[Poisson d'avril] Eric Poulliat fined €200 for public consumption of cannabis

Eric Poulliat, the member of parliament who initiated the Proposed fixed-amount fine for the offense of drug use, was issued a citation by law enforcement this weekend. Officers caught him using cannabis near the National Assembly. He will therefore have to pay a fine of 200€ (reduced to 150€ if paid within 15 days), the first fixed-amount fine for drug use to be issued in France. But he should count himself lucky—just a few days ago, he could have ended up in court and potentially faced one year in prison and/or a €3,750 fine.

«I just wanted to give it a try.»

While passing by a bar in the 7th arrondissement, law enforcement officers arrested a small group of people who were clearly using cannabis. To their astonishment, they discovered among the suspects a member of the National Assembly—and not just any member, but Representative Eric Poulliat, a member of LREM who spearheaded the bill for a flat-rate fine on cannabis. «I just wanted to try it,» he reportedly said in his defense, caught with a joint in his hand.

Whether the use was experimental or not, an offense is still an offense in the eyes of law enforcement, which therefore issued a citation against the four friends and ordered them to pay a fine of 200€, reduced to 150€ if paid immediately. This is the very first fine issued for cannabis use, and it is somewhat ironic to see the congressman footing the bill. In accordance with the options available to him under the law, the congressman reportedly filed a complaint.

After we were able to reach him on Twitter once he had unblocked us, Eric Poulliat told us that some people in his inner circle do indeed use cannabis, but that he himself does not engage in such use. This matter is therefore an unfortunate misunderstanding: «I’m well aware that I sponsored the flat-rate fine bill and that the press is going to have a field day with it, but I repeat that this incident is an unfortunate misunderstanding. I didn’t inhale the smoke, so I didn’t use cannabis!».

The case is currently on hold, but it has triggered strong reactions on social media.