In December 2021, Malta became the first European nation to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure. The only other countries on the planet to adopt a national legalization measure before Malta were Uruguay in 2013 and Canada in 2018. Nearly five years after Malta modernized its cannabis laws, a lawmaker is calling for an independent review.

“Labour MP Mariah Meli has called for an independent, evidence-based evaluation of Malta’s cannabis legislation, saying concerns raised by residents about the impact of the reform on communities should be heard and addressed.” Malta Today wrote in its local reporting. “Meli said issues including cannabis odours and the location of cannabis-related premises close to homes and families needed to be examined in a “balanced manner”.”

“I believe the time has come for an independent, evidence-based evaluation of the 2021 responsible cannabis-use reform and its impact on health, young people, safety, and residents,” Meli said, according to the outlet.

Malta’s adult-use cannabis legalization model involves permitting people 18 years old and older to cultivate up to four plants in their private residences and possess up to 50 grams of cannabis for personal use.

National recreational cannabis sales are not permitted in Malta due to current European Union agreements that prohibit national adult-use commerce. However, adults in Malta can join one of the nation’s licensed cultivation associations and source cannabis legally.

As of the start of 2026, Malta has experienced an over 80% reduction in cannabis court cases related to simple cannabis possession post-legalization, significantly lessening the burden on the nation’s criminal justice system. Malta is a great real-time example of what happens, and doesn’t happen, when a country adopts national cannabis legalization.

“Malta has one of the lowest rates of cannabis use among young people in Europe, according to new EU data.” Lovin Malta reported last July. “Just 1.2% of people aged between 15 and 34 in Malta reported using cannabis in the past year, placing the country among the lowest in the European Union.”

“The figure stands in stark contrast to countries like Italy, where 21.5% of young adults said they had used cannabis over the same period, meaning more than one in five people in that age group.” the outlet also reported. It is worth noting that Italy has yet to adopt a national adult-use cannabis legalization measure.

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“Having dependable local access to cannabis means that those who need it most will be able to access it safely and legally.”

By Kate McKellar, Utah News Dispatch

Next week, Utah state officials will begin accepting applications to license a new independent medical cannabis pharmacy to be located in a “medically underserved” or rural area with a population that’s smaller than Salt Lake, Utah, Davis or Weber counties.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announced in a news release Tuesday the application period will open on August 3, and it will remain open until September 2.

The application is for the second of two independent medical cannabis pharmacies required to open under HB54, a bill passed by the Utah Legislature in 2025 that, among other measures, expanded the number of medical cannabis pharmacies allowed to operate in the state, including in “medically underserved” areas.

It also aimed to create more opportunities for pharmacy operators that aren’t owned by large medical cannabis corporations.

The first independent medical cannabis pharmacy to open under the bill was Boojum in Moab. Before it opened, the nearest medical cannabis pharmacy was in Price, a nearly two-hour drive away.

Before Boojum opened this year, its chief science officer Olivia Kulunder told Moab Sun News “we were awarded this license over a two billion dollar holdings corporation from Chicago.”

“While we might not have over 150 dispensaries to our name, that means we will be pouring everything we have into this one pharmacy,” Kulunder told the outlet at the time.

Kulunder, who grew up in Castle Valley, also said the licensing board cited Boojum’s local connection as a key reason for awarding its license.

“We do know that this distance drives a lot of people to go out of state, which carries legal risks,” Kulander told Moab Sun News. “Having dependable local access to cannabis means that those who need it most will be able to access it safely and legally.”

Now it’s up to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food to decide where the next pharmacy will go.

The independent medical cannabis pharmacy will be required to operate under Utah Department of Agriculture and Food regulations “to ensure patient safety and product quality,” the department said.

To be eligible for the license, applications “must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of medical cannabis regulations, possess the necessary financial resources, and propose a secure and compliant facility,” the department said.

The following requirements must also be met:

• Independence: The new licensee must not own a financial interest in a medical cannabis pharmacy or be owned by an entity that owns any interest in or operates a medical cannabis production establishment that is owned, partially or entirely, or operated by a medical cannabis production establishment.
• Location: The new licensee shall be located in an area designated as medically underserved and in counties with populations smaller than 260,000. Eligible counties include Box Elder, Cache, Iron, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Washington, Beaver, Carbon, Duchesne, Millard, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Wasatch, Emery, Grand, Juab, Kane, Morgan, Piute, Daggett, Garfield, Rich and Wayne counties.
• Facility plan: Each applicant is required to provide a detailed layout and security plan for the proposed pharmacy.
• Operational procedures: Each applicant must provide comprehensive standard operating procedures for dispensing, inventory management, and patient consultation.
• Personnel Qualifications: Each applicant must provide information on key personnel, including pharmacists and technicians, and their qualifications.

After state officials review the applications, they’ll pick one proposed pharmacy to receive the license, which must be issued no later than January 1, 2027.

For more information on how to apply, visit the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food’s website.

This story was first published by Utah News Dispatch.

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Senior residents at some independent living communities will soon have access to on-site kiosks allowing them to easily buy marijuana products without having to travel to dispensaries.

The retailer Life Is Chill and cannabis technology company LoveBud announced on Thursday that the first cannabis kiosk is coming to the Sun Lakes Country Club in Chandler, Arizona, which has 2,000 residents. The device will also be available to more than 12,000 other residents at neighboring sister communities.

A spokesperson told Marijuana Moment that the marijuana kiosk will be installed on August 19, allowing seniors to learn about and order marijuana products for delivery.

“At Sun Lakes Country Club, our goal is to provide our members with access to trusted resources that support their overall health and well-being,” Joe Rizzo, the facility’s director of food and beverage, said. “By partnering with organizations like Life Is Chill, we’re giving our community another opportunity to learn about all of the options available to them. Whether members ultimately choose to utilize these services or not, we believe having access to reliable information empowers them to make informed decisions about their own health.”

Life Is Chill and LoveBud first announced the senior-targeted cannabis kiosk effort in February, but now it is coming to fruition.

The companies are touting what they call the device’s “Easy Mode,” which features large navigation elements, a curated menu and streamlined ordering to make the process as easy as possible for seniors who might not want to download a specialized app for cannabis delivery.

There will also be a promotional day every week where delivery fees are waived.

“This kiosk represents much more than another ordering channel—it removes barriers that have prevented many seniors from comfortably accessing cannabis,” James Watkins, CEO of LoveBud, said. “Adults over 55 continue to be one of the fastest-growing groups embracing cannabis, yet the shopping experience hasn’t always evolved with them. Together with Life Is Chill, we’ve created a platform that’s intuitive, approachable, and designed around the needs of the people using it.”

Dr. Dana Lillestol, senior education advocate for Life Is Chill, said that “from the beginning, our goal has been to simplify the cannabis experience for seniors.”

“Through our relationship with the Sun Lakes communities, we saw an opportunity to bring together trusted products, personalized guidance, and technology that’s genuinely easy to use,” she said. “Residents shouldn’t have to sort through hundreds of products just to find what works for them. This curated approach helps remove that uncertainty while making cannabis more accessible to an entire community.”

Meanwhile in Arizona, the Senate this session passed legislation that would have penalized people who create “excessive” amounts of marijuana smoke or odor—but it failed to be approved by the House of Representatives.

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Separately, marijuana opponents had filed a ballot initiative to roll back legalization in Arizona this year, but that effort was scrapped after the local campaign leader said he has “adjusted my viewpoints on the threat to kids” posed by the legal marijuana industry.

Sean Noble, president of the political strategy firm American Encore, told local media that while he launched the campaign due to concerns about marketing of cannabis to children, he has come to realize that marijuana businesses in Arizona have “not done some of the things that I thought they were doing.”

“I went into it with a pretty profound belief that it was happening,” Noble said. “I was kind of relying on things that I had seen or read from other people.”

“I don’t think that they’re specifically marketing gummies and candies and that kind of thing the way that I was led to believe that they were doing,” he said. “Maybe they’re doing that in other states. But it’s not happening here in Arizona.”

A poll from 2024 found ongoing majority support from Arizona likely voters for medical cannabis legalization (86 percent), adult-use legalization (69 percent) and industry banking reform (78 percent).

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