70 personalities call for the legalization of cannabis in France

Visit day after the 18th joint, 70 doctors, elected representatives and economists sign today in the Nouvel Observateur newspaper a forum in favor of legalization of cannabis. Several reasons for legalization, as well as growing political and public support, are put forward in the pages of L'Obs.

«An alignment of the planets»

«The alignment of the planets has never been so favorable,» writes the Obs journalist. in an article entitled « Cannabis legalization: the time is right! Here's why. He refers not only to the forum but also to French people's opinion who are, by a slim majority (51%), in favor of legalization.

Faced with the changes already underway internationally, «France is increasingly isolated in its repressive stance» writes the Obs journalist.

La tribune

L'Obs's article takes up some of the now-familiar elements in the criticism of French-style prohibition: prohibition is a shattering failure in terms of safety and public health. Indeed, as OFDT figures, France is the leading consumer of cannabis in the European Union, and consumption is particularly high among young people, as prohibition prevents effective prevention.

«We know that it's not a neutral product, but it's precisely because it's harmful to health, particularly that of minors, that we need to control its production and distribution».

Prohibition is not only a failure in terms of public health, it is also a waste of resources, according to the signatories of the petition: «Prohibition contributes to unnecessarily clogging up the work of magistrates and police officers: more than 130,000 people are arrested each year for having taken drugs».

Every year, more than 500 million euros are devoted to the fight against drug trafficking, which now accounts for more than half of the world's drug trade. the fight against consumers. The signatories are unanimous: the status quo is unthinkable; French cannabis policies must be reformed.

«When will France accept to face reality, to show pragmatism, in the face of this impasse? The public authorities must act. And fast.»

Among the signatories were a number of local councillors and several regional councillors from the Ile-de-France region - notably Seine-Saint-Denis, a department plagued by illicit cannabis trafficking. The nuisance caused by trafficking was the very reason for the citizen consultation organized by Villeurbanne town hall - of which the mayor is a signatory - to poll the population on the possibility of legalization. 72% were in favor.

Only one elected official from the right, Gil Avérous, the mayor of Châteauroux, signed the tribune. On the other hand, two heavyweights of La République en Marche, Pierre Person and Aurélien Taché, respectively number 2 of La République en Marche and co-leader of the «ideas» pole within the Macronist movement, have affixed their signatures.