In this opinion piece, Maltese harm reduction activist Karen Mamo argues that Malta’s cannabis reform must go a step further — by establishing a Cannabis Humanitarian Bank to ensure that vulnerable consumers are not left behind in the country’s decriminalisation efforts.
In 2021, Malta introduced the partial decriminalisation of the supply and possession of recreational cannabis for personal use. The limited supply side is currently permitted through not-for-profit Cannabis Harm Reduction Associations (CHRAs) licensed by the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC). These associations are authorised to distribute, for philanthropic purposes, up to 50 grams of cannabis per registered member per month (with a daily limit of 7 grams). Membership in each association is capped at 500 members, and cannabis obtained within these associations costs on average €10 per gram.
As of October 2025, Malta has successfully licensed 20 operational CHRAs. Together, they have the potential to provide quality-tested cannabis for more than 9,000 resident consumers. Allowing for relative flexibility — with cultivation levels continuously adjusted according to size and demand — these associations are cultivating substantial quantities of cannabis on a regular basis. Registered members contribute directly to the not-for-profit and philanthropic mission of Malta’s cannabis reform through 10% community and 5% harm reduction contributions paid to the regulator.
The partial decriminalisation and regulation of cannabis in Malta was intended to:
- Reduce exposure to trafficked and adulterated cannabis, including synthetic cannabinoid products such as HHC and Spice.
- Prevent criminal consequences for cultivating, consuming, or sharing a plant.
- Promote peer-to-peer dialogue and compassionate, humanitarian policy options addressing the needs of vulnerable groups.
- Focus national resources and law enforcement efforts on criminal organisations, transnational trafficking networks, and mafias.
Among these aims, points 1 and 3 — particularly the distribution of regulated cannabis on compassionate and humanitarian grounds — are pivotal for addressing and preventing the spread of synthetic cannabis among vulnerable populations such as people living below the poverty line or experiencing homelessness.
According to the National Statistics Office, in 2024, 16.8% of persons living in private households in Malta were at risk of poverty — an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to 2023. Furthermore, an investigation by the Times of Malta highlighted the increasing prevalence of synthetic cannabis use among homeless communities.
This issue should be a core consideration in discussions about drug policy reform and cannabis regulation.
Paradoxically, despite the partial decriminalisation of cannabis supply in Malta, vulnerable consumers remain largely excluded from accessing quality-tested cannabis due to socio-economic barriers. As a result, these individuals continue to face unnecessary health, addiction, legal, and social risks associated with the use of synthetic cannabis.
Therefore, the establishment of a Cannabis Humanitarian Bank — enabling the philanthropic distribution of free cannabis — could be a reasonable and responsible next step. Malta already has humanitarian bank models in operation.
Just as food in supermarkets that is past its best before date but still of good quality and safe for consumption is donated to NGOs for redistribution among those most in need, why shouldn’t a percentage of cannabis cultivated by CHRAs — perhaps cannabis that has expired but remains safe to consume — also be made available for free by ARUC and the national prevention agency Agenzija SEDQA on compassionate and humanitarian grounds?
In cooperation with NGOs supporting people facing financial and social hardship, these government institutions could strengthen their collaborative commitment and extend cannabis harm reduction outreach.
By establishing a circular system between cannabis cultivated under a regulated framework and the needs of the most vulnerable consumers, Malta could ensure that cannabis decriminalisation truly works for everyone.
