CBD in France: Traceability, Retail Stores, THC and Driving… What the New Bill Proposes

Mandatory traceability, licensing for retail stores, protection of minors, and a new THC limit for drivers: a bill introduced in the Senate on October 8, 2026, aims to radically restructure the French CBD market. The bill is supported by two industry trade organizations.

A parliamentary initiative to regulate the CBD market

The CBD Regulations in France could enter a new phase. On October 8, 2026, the Green Party senator Guillaume Gontard and sixteen of his colleagues filed a proposed law aimed at regulating the production, traceability, distribution, and certain uses of cannabidiol-based products.

Unveiled at a press conference on October 13, the bill has the support of the’Union of CBD Professionals (UPCBD) and the’French Association of Cannabinoid Producers (AFPC).

Both organizations aim to defend the interests of the natural CBD industry, while promoting a more clearly defined regulatory framework for producers, importers, and distributors.

The text, registered under number 21 for the 2026–2027 legislative session, has been referred to the Committee on Social Affairs. It must still go through the various legislative stages before it can be adopted.

A «computerized hemp registry» to ensure traceability

Among the key measures is the creation of a computerized hemp registry, designed to ensure the traceability of CBD flowers, from production through to marketing.

In particular, producers would be required to report their plots of land, the varieties grown, the volumes harvested, and their inventory. Importers would be subject to similar requirements regarding the origin and characteristics of the products.

Each batch would have a specific record that could be accessed by the relevant authorities, including customs and fraud enforcement agencies.

Violations could result in administrative fines of up to 37,500 euros for legal entities.

Packaging should also include the country of origin, the lot number, and several health warnings.

CBD stores subject to an operating license

The proposal also calls for tightening the requirements for opening CBD stores. Operators should file a prior declaration and obtain a operating license, issued following training on regulations, traceability, the protection of minors, and their legal responsibilities.

The Sale of CBD flowers to individuals under 18 would be explicitly prohibited, with a requirement to verify age. Vending machines would be required to have a system in place to effectively verify that the purchaser is of legal age.

These provisions are intended to professionalize distribution while strengthening health safeguards.

THC while driving: a proposed threshold of 2 nanograms

Another particularly sensitive provision: the Driving After Consuming CBD Products. The text proposes introducing an exception when the presence of THC in blood is the result of consuming products covered by the law and that its concentration does not exceed 2 nanograms per milliliter of blood.

This measure would change the current approach, based on THC detection, without, however, permitting driving under the influence of cannabis.

The proposal also addresses the taxation of raw hemp flowers and the legal treatment of intermediate products resulting from their processing.

A new political milestone, but no reforms have been adopted yet

For the’UPCBD and theAFPC, this initiative provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the economic and regulatory characteristics of the French Wellness Hemp. It now remains to be seen how Parliament and the government will respond to the bill.

Between health requirements, the fight against fraud, and ensuring the safety of professional activities, this bill sparks a new debate on the future of the French CBD market, without prejudging its legislative outcome.