Cannabis is currently legal for limited medical purposes in France as part of a national study. Starting in 2020, personal possession of cannabis will be decriminalized. There is no demographic breakdown of this population because the French credo of “absolute equality” between citizens has made it illegal since 1978 to collect statistics based on race, ethnic origin or religion. But sociologist Farhad Khosrokhavar, who studies the French prison system, found that about half of the 69,000 people imprisoned in France today are Muslims of Arab descent. Several other countries are on the verge of legalizing adult cannabis in Europe, including Germany, Italy and Luxembourg. Although France is a typically liberal country, it has shown little appetite for cannabis legalization in recent years. Perhaps surprisingly, despite the lack of legal and political tolerance for the plant, France is actually the largest consumer of cannabis in Europe, according to a report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). Cannabis in France is illegal for personal use, but remains one of the most popular illegal drugs. Limited types of cannabis-derived products are approved for medical purposes. As we know, the marijuana plant, that is, the plant that contains THC, is illegal in France and is classified as narcotic.
However, CBD products are not considered narcotics and can be used as long as certain restrictions have been met in their manufacture. On January 13, 2022, the French National Assembly rejected a bill to legalize the production, supply and use of cannabis under the control of the French government. Cannabis itself is still illegal in France, but in recent months its “wellness” derivative CBD has become a kind of green Eldorado. So where exactly is the dividing line between therapeutic, medical and recreational use? We are taking a closer look. And to learn more about the use of cannabis for medical purposes, we talk to hospital psychiatrist Nicolas Authier. In March 2021, with the Minister of Health at his side, he signed the country`s first cannabis prescription as part of a nationwide limited study. “This law aims to combat the illegal trade in cannabis by legalizing it under state control in metropolitan France and overseas territories,” CBD is less controversial and is now used in the medical industry for its benefits. CBD is not a psychoactive substance, which means that it does not change the mindset and is one of the main reasons why it is now legal in most countries of the world. Governments do not see it as a harmful substance. CBD doesn`t have much effect except to be a mild relaxant and help relieve pain. As more countries in Europe and the international community legalize adult cannabis, the momentum for France to do the same is intensifying. It may not happen this year, but it will probably happen as soon as possible.
For the perspective, Malta, which recently adopted a legalization measure for adults (the first in Europe), had only a consumption rate of 0.9%, according to the same survey. Despite its continued popularity until the 21st century. In the nineteenth century, it seems unlikely that full legalization will reach French shores in the foreseeable future. In June 2021, an Ifop poll found that 51% of respondents were in favor of decriminalizing cannabis, the highest number in more than fifty years. Despite changing public perceptions, particularly in Western Europe and among the liberal ruling classes, President Macron has remained largely invisible when it comes to discussing cannabis reform in France. After explicitly ruling out the legalization of recreational cannabis use during his presidency, the country`s slowness in fighting medical legality suggests that total legality remains a pipe dream for French cannabis users (pardon the pun). In the name of promoting the “colonial order,” the France established distinct and unequal legal codes that promoted segregation, forced labor, and restrictions on the civil rights of Muslims and other Africans. CBD can only be sold legally if it does not contain THC. Otherwise, it can be considered a narcotic by the authorities.
Marijuana is not legal in France, and the country has some of the strictest cannabis guidelines in Western Europe. Possession of cannabis is illegal in France, although in 2020 the country changed the law so that the penalty is now a fine of 200 euros. However, fines for consumption, as opposed to simple possession of cannabis, can reach thousands of euros and result in up to a year in prison. French dishes targeted CBD stores. However, the European Court ruled in late 2020 that the France`s ban on CBD products was illegal because CBD “does not harm human health.” At the end of 2018, a survey conducted by the Observatoire des drogues et des toxicomanies de l`Français, a government agency, revealed that “nearly one in two” supported legalization, with 54% of opponents, while more than 9 out of 10 were in favor of legalizing medical cannabis. [25] If you`re planning a trip to France in the coming months, you may be wondering, “Is grass legal in France?” While the legality and tolerance of cannabis continues to increase around the world, the France unfortunately remains a little slow in its adoption. Despite the highest number of cannabis users per capita in Europe, marijuana remains illegal in France, with the country being known for having some of the strictest cannabis laws in Western Europe. Many French associations have officially and publicly rejected these restrictions and have called on the Council of State of French to lift the additional ban on raw flowers and leaves. On 24 January 2022, the Council of State decided to suspend this ban pending its final decision on the legality of the restrictions specific to raw flowers and leaves (Decision No.
460055). The final decision has not yet been made. If the France tries to regulate legal cannabis, many doctors, stoners and libertarian economists will certainly rejoice. But it is perhaps French Muslims who benefit the most. The measure has been seen by some as a form of decriminalization designed to clear up court records, but fines remain on a person`s criminal record, and the plant remains illegal in all respects. Switzerland and the Netherlands are intensifying pilot programmes for adults in some countries, and Switzerland already allows the legal sale of low-THC cannabis products.
