Inspections after complaints on cannabis smell raise privacy issues - NGO
140 complaints were made in a few months
Releaf Malta, the NGO advocating for change in national cannabis policy, has insisted that sending officials to private homes to investigate complaints of cannabis smell is a violation of the right to privacy.
The NGO was reacting after the chairperson of the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis, Joey Reno Vella, said last week that the agency had, in a few months, received 140 complaints on freephone 80002088 about cannabis smells. Most of them were resolved after enforcement officials recommended effective actions to remove the inconvenience. Dr Vella said the reform on the responsible use of cannabis also safeguarded the interests of third persons since responsible use of cannabis meant responsibility towards everyone.
In its statement, Releaf asked how the right to privacy was being safeguarded.
It said irresponsible regulation tactics undermine consuming and cultivating cannabis in a safe environment, erode basic privacy rights and reaffirm unequal treatment and stigma for cannabis consumers.
It asked: What's next, inspectors for garlic or incense?