Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association president Tony Zahra has called on the government to reverse Malta’s cannabis reform, describing the decision as a “very big mistake”.Speaking during the presentation of the MHRA hotel survey by Deloitte on Friday, Zahra argued that Malta needs to tackle problems associated with certain tourists “at their origin”, rather than leaving the police and Malta Tourism Authority to deal with the consequences as reported by Times of Malta.“This government made a big mistake when they allowed the sale of cannabis,” Zahra said. “This was a very big mistake, and we must reverse this. Otherwise, we’re going to have continuous problems.”Malta became the first EU country to legalise cannabis for personal use in 2021. However, the reform does not permit the commercial sale of recreational cannabis. Instead, licensed non-profit associations can distribute cannabis to registered members under a regulated framework.Zahra also turned his attention to alcohol, calling for bottle shops to be prevented from selling cheap alcohol after a certain time.“We can’t go on forever with situations where people buy cheap alcohol and get drunk,” he said.While stressing that Malta should remain a vibrant and enjoyable destination, Zahra said this should not come at the expense of the country itself.“Of course, we should have a vibrant country and make it fun, but that doesn’t mean turning it into a rubbish bin,” he said.The MHRA president also raised concerns about low-spending tourists, short-term rentals and pressure on Malta’s infrastructure.He called for better regulation of short-term lets, arguing that they constitute commercial activity and suggesting that Malta should consider zoning areas as residential or touristic.Zahra also warned that the electricity problems experienced during this summer’s hot weather could return next year unless Malta either increases generating capacity or reduces demand.His comments ultimately centred on what kind of tourism Malta wants to attract and how the country should manage the pressures that come with continued growth.What do you make of Zahra’s call for Malta to reverse its cannabis reform?•