Legalising cannabis for 'harm reduction' is not the answer - academic

The government's harm reduction approach to cannabis legalisation would not solve anything, according to an academic.

"I would like to declare that I will not subscribe to a social policy that justifies legalising cannabis by citing ‘harm reduction’. From where I stand the negative impact of this substance compared to the ‘benefits’ some might quote in legalizing cannabis consumption are unparalleled," Prof. Andrew Azzopardi, the Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, said in a statement on Friday.  

Legalising cannabis would be waving a white flag - Caritas

The government has in recent weeks hinted that it was moving towards dealing with the drug from a "harm reduction approach", and exploring the possibility of introducing a register of cannabis smokers that would legalise the use for those aged 21 and over. 

This would be coupled with increased effort to discourage use at an early age and awareness campaigns around health impacts. 

In Prof. Azzopardi's opinion, regulating the use of cannabis around a harm reduction rationale would not solve anything and the dangers of the underground illicit drug trafficking would remain "active and lively".

It might also lead to an...