6 points of attention for the legalization of cannabis in France in the light of the Californian model

You may have noticed: the California has just legalized cannabis for adults. The legalization of cannabis in France is still a long way off, but that doesn't mean we can't imagine it happening one day, and perhaps draw inspiration from the Californian model. In the light of California's reform of its cannabis laws, we have identified 6 points to bear in mind when considering the possible legalization of cannabis in France.

Consumer protection

The first goal of a cannabis legalization is to protect the consumer, both in terms of health and safety.

This could mean putting an end to unnecessary arrests for consumers and society, or eliminating an illegal offer that does not supply only quality products and does not ask the age of its consumers before selling products. cannabis, or emphasize the effects of cannabis, both good and bad, for all ages.

But it's also a way of making the state face up to its responsibilities. The Californian model leaves a lot of room for individual responsibility, for example in the workplace, where numerous drug tests are carried out, and will continue to reject people who use cannabis, even for medical purposes. Should we follow this example?

Amnesty for cannabis-related offences

In California, people who have been arrested in the past for cannabis-related misdemeanors or felonies will find it difficult to work in the new legal sector due to an almost total clean record requirement.

It does exist a procedure to have your record reviewed, which remains the responsibility of the applicant.

Should a person convicted of a felony / misdemeanor continue to pay now that it is no longer a felony / misdemeanor?

Culture at home

California law allows 6 cannabis plants per household.

Self-cultivation of cannabis provides an alternative source of cannabis for consumers, who can select their own varieties and growing methods (indoor, outdoor, organic, etc.). We could imagine a home-growing permit system in France, with different limits on the number of plants than in California. But banning it the Quebec way would undoubtedly prolong cannabis prohibition.

Free market or state monopoly?

California has opted for a free cannabis market. Dispensaries are in the hands of private owners, not public distributors. as will be the case in most of Canada.

A free cannabis market allows people already working in the industry before legalization to «come out of the woodwork» and make it a legal business, while stimulating competition that will drive prices down and quality of service up.

The state monopoly, on the other hand, will prevent such conversions, but will enable end-to-end control of cannabis cultivation and distribution.

Two models for two different points of view. British Columbia has opted for a mix of the two. The other countries that have legalized have each their own model. cannabis legalization model.

Reimbursement of therapeutic cannabis by the French social security system

Californian health insurance does not reimburse medical cannabis, as it does for other medicines.

Germany has made its choice, to reimburse cannabis prescriptions for the most serious pathologies.

In a country with such a strong Social Security culture, what would France do?

More research on cannabis

In the United States, federal prohibition of cannabis severely limits research. If cannabis is so poorly understood and so disparaged, it's also because it is «little» studied in France, compared with other substances.

The pharmaceutical industry has totally neglected cannabis in its R&D, in favor of opiates, which has led to a profound lack of knowledge about the therapeutic applications of cannabis, and even to the development of a real R&D sector for medical cannabis. as in Israel.

This could also explain why medical cannabis is still not available in France. Until now, French labs have preferred to test synthetic cannabinoids, with familiar results, rather than studying the plant and its phytocannabinoids.

To take fiction a step further :

• 12 arguments in favor of state-controlled cannabis in France
• What might coffeeshops look like in France?
• What's new for cannabis in France in 2018?
• The benefits of legalizing cannabis in France, according to Terra Nova