Editor's note: This story was updated at 11:45 a.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 7 to reflect that Malta's president has signed the legislation into law.
Malta President George Vella has signed an adult-use cannabis legalization bill into law after the country's parliament approved the legislation Dec. 14.
The new law went into effect Dec. 18, according to the Malta Independent.
In a Dec. 17 statement, Vella said "he had no power to ignore a law that was democratically passed in Parliament, irrespective of his agreement or otherwise," the news outlet reported.
Below is the original report from Cannabis Business Times.
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Malta became the first European country to legalize adult-use cannabis Dec. 14 when its parliament approved legislation that would legalize the cultivation and possession of cannabis for adults 18 and older.
RELATED: Malta to Legalize Cannabis Cultivation, Possession for Personal Use
The bill, which is expected to be signed into law by the president, allows adults to possess up to 7 grams of cannabis and to cultivate up to four plants, but consuming cannabis in public or in the presence of minors will remain illegal, according to an AP News report.
Those cultivating plants for personal use can store up to 50 grams of dried cannabis, AP News reported, and the law allows non-profit clubs to distribute cannabis and cannabis seeds to their members.
The legislation also establishes an authority that will work with Malta’s government to develop national policy regulating cannabis use, according to the news outlet.
