There is no such thing as responsible cannabis use and promoting it sends the wrong message to society, according to Noel Xerri, Chief Executive Officer of Foundation Oasi.in Malta
Speaking during the programme Għawdex Jitkellem, broadcast every Monday on RTK 103, Xerri said that when society claims cannabis can be used responsibly, it creates a dangerous perception.
“When you tell society that cannabis can be used responsibly, you are sending the wrong message. There is no such thing as responsible use. This is a bad message. The message should not be ‘if you drink, don’t drive’, but rather ‘don’t drink at all’,” he said.
Xerri urged authorities to be careful about the messages they convey to the public. He stressed that drug abuse should not be viewed solely as a problem among young people, referring to the case of a 64-year-old businessman who was using cocaine.
He also highlighted that children under the age of 18 in Malta are using substances such as laughing gas and snus. He called for education to begin at a young age about the harmful effects of drugs and insisted that existing laws must be properly enforced.
On the damage caused by cannabis, Xerri explained that repetitive use affects the way the brain functions and can cause the brain to age more rapidly.
At the start of the interview, Xerri was asked about modern lifestyles and said that today’s way of life is fast-paced and heavily based on consumerism. He described this as a major challenge that gives rise to many other social problems.
Speaking about social media, Xerri noted that its use has increased significantly, to the point that children and young people prefer spending long hours online rather than meeting and playing with each other in person.
He added that while some people use only cannabis and do not move on to other drugs, others begin with cannabis and later progress to stronger substances.
Xerri questioned why people feel the need to rely on substances in order to have fun or to calm themselves, stressing the importance of addressing the deeper social and psychological causes behind drug use.
