6 French people in favor of legalizing cannabis

The subject is becoming less and less taboo in France, and although those who step outside the official line are quick to return to it, some leading French personalities have expressed their views on the issue of cannabis. Whether politicians, doctors, journalists or artists, here are 6 Frenchmen in favor of cannabis. legalization of cannabis in France.

Jean-Michel Baylet

The current Minister for Regional Planning was quick to agree with the government's position that there is no problem with cannabis other than a criminal one. However, this has not always been the case. Jean-Michel Baylet is in favor of legalizing cannabis and selling it in pharmacies.

In September 2011, then president of the Parti radical de gauche (PRG), JMB told RTL that this would make it possible to «destroy the mafia-like underground economy on which distribution of the cannabis which, and this is the second reason, causes considerable public order problems». Although he confessed to wanting to be the «itching powder, even a little more so, the one who gets things done» in a left-wing majority, JMB said he no longer wished to express himself on this subject as long as he was in government.

So we'll just watch this clip from Des paroles et des actes over and over again, where his convictions were very clear.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit

2012, one week before the legislative elections. Cécile Duflot advocates decriminalization of cannabis while acknowledging that this is not the government's position. Her comrades criticized her harshly. Daniel Cohn-Bendit came to Cécile Duflot's defense on Europe 1, stressing that the issue of cannabis is a real debate that should not be a political problem. In his view, decriminalizing cannabis would make it possible to «break up the mafias» and «control» the product, which would be a plus for public health.

Perhaps Dany le Rouge will become Dany le Vert for 2017?

Daniel Vaillant

Daniel Vaillant's stance in favor of legalizing cannabis came in 2003. At the time, Sarkozy was Minister of the Interior and wanted to «contraventionalize» cannabis consumption, a mini-depenalization that would make consumption punishable by a fine and confiscation of the scooter, with zero tolerance. The measure didn't go through, but Daniel Vaillant realized that «bourgeois consumption, which is all tucked away, has nothing to worry about, and in the neighborhoods, we're going to go for the fine». He then formulated four proposals:

• legalize and control cannabis production
• authorize consumption, accompanied by a major information and prevention effort
• penalize drinking and driving
• tougher repression and penalties for traffickers

The case was shelved until 2009, when the government asked him to chair a working group within the Socialist group at the National Assembly. The result was a report in 2011 entitled «Pour mieux lutter contre le cannabis: lutter contre l'hypocrisie» (available here). The document brings together the opinions of police officers, magistrates, addictologists, economists and patients, and proposes the setting up of a controlled national cannabis production and sales network. Apparently without any follow-up.

We might add that Julien Dray, who is sometimes heard on the subject, worked on this 2011 report.

#DirectDray The debate on the legalization of cannabis needs to start very soon.

- Julien Dray (@juliendray) November 30, 2015

Bertrand Dautzenberg

The news helps us a little when it comes to talking about Pr. Dautzenberg. The eminent pulmonologist recently spoke out in favor of legalizing cannabis to combat a public health problem. His arguments are simple: repression gives consumers access to poor-quality products that are dangerous to their health. State-supervised decriminalization would make it possible to control the quantity and quality of products, while raising awareness of their dangers.

You can watch Pr. Dautzenberg on Canal +'s Petit Journal here.

Christiane Taubira

Cannabis is one of Christiane Taubira's most controversial subjects. She's not far off. Christiane Taubira has not come out clearly FOR the legalization of cannabis, but AGAINST it. In Christiane's own words: «It's not acceptable not to think about it». She continues: «The Right has made it a kind of taboo, in a totally hypocritical way, because it issued two circulars at the time, to encourage the courts to be lenient with cannabis users. marijuana. I notice that she has been careful not to advertise it. The left, on the other hand, has made it a taboo.

According to Christiane Taubira, a social issue must be dealt with by society: «a society that doesn't dare face up to the subject is a society that is complicit in damage». Good news: 60% of the French are in favor of allowing cannabis under certain conditions (OFDT report here).

Vincent Peillon

Then Minister of Education under Jean-Marc Ayrault's government, Vincent Peillon spoke out in favor of launching a debate on the decriminalization of cannabis, asserting that this is a major issue. Recalling that Daniel Vaillant had expressed his desire to legalize cannabis, he added: «I agreed with him then, and I still do today. In his opinion, the subject directly concerns young people. The problem of the parallel economy shows that repression is not effective. What's more, France is lagging behind its European neighbors and the United States on this issue. Vincent Peillon was also opposed to cannabis testing in schools (hello Valérie!).

His lease as Number 2 in the government was not renewed with the arrival of Manuel Valls at Matignon.

These 6 personalities are not the only ones to speak out in favor of a change in the way cannabis is treated in France. We could add the names of Esther Benbassa, Olivier Besancenot, Jean-Michel Apathie, Karl Zero and Eva Joly, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Benoît Delepine, Frédéric Beigbeder, Noël Mamère, etc... some of whom are signatories of the’18 joint call. We can also see that the Mouvement des jeunes socialistes and Les Jeunes Verts have taken a favorable stance on this subject.

This list of people doesn't change the fact that the debate in France is deadlocked. The political game is crushing the courage of those who are supposed to represent France. And the fate of the few high-profile people who are speaking out on cannabis probably doesn't inspire others to take up the issue. But they will have to.