Legalisation of recreational cannabis in Maltese society

Abstract

The smoking of cannabis for recreational purposes has been a phenomenon for many decades, but it is now widely acknowledged. Cannabis is legal for both medical and recreational use in a number of countries, including Malta. This study provides an insight into people's perspectives and attitudes toward the legalisation of recreational cannabis, as well as the punishments they consider suitable for violating cannabis regulations. Furthermore, this study incorporates the research of several scholars on recreational cannabis, including the impacts of cannabis use, dependency and treatment, addict services, social debates over recreational cannabis legalisation, and cannabis tendencies across Europe. The method of research used in this study was quantitative, with an online questionnaire as the primary tool. The sample included 102 people, both male and female, ranging in age from 18 to 59 years old. From the results of the survey, it was concluded that attitudes towards recreational cannabis differ by age and also by the marital status of the individual. The majority of respondents agree that fines are the most reasonable punishment for violating cannabis laws. Moreover, recreational cannabis is perceived as less harmful than tobacco and alcohol.