Despite sharp criticism from
\nthe center-right opposition, medical associations and the church, Malta’s
\nParliament endorsed, in mid-December, a law allowing adults to carry up to 7
\ngrams of cannabis and grow no more than four plants at home. Malta has become
\nthe first EU country to legalize the cultivation and personal use of cannabis.
\nThe decision comes in the context of a wider trend in the EU, as in October,
\nLuxembourg forwarded similar measures, though they haven’t been endorsed by the
\nLegislature yet. Germany, where the use of cannabis on medical grounds has been
\nlegal since 2017, has announced its intention to have a regulated cannabis
\nmarket, following similar announcements from the governments of Switzerland,
\nLuxembourg and the Netherlands. In Italy, cannabis fans have gathered enough
\nsignatures to be able to stage a referendum on the issue. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Europe has changed its stand on drugs after a 2020 UN decision,
\nwhich removed cannabis from its list of dangerous substances. A survey made
\npublic by the Institute for Competition Economics in November shows that
\nlegalizing cannabis would bring Germany 4.7 billion Euros in annual revenues,
\nincluding savings of 1.3 billion Euros in funds allotted for law enforcement.
\nBesides, it would create no less than 27 thousand new jobs. But what are the
\nchances for these measures, taken or considered by various countries, to keep
\ndrug consumption at bay – as this is a growing phenomenon in Europe whose
\nmarket relies on both domestic production and drugs trafficked from outside.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
South America, Western Asia and North Africa are major suppliers
\nof illegal drugs that find their way to Europe whereas China has become a
\nsource for the new psychoactive substances. The European report on drugs,
\npresented in June 2021, cautions over the public health risks posed by the
\navailability and use of a wider range of substances, oftentimes very strong and
\nof great purity. According to the report, 15% of Europe’s adults, accounting
\nfor 18 million, have used cannabis in the past year and over 25% people aged between
\n15 and 64, that is 7.6% of this group of Europeans, consumed cannabis in the
\npast year. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
The report also describes the way in which organized crime groups
\nhave stepped up their production of illegal drugs in Europe and points to the
\nemergence of new, harmful and strong psychoactive substances. In 2019, 1.5
\nmillion drug offenses were reported in the EU, 82% of which were related to
\npersonal use or possession. At the same time, 370 illegal laboratories were
\ndismantled. According to the European Observatory, more than half of the 45
\ncities that have data on cocaine residues in wastewater, for the years 2018 and
\n2019, reported increases. Centralized data also show that large amounts of
\ncocaine and heroin are still seized in the EU, which raises concerns about the
\npossible impact on consumption levels. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Specialists in Romania also point out that the consumption of
\ncannabis and substances with psychoactive properties has increased recently,
\nand the age of consumers is decreasing. In the first 11 months of 2021, the
\npolice officers with the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime seized in
\nRomania almost a ton and a half of heroin, almost 900 kg of cocaine and over
\n400 kg of cannabis – \u200b\u200bhigher amounts as compared to the past years. Most of
\nthese substances do not remain in the country, Victor Nistor, Police Chief
\nCommissioner explained to Radio Romania: <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Victor Nistor: All the large amounts seized in Romania,
\nin recent years, have actually transited Romania, they were not destined for
\nthe Romanian market. Like other European countries, Romania is targeted by
\ntrafficking routes, since it has access to the Black Sea port and is located on
\nthe classic Balkan route of heroine, which departs from Afghanistan, Iran, and
\ncontinues through Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, to western Europe. If we
\ncompare ourselves with the surrounding countries, strictly in terms of fighting
\ndrug trafficking, I believe that we are doing very well. The amounts destined
\nfor the Romanian market are constantly increasing, as all the drug trafficking
\nmonitoring reports show that all types of drugs are much more present in the
\nmarket and the number of consumers is constantly growing. said Victor
\nNistor<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Victor Nistor believes that Romania is not ready for the
\nlegalization of soft drugs, even if some associations are asking for it. He
\nsays that these measures could be taken gradually, to get the health and
\neducation systems prepared for it, and people should become aware of the danger
\nof exposure to drug consumption. Only then could Romania adopt legislation, not
\nnecessarily to legalize drugs but mainly to decriminalize consumption for some
\ncategories of soft drugs.<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
(bill & Lacra)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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