Fines for cannabis users: reactions

While the report on the contraventionnalisation of cannabis in France is due to be officially published today, a number of elements have already been published in the press, prompting a variety of reactions.

Project rapporteurs

Although Messrs Poulliat (LREM) and Reda (LR) each offer a different solution, Their report revolves around the introduction of a fine for possession or consumption of cannabis. Avoiding the subjects of therapeutic cannabis, public health or the fight against trafficking, the fine focuses solely on the financial penalization of the consumer.

However, Robin Reda finds himself in a bolder position than that of’Eric Poulliat, In other words, a quasi-depenalization. His fine remains a criminal offence, but eliminates prison sentences, whereas Marcheur Poulliat sticks to a solution that is difficult to achieve in practice. NORML France explains it particularly well, all like Yann Bisiou, a lecturer in private law and criminal sciences.

Moreover, Robin Reda has already gone beyond decriminalization, with a desire to move towards the de facto authorization of therapeutic cannabis. in this interview on BFM. Will the Republicans be more reformist than reformists? Courageous in any case.

However, Christophe Castaner summed up the contrav’ report well: repression doesn't work, let's keep it anyway.

Cannabis: we're one of the most repressive countries in the world, but also one of the biggest consumers. It doesn't work.
Penalties must be enforceable, effective and dissuasive. No laxity, but effective, enforceable and dissuasive penalties. @francebleu

- Christophe Castaner (@CCastaner) January 22, 2018

Against the proposed fine

Many reactions have been voiced against the proposed fine, generally denouncing the lack of political courage of this reform.

On the health professionals' side, Professor Amine Benyamina, President of the French Federation of Addictology, tells Le Parisien that «This idea is backed up by the opinion of lung specialist Bertrand Dautzenberg in the same article. Ditto for Alexandre Baguet, addictologist at Rouen University Hospital, Michel Reynaud, addictologist and psychiatrist, Jean-Pierre Couteron, addictologist, Renaud Colson, and Roselyne Bachelot, former Minister of Health, on today's La République LCI program (replay link not yet available).

The Syndicat de la magistrature, second in line on this project, is also asking to go further (thread to scroll down below).

The "amende forfaitaire délictuelle" doesn't break any taboos! It only adds to what already exists (prison...) uniform fines distributed in a chain without going through a judge: it won't work and that's why other countries do things differently. https://t.co/tCHXF4pVr6

- SMagistrature (@SMagistrature) January 21, 2018

Alexis Corbière, spokesman for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, reiterates France Insoumise's position that cannabis should be regulated by the state.

«I'm in favor of the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis. #Franceinsoumise.  » #BFMPolitical

- Alexis Corbière (@alexiscorbiere) January 21, 2018

The «ni-ni»

Some politicians hold to the Maginot line on cannabis, namely that decriminalization is not an option, as prohibition is more protective than regulation.

https://twitter.com/manuelvalls/status/955055610017517568

My personal conviction is that we should not decriminalize #cannabis.
But we must be aware of our failure: we have the harshest repression and the highest consumption! #BFMPolitical pic.twitter.com/Ii55ARk0IM

- Bruno Le Maire (@BrunoLeMaire) January 21, 2018

The only happy ones

In the end, the only representatives co-opting the reform and fine project are the police, for whom the report was written. Both the Syndicat des cadres de la sécurité intérieure (SCSI), Alliance and Synergie are generally on the same wavelength.

However, the report states that it is difficult to measure the savings in terms of time required by ticketing, and that fining will be complicated in «neighborhoods».

What about cannabis users?

Adult consumers are not (or only very rarely) questioned. Although 1.5 million of them smoke every week, they are not represented by name, except by the IARC, which was able to give an interview this morning. on Sud Radio.

And this may well be what this report will be all about once it's out: launching a major national debate on the state's policy of regulating cannabis, with a focus on the people who are primarily concerned, the consumers who use it in an adult and responsible way. Like Robin Reda reminds us, society is further ahead than the political class, which is out of step on the issue of drugs«.