Malta becomes first EU country to legalise cannabis for personal use.

Why in news?

• Malta has become the first European Union country to legalise cannabis at home and for personal use.
• MPs approved a legal reform recently, allowing citizens to grow and possess limited amounts of marijuana.

About Malta becoming first EU country to legalise cannabis for personal use

• Under the new law, citizens aged 18 and over will be allowed to possess up to seven grams of cannabis, and cultivate up to four cannabis plants at home.
• Malta’s parliament was widely expected to pass the bill, which has been supported by Prime Minister Robert Abela.
• But the opposition Nationalist party has criticised the reform, saying it will “normalise and increase drug use” in the country.
• The bill was approved by a majority vote in parliament and will be signed into effect later this week by Malta’s President George Vella.