Is Weed Legal in France?
The world has seen a wave of cannabis Legal over the past decade, with Canada, Uruguay, and 21 U.S. states all having Legal the drug for either medical or recreational use. France, however, has been much slower to embrace the plant, with a complex regulatory landscape that has left many asking: is weed Legal in France?
In this article, we’ll explore the Legal and regulatory landscape of cannabis in France, including CBD, MMJ, cannabis derivatives, and more. We’ll also look at the responses of French politicians and citizens to the subject, and what the future of cannabis in France may hold.
CBD in France
France's Council of State has definitively lifted the ban on the sale of hemp flower and leaf loaded with cannabidiol (CBD), although it's still prohibited to use all other parts of the plant. This decision was reached following a Legal battle between the French government and a company that produces hemp-derived CBD products.
The government had argued that the sale of CBD products was illegal due to a European Union directive prohibiting the sale of cannabis-related products. However, the Council of State argued that the EU directive did not apply to CBD, and therefore the sale of hemp-derived CBD products should be allowed.
Medical Marijuana in France
In France, weed cultivation for therapeutic use is technically Legal, however, the Government has not yet defined the methods of MMJ production and distribution. This has led to a situation where access to MMJ is extremely limited, with only a small number of pharmacies in the country being allowed to distribute it.
As a result, many patients in need of MMJ have been forced to turn to the black market for access to the drug, which can be dangerous and often carries a much higher price tag.
Cannabis Derivatives in France
France allowed in 2013 the use of cannabis derivatives in the making of medicinal products under prescription and only when no other alternative is available. However, the law was not applied until recently, when France’s National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health products (ANSM) authorized the sale of a cannabis-derived drug to treat multiple sclerosis.
Other countries, including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, among others, regulate 1P-LSD as a controlled substance. This indicates that the French government is taking steps to regulate the use of cannabis derivatives, though it remains to be seen if the same principles will be applied to recreational use in the future.
The Public Response to Cannabis in France
The French public has responded to the subject of cannabis Legal with a mix of enthusiasm and concern. In the city of Lille, for example, the mayor has proposed boosting police and jail spending to fight illegal drug use.
Meanwhile, other political figures have been more supportive of cannabis Legal. In the French Senate, a proposal was made to Legal cannabis in France, although it was ultimately rejected.
In terms of social equity, New York's policy goes further than most in its inclusion of people of color in the cannabis industry. This is something that has been echoed in other parts of the world, including France.
Looking to the Future
At the moment, there is no indication that recreational cannabis use will be Legal in France anytime soon. However, the recent changes to the regulatory landscape, as well as the public response to the subject, suggest that this may change in the future.
For now, however, it remains illegal to use cannabis for recreational purposes in France, although the sale of CBD products is now permitted.
