Cannabis accounts for 45% of possession cases tried in court

The possession of cannabis accounts for 45% of all 678 drug possession cases heard in the law courts in 2013 and 2014. 

Cannabis was also the drug of choice in 42% of the 223 drug trafficking cases heard in the courts in the same period.  

This emerges from a MaltaToday analysis of information presented in parliament last week, which lists the charges levelled against persons arraigned for possession and trafficking in 2013 and 2014.

The statistics show that more people are arraigned for possession or trafficking of cocaine than for possession or trafficking of heroin.

While cocaine accounts for 27% of possession charges and 22% of trafficking charges, heroin accounts for 15% of possession and 18% of trafficking cases.

A prison penalty was imposed in only four of the 678 possession cases.

These included a 15-month prison sentence for a relapser found in possession of cannabis, a €15,000 fine and a six-and-a-half month prison term for possession of cannabis and cocaine, a 30-month sentence and another six-month sentence, both for heroin possession.

The vast majority of drug possession cases are handed a suspended sentence of between six months and three years. Such a sentence was handed in 257 cases of drug possession. In 24 other cases a probation order was issued.

Under the proposed law on drug decriminalisation, which is awaiting approval by parliament, drug users will no longer face a court sentence but instead appear in front of a justice commissioner and, if deemed necessary, a social board made up of experts. An exception for cannabis users is being proposed, with the white paper recommending that cannabis users, including repeat offenders, only appear in front of the justice commissioner.