Malta approves legalisation of cannabis for personal use

Malta’s parliament approved Tuesday the legalisation of cannabis and its cultivation for personal use — a first in Europe, although other countries tolerate it to varying degrees.

Adults will be allowed to have up to seven grams of cannabis and grow up to four plants at home under the legislation backed by Prime Minister Robert Abela’s Labour party.

The law, which passed by 36 votes to 27, also allows for the creation of regulated non-profit associations of up to 500 people to grow the drug for the exclusive use of their members.