Is Marijuana Legal in Malta?

Cannabis in Malta is legal, though there are limits regarding possession, consumption, and cultivation.

In 2018, the Parliament of Malta legalized medical cannabis, and in December 2021, cannabis was also legalized for recreational and personal use.

This makes Malta the first European Union country to legalize cannabis, although many others are expected to follow suit.

Following the change, adults will be permitted to possess up to seven grams of cannabis and cultivate no more than four plants at home. However, smoking marijuana in public or front of children remains prohibited.

Malta’s parliament voted resoundingly in favor of the reform, with 36 votes in favor and 27 against. The changes to the law were not just intended to make accessing marijuana easier.

Malta’s Equality Minister, Owen Bonnici, said the plan aimed to prevent minor drug offenses from being processed through the criminal justice system and to reduce drug trafficking.

What Are the Medical Marijuana Laws in Malta?

Due to the ease of accessing marijuana legally, many medical cannabis users have chosen to acquire their marijuana by this method.

In 2018, two years before the legalization of recreational use, Malta legalized medicinal marijuana.

The bill allows doctors to prescribe medical cannabis to patients, who can access non-smoking medicine at pharmacies with a relevant doctor’s prescription.

How Do I Get Certified for Medical Cannabis in Malta?

In Malta, the process for accessing medical cannabis involves visiting a doctor who will provide a prescription for non-smoking forms of cannabis.

This can be delivered to patients via regular pharmacies. Patients are issued a control card approved by the Superintendent of Public Health.

Only certain conditions are eligible for medicinal cannabis treatment, including chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and the side effects of chemotherapy.

Due to the ease of obtaining cannabis in smokable form, many patients who wish to access marijuana for medicinal purposes may find it easier to use the newly opened recreational channels for acquiring marijuana.

Is Telemedicine Allowed for Medical Cannabis Consultations in Malta?

Some doctors may be able to provide a video consultation for patients attempting to acquire a marijuana prescription.

However, as recreational marijuana use is now legal, many patients do not bother with the bureaucracy of obtaining a prescription.

Are There Any Employment Laws Protecting Medical Cannabis Cardholders in Malta?

No. In 2021, when it became clear marijuana would soon be legalized, the Malta Employers Association was concerned regarding possible cannabis use at the workplace.

People are no longer required to have a card to access marijuana, which has led to pushback from employers who fear the changes to the law will negatively impact the workplace.

What Are the Medical Cannabis Product Testing Requirements in Malta?

In Malta, synthetic cannabis products and medicinal preparations of cannabis must be licensed under the Medicines Act or manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

Is It Legal To Grow Cannabis in Malta?

In Malta, the home cultivation of cannabis plants for self-consumption is legal, with the law stipulating that people can cultivate no more than four plants for personal use, so long as they are hidden from public view.

However, specific registered cannabis organizations (more on those below) can produce larger amounts of marijuana both on- and off-site.

Where Is It Safe To Purchase Marijuana in Malta?

Though weed is technically legal in Malta, the country has opted out of having marijuana dispensaries and lounges all over the place — meaning the commercialization of marijuana has not happened there, as it has in the U.S. and other countries.

Malta has been clear in its aim to avoid becoming a hub for “weed tourism,” which countries like the Netherlands have pursued.

In Malta, you can only purchase weed from official cannabis organizations or “cannabis clubs” where you are a registered member.

As the law has only recently changed, these organizations are in their infancy, and many are still being established.

However, the rules around them are clear: the cannabis associations are capped at 500 members, and preference is given to residents. Furthermore, you can only belong to one of these organizations simultaneously.

The organizations are not intended to be places where smoking marijuana occurs but locations where members acquire marijuana.

The clubs can issue seven grams per member per day so long as the amount of marijuana issued does not exceed 50 grams per month.

As a further hindrance to commercialization, cannabis clubs cannot provide joints or other weed products (such as cookies, gummies, or cupcakes). Instead, marijuana is sold only in flower form.

In addition, you can purchase CBD from a small number of head shops on the island, but any product containing THC must be acquired from one of the organizations mentioned above.

Where Is It Safe To Consume Marijuana in Malta?

In Malta, the consumption of marijuana is safely done within your home, but smoking cannabis in public remains illegal.

The cannabis organizations that supply weed — or cannabis clubs as they have become known — are not locations where smoking marijuana occurs.