Is cannabis legal in Malta?

Overview

In 2018, Malta set up a regulatory framework for medical cannabis treatment of patients and cultivation/manufacture for commercial purposes.

Relative to population size, Malta has a high number of medical cannabis patients compared with other European countries, despite restrictive access rules.

Domestic production has not scaled as expected; some industrial activity exists but remains limited.

The market is supplied by both imports and limited domestic production, with a significant portion of medical cannabis flowers imported from Canada.

Regulations

Legalisation of medical cannabis production in 2018 via the Cannabis for Medicinal and Research Purposes Act and Act No. V of 2018 (Drug Dependence (Treatment not Imprisonment) Amendment).

Licensed by the Malta Medicines Authority. Requirements include:

Letter of Intent (LOI)

Licence for production

EU-GMP certification (if applicable)

Facility Security Clearance Certificate

Export rules focus on finished products (intermediate exports possible with additional approvals).

Licensing fees: ~€70,000 annually + €10,000 initial fee.

Patient Access

Who can prescribe? Any doctor in Malta.

Conditions treated:

Multiple sclerosis

Chronic pain

Chemotherapy side effects

“Debilitating conditions” (generally chronic, not acute).

Reimbursement: Mostly non-reimbursable, except for inpatients (3 days post-discharge). Some low-income/chronic illness patients may receive free prescriptions.

Products & Prices

Majority of products are high-THC flowers.

Only 1 high-CBD flower available; no balanced flowers.

Oils are more varied in cannabinoid ratios, but only 9 oil products available.

Product split (Feb 2025):

Flower: 23

Oil: 9

Source: Malta Medicines Authority