Do French tobacconists want to tax CBD? The exclusive interview

The French government's new finance bill (PLF 2026) could shake up the country's CBD market. The proposal, still under discussion, aims to introduce an excise tax on CBD-based products, while reserving their sale exclusively to tobacconists. The idea is to bring structure and traceability to a sector that has rapidly developed in a legal grey area.

But among tobacconists themselves, reactions are mixed. While they welcome the recognition of their role as regulated retailers, they firmly reject the prospect of a new tax that could make CBD more expensive than cannabis sold on the street.

«We have never asked for a tax,» insists Philippe Glory, spokesman for the Confédération des buralistes, the national association of French tobacconists. «If CBD becomes more expensive than what is sold illegally, it defeats the purpose.»

For him, it's not a question of taxation, it's a question of clarity. The confederation wants a defined legal framework - with traceability, age limits and product standards - and not an additional financial burden that could stifle a market still in its infancy.

CBD: a modest but growing source of income

Despite growing professionalism, CBD is not yet a major source of revenue for France's 22,800 tobacconists. «Tobacco still accounts for around half of our sales,» explains the spokesperson. «Next come lottery and games, press and vaping. CBD comes after that.»

He insists, however, that this ranking depends heavily on the location of each store. «Some colleagues located in city centers make a good living from selling snacks or takeaway drinks, while others focus on vaping or CBD. It's all about adapting.»

Unlike tobacco, CBD is a margin product, This means that tobacconists can negotiate directly with suppliers.

«It's one of the few products where we can control the price,» he says. «That's important to us.»

Tobacconists want regulation, but not bureaucracy

If there's one message that emerges from tobacconists' discourse, it's this: they want clearer rules, no less than regulatory.

«We're asking for a legal framework that allows us to sell in complete safety,» insists the spokesman. «Today, nothing is written. Technically, you could sell CBD to a minor, which is absurd.»

The confederation has already published two guides on CBD for its members and regularly publishes information in its monthly magazine Le Losange. Each issue contains articles on best practices and updates on what is and isn't allowed. «We've also organized conferences and information sessions at our trade shows,» he adds.

A resounding «no» to an excise tax on CBD

One of the hottest issues at the end of this year is the excise tax proposal on CBD in the Finance bill for 2026 (PLF 2026). While this measure appears to treat CBD like tobacco, tobacconists are firmly opposed to it.

«We never asked for this tax,» the spokesperson clarifies. «If CBD becomes more expensive than cannabis sold on the street, that's ridiculous. It's counterproductive.»

He argues that such a tax would not only hurt tobacconists« margins, but would also drive consumers towards illegal products. »It's counterproductive for public health,« he adds. »Instead, we're asking for a clear legal framework and traceability, not additional costs that make the market unviable."

According to him, the confederation is waiting for the parliamentary debate to evolve before taking an official position, but its position is already clear: regulation, yes; tax sanctions, no.

Position on THC limits: «We respect the law».»

With regard to the THC threshold, currently set at 0.3% in France, tobacconists remain neutral. «We don't have to take sides,» says the spokesman. «If the law goes to 0.6% or 1%, we'll adapt. We sell what is authorized.»

He stresses that their main concern is not the THC level per se, but the’product integrity. «We want complete traceability: sealed packaging, QR codes on the product and laboratory analysis,» he explains. «Too often, we still see suppliers with false certificates or blank corrections on lab reports.»

The confederation regularly reminds its members not to sell CBD in bulk and to check their suppliers« documentation. »If a product arrives sealed, you're protected. If it's opened or repackaged, you're at risk," he warns.

A network ready for licensing and traceability

The tobacconists believe that their current system already meets the requirements of a future CBD licensing scheme. Every tobacconist must hold a state authorization and have a clean criminal record. «We are already controlled by customs. That's not the case for all CBD stores,» he points out.

For them, this proves that the network could serve as the basis for a responsible CBD distribution system. «It would be absurd for anyone to be able to sell a sensitive product like CBD, while tobacconists, who are trained and controlled, cannot,» he argues.

They're not opposed to a formal licensing system; on the contrary, they see it as an opportunity to standardize quality and ensure consistent training. «We already train our members in everything: press, banking, vaping,» he says. «CBD training is just a natural extension of what we do.»

The courses, organized regularly by local federations, cover everything from the origins of the Cannabis plant to responsible retail practices.

«We teach the different products - flowers, resins, oils - but we also explain what terpenes are and how to talk about their effects in complete safety,» he explains. The aim: to make tobacconists credible players in a market that is still poorly defined in France.

The boundary between natural and synthetic

While defending its right to sell CBD, the Confederation draws a clear line against synthetic cannabinoids as the HHC or the H4CBD. «These are much more violent than traditional cannabis,» the spokesman insists. «We don't want them.»

In recent months, tobacconists have even played the role of’informants with regulators, alerting them to dangerous or mislabeled products. «We've shown customs what's really being sold,» he says, blaming the bureaucracy for its inertia and slow response. «We need faster, smarter regulation.»

For them, the future lies in Natural and traceable CBD, not chemical shortcuts.

The ideal model: safety, training and traceability

When asked about the ideal regulatory model for 2030, The spokesman's answer is clear: «We want noble, safe, sealed and traceable products. And we want consumers to be informed.»

According to him, confusion between CBD and THC remains widespread among French consumers. «We still hear people saying they're the same thing,» he sighs. «That's why training, both for sellers and customers, is crucial.»

For the Confédération des buralistes, the future of CBD in France must rest on three pillars: clarity, control and credibility. This means training retailers, tracing products and rejecting opportunistic shortcuts, whether fiscal, synthetic or political.

«We're not asking for privileges,» concludes the spokesperson. «We just want to do things right. The CBD market deserves professionalism, not improvisation.»