Renaissance MPs want to step up the crackdown on cannabis use

Faced with the’failure of French policy In the fight against drugs, members of the presidential majority, led by the Renaissance deputy from Bouches-du-Rhône Lionel ROYER-PERREAUT, are proposing to «increase penalties for the use of narcotics and hallucinatory substances».

A failure acknowledged by majority MPs

The explanatory memorandum to the proposed law (PPL) pays tribute to the failure of French drug policy.

«The law of December 31, 1970 theoretically prohibited the use of narcotics in our country, providing for up to one year's imprisonment and a fine of 3,750 euros for drug use. Yet the French population is the biggest user of narcotics in Europe. There are 1 million daily users, and 4 to 5 million occasional users.»

Taking up the language used by the Ministry of the Interior, which aims to stigmatize drug users as the driving force behind drug trafficking, the PPL notes that «drug trafficking is thus the direct cause of numerous settlements of scores, particularly in the Paris region and in the housing estates of Marseilles. Local residents have to put up with the presence and nuisance of drug dealing outlets at all hours of the day and night. This situation can no longer continue, and it's time for drug users to realize that they are taking part in a deadly activity.»

The only solution for these majority MPs: tougher penalties for cannabis and other drug users.

They propose therefore :

• raising the fixed fine for drug use from €200 to €500
• to punish drug use by «a person in a position of public authority or entrusted with a public service mission, or by the staff of a land, sea or air freight or passenger transport company performing duties involving transport safety» with 5 years' imprisonment and a €75,000 fine
• make lump-sum fines available to minors aged 16 and over, for both first-time and repeat offenders
• prohibit the sale of nitrous oxide (used to make whipped cream or «balloons») to anyone who might misuse it

The deputies carrying the proposal are :

• Damien ABAD, Renaissance MP for Ain
• Sabrina AGRESTI‑ROUBACHE, Renaissance Member of Parliament for Bouches-du-Rhône
• Xavier ALBERTINI, Deputy Horizons de la Marne
• Romain DAUBIÉ, Modem MP for Ain
• Yannick HAURY, Renaissance Member of Parliament for Loire-Atlantique
• Delphine LINGEMANN, Modem Member of Parliament for Puy-de-Dôme
• Lysiane MÉTAYER, MP Renaissance du Morbihan
• Nicolas PACQUOT, MP Renaissance du Doubs
• Charles SITZENSTUHL, Renaissance MP for Bas-Rhin
• Philippe SOREZ, Renaissance MP for Hérault
• Violette SPILLEBOUT, Renaissance du Nord MP