Malta’s Cannabis Authority Publishes New ‘Fine Tuned’ Rules For Cannabis Clubs, But Stakeholders ‘Still Finding It Impossible’ To Set Up Associations

June 6, 2023 by Ben Stevens, Business Of Cannabis | Europe

Malta’s Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC) has updated its pioneering regulatory framework for adult-use cannabis following widespread criticism from stakeholders.

In a press conference in mid-May, Malta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms, Rebecca Buttigieg, and the head of ARUC, Leonid McKay, laid out the new set of ‘fine-tuned’ rules, which sought to address a number of issues as part of an ongoing ‘stakeholder consultation process’.

The pair also revealed that seven applications by would-be cannabis associations have now been submitted, while 11 names for associations have now been reserved, suggesting more applications are on the way.

While stakeholders have praised ARUC for remaining flexible and taking feedback onboard on some issues, they argue that many ‘grassroots community members and legacy growers are still finding it next to impossible’ to set up associations.