president James DeGaetano in a statement signed by 11 specialist assocuations.