Malta Cannabis Laws for Adults: Possession, Home Grow, and Access
Checked 24 September 2026 against Malta's consolidated legislation and the Authority for the Responsible Use of Cannabis (ARUC). This is a summary of limited adult-use provisions, not legal advice.
Is adult cannabis fully legal in Malta?
No. ARUC describes Malta's changes as partial decriminalization and says the law has not legalized cannabis use generally. The statute creates specific personal-use allowances and penalties; it does not create unrestricted commercial retail access.
Public possession and consumption
Under Cap. 537 art. 4A, possession by a person over 18 of up to 7 g for personal use does not constitute an offence. For a personal-use possession charge above 7 g but no more than 28 g, the statute sets a EUR50-EUR100 penalty process if circumstances do not give reasonable grounds to believe the cannabis is not for personal use. Public consumption carries a EUR235 penalty. Consuming cannabis in the presence of a person under 18, while aware of the person's age, carries a EUR300-EUR500 penalty. Do not read these thresholds as permission to consume anywhere.
Home cultivation and storage
Cap. 537 art. 7 provides that an adult over 18 may cultivate up to four plants and possess up to 50 g dried cannabis for personal use at the residential address shown on an official residence document. The cultivation space must not be visible to the public. The four-plant maximum applies per residential address, regardless of the number of residents.
How regulated access works
Malta's S.L. 628.01 regulation 18(5), amended by Legal Notice 44 of 2026, says a person may not become an association member unless that person is a resident of Malta. ARUC describes these associations as closed, member-only spaces. This is not general walk-in retail access. Check the Authority's current register and rules before relying on a specific association.
Travel is a separate legal question
Domestic possession or cultivation provisions do not answer whether cannabis may be imported, exported, carried through an airport, or taken through another country. Malta's border law needs a separate route-specific check. Do not use U.S. TSA guidance as a source for Malta.
For general harm-reduction context rather than Maltese legal guidance, see Responsible Use.
Quick FAQ
Is cannabis fully legalized for adults in Malta?
No. Official Maltese materials describe limited personal-use provisions and a regulated association model, not unrestricted legalization or general retail sale.
How many plants may one household grow?
Cap. 537 art. 7 sets a maximum of four plants per residential address for an adult over 18, subject to the home-address and public-visibility conditions.
Can a tourist join a cannabis association?
No. S.L. 628.01 regulation 18(5), as amended in 2026, requires association members to be residents of Malta.