Mariella Dimech appointed as Chairperson of new cannabis authority

The Government has appointed psychotherapist Mariella Dimech as the first Executive Chairperson of the Authority on the Responsible Use of Cannabis.

The authority will act as a regular for non-profit organisations that will be allowed to cultivate and distribute cannabis to new members.

Ms Dimech, whose term as Chairperson will last for three years, has extensive experience in the field of substance use and abuse.

She has worked with drug rehabilitation service Caritas for 21 years, ten of which saw her work as Coordinator of all Tama Ġdida radio shows and services, which aim to provide support to drug abuse victims and their families.

She was also responsible for the creation of clinical programs for all the organisation's services.

For six years, she also ran the San Blas Therapeutic Community. Under her leadership, the concept of residential treatment for drug victims was introduced for the first time and was an integral part of the work that led to the creation of structures, working systems, policies and clinical groups of all of San Blas and the 'Tama Ġdida' programs and services.

As Chairperson of the Authority, Ms Dimech will be overseeing the creation of all the necessary structures, including those related to operational systems and regulation, so that the authority will be in a position to receive the first applications for registration of associations without undue delay.