Cannabis authority chair fired after 11 months

Psychotherapist Mariella Dimech has been fired as executive chairperson of the cannabis authority, which had been set up only 11 months ago.

In a terse statement, the government did not give any reason why Dimech was sacked, simply saying that she was to be replaced by Leonid McKay.

Dimech told Times of Malta that she had been informed on Thursday by the Home Affairs ministry that her appointment was being terminated with immediate effect.

"Over the last 10 months, I have worked with no functional office, no staff, no budget and a political strategy and decision strategy I disagreed with", she told the newspaper.

Dimech was appointed to lead the authority earlier this year, and her term was to last for three years.

Malta became the first EU country to legalise the cultivation and the possession of cannabis at the end of last year.

The authority acts as a regulator for non-profit associations, that are now allowed to cultivate and distribute cannabis to approved members. However no licenses for associations to be able to legally grow and sell cannabis have actually been granted, meaning that almost a year since cannabis was legalised, it remains technically illegal to buy it.

In its statement, the government announced that McKay was to be appointed as the new chairman, without making any reference to Dimech's dismissal.

It said that McKay has a long experience in the running of public authorities. He graduated in sociology and has a Masters in social politics. He worked for 14 years at Caritas before being appointed director.

In 2018, he was appointed chief executive officer of the Housing Authority. He is being replaced at the Housing Authority by Matthew Zerafa, an international relations graduate.

The Nationalist Party (PN) called out the government on Friday for having a weak regulatory framework, which has negatively affected the rushed cannabis bill.

This criticism follows the sacking of psychotherapist, Mariella Dimech, from her position as the executive chairperson of the cannabis authority after just 11 months in the role.

The PN agreed with the criticism made by Dimech, the party said in a statement.

It pointed out that ten months ago, along with 53 organisations and experts, they had warned the government that it was a mistake to rush into this reform.

The PN also pointed out that the criticism that it and other experts have been giving the government for months has now also been voiced by the Dimech. The main priority should not be financial gain, but should have the people’s best interest in mind.

It added that the government can continue to keep changing the executive chairperson, however, this will not solve anything if it does not address the root of the problem.

“What happened today with the Authority on the Responsible use of Cannabis is confirmation that the government is not competent and not sensitive when dealing with decisions that affect children, young people and vulnerable people”, the PN said.

The PN also brought up how a few months ago in parliament, Minister Owen Bonnici pledged that the authority will be given all the necessary resources it needs to be an effective regulator of the sector. However, the PN is saying that this was not done.

“The PN demands that the government does not continue on the path of arrogance and instead listens, for the good of our society, especially the most vulnerable who may also end up a victim of the system that Roberta Abela’s government created”, the PN said.

The PN is asking the government to immediately strengthen the regulatory framework for marijuana law to be truly effective.

The PN also announced that in the coming days it will be calling the new executive chairperson of the authority, Leonid McKay, to appear before the social committee in parliament to give an insight into how the authority will function.