Cannabis in France: two MPs, a Macronist and an Insoumis, propose its legalization in a report

The cannabis legalization has re-entered the French political debate, as two members of Congress from opposing parties— Ludovic Mendes (Together for the Republic) and Antoine Léaument (La France Insoumise) – have presented a comprehensive parliamentary report calling for a radical change in drug policy.

The report, which will be made public on February 18, points out the’failure of the’repressive approach current and calls for a regulation of the cannabis market in order to curb criminal networks and prioritize the public health.

Moving from repression to regulation

After seventeen months of investigation, the two members of Congress stated 60 proposals, challenging the prohibitionist stance that has been in place in France for more than 50 years.

«We need to shift paradigms, moving from a security-based approach to a public health approach,» explains Ludovic Mendes in an interview with BFMTV. Members of Parliament believe that existing policies have not led to a reduction in consumption and instead fueled an underground economy controlled by criminal networks.

According to the report, France is facing a mass consumption, with approximately 4 million cannabis users.

«When consumption levels are this high, prohibition does not prevent access. It merely drives consumers toward unregulated and potentially dangerous products,» said Bernard Basset, president of the association Addictions France.

Members of Parliament are proposing that France adopt a regulated cannabis market similar to the patterns observed in the Canada and Portugal, where the decriminalization of drugs has led to better public health outcomes.

«Just because drugs have been decriminalized doesn't mean there won't be any legal proceedings,» said Mendes, noting that the focus should be on the addiction treatment support rather than on criminalizing consumers.

Competing visions for a regulated market

While the two members of Congress agree on the need for a legalization, they offer different control models. Antoine Léaument is in favor of a state-controlled model, with a public enterprise which would oversee the production and distribution of cannabis. This entity would ensure a range of competitive products while exercising strict control over quality and prices.

Ludovic Mendes, who has been interested in the subject for several years now, supports a liberal model, in which private operators separate entities would manage the farming, distribution, and retail under the supervision of a national regulatory agency. He also advocates for nonprofit cannabis clubs, where consumers could grow their own plants within a limited space.

Regardless of the model, the two members of Congress propose setting a legal limit for personal possession, Mendes suggests 10 grams and Leaument recommends 25 grams, in accordance with recent German legislation. In addition, they recommend a Limit of four plants per household for personal enrichment.

Curbing the Illegal Market and Reducing Risks

One of the report's main arguments is that the legalization would undermine criminal networks that thrive under prohibition. By placing the state-regulated production and sale of cannabis, France could reduce the power of traffickers while ensuring that the products comply with the health and safety standards. «The idea is to dry up the illegal market, destabilize the traffickers» economy, and capture underground revenues for the public good,” the report states.

To compete with illegal resellers, lawmakers suggest setting the initial price of legal cannabis at less than 5 euros per gram, which is significantly lower than the the current street price, which is about 10 euros.

Opposition and Controversy

Obviously, not everyone is convinced by this proposal. The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, remains firmly opposed to legalization and launched a media campaign aimed at discouraging consumption by making consumers feel guilty, a campaign that has been widely criticized by all those involved in prevention efforts.

«A joint tastes like blood,» he recently said, reinforcing his commitment to a zero-tolerance approach.

Similarly, the police unions and conservative politicians have expressed skepticism.

«Legalizing cannabis is the worst possible solution. There will always be a market for stronger and more dangerous drugs,» says Benjamin Camboulives, union spokesperson CFDT Alternative Party.

Public health experts, however, dispute this view.

«The fear that legalization will increase consumption is unfounded,» says Bernard Basset. «Countries that have legalized cannabis have not seen a dramatic increase in consumption, but they have been better able to control quality and distribution.»

Beyond Cannabis: Decriminalization of other substances?

The report goes beyond the cannabis legalization, while also recommending the decriminalization of small amounts of other drugs, including the cocaine, MDMA, and heroin. Members of Congress suggest that possession of less than 3 grams should not result in criminal prosecution, which would allow law enforcement to focus on the traffickers rather than users.

This measure is in line with the Portuguese model, where decriminalization in 2001 has led to significant improvements in the substance abuse treatment and harm reduction.

«The overall impact of the Portuguese health care reform has been positive,» the report states, citing a reduction in problematic drug use since the policy was implemented.

The report also raises the idea of a referendum on this issue, recently proposed by the mayor of Grenoble, Eric Piolle. This could be related to the recent opening from President Emmanuel Macron at citizen consultations on major national issues, although he did not specify whether the legalization of cannabis would be part of it.

Since drug-related crime is a growing concern in urban areas, members of Congress also recommend that’increase investment in community policing and urban renewal projects in the neighborhoods most affected by the drug trafficking.