Cannabis in the left-wing primary debate

Cannabis was absent from the first debate of the left-wing primary. It wasn't during the second debate. Unlike the Republicans, all the candidates in the Left-wing groups take a stand on cannabis (even if Valls does not include it in his program). 5 are in favor of decriminalization/legalization and 2 against. There were no major surprises in the debate. Here's the summary.

Benoît Hamon

For Benoît Hamon, repression has failed. Cannabis is a potentially addictive substance that must be accompanied by prevention and public health policies. In his view, legalizing cannabis in France would enable €550 million, currently allocated to law enforcement, to be reallocated to health and the fight against addictions. He points out that the current system is not working, and that France is the European champion in cannabis consumption.

Hamon, on the other hand, wallows in Portugal. He insists to Laurence Ferrari that the country has legalized cannabis, whereas it has «only» decriminalized all drugs. A subtlety we pointed out to him on Twitter on January 5 (but we don't pretend that he reads us, or that his com’ / youth teams do their job).

.@benoithamon puts forward the idea of legalizing #cannabis in France. Good. Ms Benoit, sharpen your answers cf. https://t.co/0As0eBmCiw pic.twitter.com/E5iuN6iEix

- Newsweed (@newsweedFR) January 5, 2017

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Sylvia Pinel

Sylvia Pinel puts the fight against networks and trafficking first and foremost. Cannabis is a public health and safety issue. Pharmacies could sell cannabis. She qualifies Benoît Hamon's comments on the reallocation of resources which, for her, should also go to other trafficking and the fight against terrorism.

She also points out that other solutions (prohibition) have not worked, and that France could try this one «which works in other countries».

Manuel Valls

Manuel Valls sticks to his hard line. All opinions are welcome, but no substantive arguments are given. He too emphasizes public health, and therefore prevention, but with different conclusions from his opponents. «There have to be prohibitions in a society». For Valls, young people would be the hardest hit by cannabis legalization, with «harder» cannabic substances fuelling other trafficking. To this «argument», Hamon can be seen shaking his head in denial, something he is clearly having difficulty convincing.

For Manuel Valls, neither legalization nor decriminalization.

Vincent Peillon

Vincent Peillon wants to take into account the health and safety of the French people. For him, legalization is a direction that «may be judicious» given the failure of prohibition. He is in favor of opening a debate in the form of a national conference.

Jean-Luc Bennahmias

Jean-Luc Bennahmias was the most vituperative on the subject. In particular, he spoke of «40 years of hypocrisy» and a clear policy of burying one's head in the sand. He is in favor of a ban on under-18s, because addiction is dangerous. He is the only one to speak of therapeutic cannabis, for «Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis or certain cancers». He is also the only one to mention his undoubtedly small-scale cannabis consumption. «It's happened to me, not tonight», he shouts, to the embarrassed smiles of his fellow contestants. He also points out that it's a practice practiced by several million people, at music festivals, in stadiums, by all ages, and that 30 American states and some Latin American countries have moved to therapeutic and/or recreational legalization. He ends by saying that in the European Union, France is the only country not to debate the issue.

Beneath his slightly awkward uncle-like exterior, JLB showed that he knows his stuff.

François de Rugy

For François de Rugy, cannabis is a security issue. «It would never occur to anyone to impose prohibition on tobacco and alcohol», he says, recalling the consequences of alcohol prohibition in the United States, Al Capone included. Trafficking generates violence and dirty money. In his view, tobacco shops, which already sell everything you need to make joints, should sell cannabis. He proposes, like Denmark, A 5-year experiment, with a review at the end, and the possibility of going back if the outcome is unsatisfactory.

Arnaud Montebourg

Arnaud Montebourg is the second left-wing candidate to oppose the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis in France. His reservations focus on public health (prevention is expensive). In particular, he questions the idea of opening up the use of a substance when it is known to be harmful. «If every time the public authorities are overwhelmed, should we authorize it?»

On the other hand, he mentions a debate to be opened, in the form of conferences, but does not want the presidential election to be played out «on a subject of this nature».

What will remain of the subject of cannabis after the left-wing primaries? We don't have the answer.