Gérald Darmanin delivers 4 minutes 20 of prohibitionist lies

Edito. If I were to write an article to correct all the falsehoods spread about cannabis on TV or in the newspapers, I wouldn’t have any time left to live. But this time, Gérald Darmanin’s remarks on BFMTV during his visit to Condé-sur-Sarthe were worth taking a closer look at.

The context in which he spoke is the acknowledgment that prohibition has failed in France the release of the report by Messrs. Mendes and Léaument calling for the legalization of cannabis, the need for which, they argue, is based in particular on the failure of the policies they represent by the various ministers of the interior over the past 50 years and fueled by their political circles—including presidents—and their consequences: the growth of a black market, drug use among young people, easy access, the denial of human rights, a focus on statistics, etc…

Mr. Darmanin has every right to oppose legalization. But he should do so with valid arguments, because we’ve been subjected to no fewer than 20 lies or falsehoods in a 4-minute, 18-second video. Faced with this barrage, I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

Legalization of cannabis: "That's the rhetoric of defeat," says Gérald Darmanin pic.twitter.com/alv86kAw10

— BFMTV (@BFMTV) February 17, 2025

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«Cannabis has extremely high THC levels.»

No, the cannabis currently available in France does not have extremely high THC levels. In 2023, the average THC level was 29% in cannabis resin (a concentrated form of cannabis consumed in small quantities) and 14% in marijuana. Source: OFDT.

Some «extracts» can contain much higher concentrations and are consumed more like you would savor a whiskey than like you would guzzle a beer. You learn about cannabis when you don’t have to hide.

«High THC levels lead to depression, suicide, and dropping out of school.»

The relationship between high levels of THC and mental health issues such as depression, suicide, or dropping out of school is complex and depends on multiple factors, including individual factors, frequency of use, age of onset, and overall mental health.

Generally speaking, heavy use of cannabis with a high THC content—particularly among young people—can be harmful and increase mental health problems. But using the worst-case scenario as a scare tactic against «normal» use is completely misleading.

Legalization would, in any case, prohibit use by young people, who would not be allowed into stores that sell cannabis. It would also open up a dialogue about problematic use, which must be addressed through public health measures.

«Proposing legalization is like stabbing single mothers who are raising their children on their own in the back.»

I'll let him be the sole judge of that statement; as for me, I'm still trying to figure out the connection.

«Proposing legalization means going against the rules and the established order.»

Proposing legalization means… regulating. Establishing rules where there are none. The black market, on the other hand, has no rules—except perhaps those of the strongest or the most discreet.

«Drugs are a stab in the back to society»

Man has been using drugs since Methuselah's time. Drugs are part of society, and Mr. Darmanin uses them.

«No society has ever succeeded in decriminalizing or legalizing drugs without a massive increase in consumption.»

That’s not true. Countries legalize cannabis even though its use already exists. Post-legalization statistics show increases in consumption among adults, which countries or states generally attribute to people feeling more comfortable admitting to their use or to the appeal of a new substance. There are no «huge» increases.

In Canada, We see today that More people are trying it each year than before, but there are fewer regular users.

«Legalization means creating another legal market.»

To prohibit means to make an activity illegal. Thanks, Gérald.

«Someone who is selling cannabis illegally today won’t want to call the tax authorities and URSSAF tomorrow to open a legal business.»

The myth of the lazy drug dealer who’ll never want to open a legal store. Again, it’s the “scarecrow” tactic. Will all drug dealers switch to the legal market? Of course not—especially if they aren’t encouraged to do so. But will no drug dealer do it? Canada Or the United States shows us the opposite. And you can watch a great video on the subject.

«Traditional cannabis shops in Belgium and Sweden»

Oh yeah, those famous Swedish cannabis shops. 8.6 first thing in the morning—not exactly a walk in the park.

«After legalizing cannabis, the leading cause of death in the United States is drug-related, specifically fentanyl.»

On two occasions (I’ll come back to this below), Gérald Darmanin implies that the opioid crisis in the United States is caused by the legalization of cannabis. However, historically, the opioid crisis began in the 1990s, and fentanyl spread across the country in 2013—at a time when even California, one of the first states to do so, had not yet legalized cannabis. U.S. states are, in fact, legalizing cannabis to curb the opioid crisis. So it's actually the exact opposite.

«Some countries are backtracking (Sweden, the Netherlands)»

Sweden, most certainly, if Gérald has come across cannabis stands there [[Editor's note: There never was one]. The Netherlands, on the other hand, is well ahead in legalizing production for coffeeshops.

«What will be sold in stores won't have as high a THC content as what's sold on the black market» because the Health Authority will limit the THC level

I have a simple solution: don't set limits on THC levels in legal products. Yeah, I know—it's obvious.

«Cannabis users will seek out the drug where it is strongest.»

It’s a well-known fact that I always go to the underground distiller to buy my Noah wine, even though beer is sold everywhere around me. I get my wine intravenously, by the way. Addicts seek thrills at any cost and are always looking to get wasted.

«We will impose a tax on par with that on tobacco, which will encourage purchases on the black market.»

If I were the Minister of the Economy or the Minister of Health, I would say that this is a bad strategy. But who am I to judge?

«The legal market will not replace the illegal market»

Canada. Five years since legalization. 75% Legal Market.

«Cannabis sellers today don't believe in their product the way a winemaker does. So if it's legalized, they'll turn to harder drugs.»

A nice analogy between the cannabis and wine. Maybe there's still hope. On the other hand, cannabis users aren't going to start buying heroin just because cannabis is legal. Or are they? Because addicts always want to get high. You know what I mean?

«Fentanyl and cocaine are on the rise because cannabis dealers have lost a source of income.»

As for fentanyl, we’ve already seen that it’s complete nonsense. As for cocaine, the epidemic in the U.S. took place in the ’80s and ’90s. So yes, we’re currently seeing a resurgence in cocaine production and seizures worldwide. All because Luxembourg has legalized personal cultivation. It’s crazy, isn’t it?

«Legalization takes away personal responsibility»

In that case… let’s ban driving—it’s dangerous, it kills people, and it takes away personal responsibility.

«Drug trafficking is a threat to public health and domestic security. I therefore oppose the proposal to legalize it.»

To view an illegal activity as a threat but refuse to try to curb it in any way other than through a policy that paves the way for it—that’s a concept. It’s French.

«Furthermore, no country that has legalized or decriminalized cannabis has regulated its production.»

Well now, Gérald, you really saved the best for last. It’s clear that, having moved to the Justice Department after working at the Interior Department, this topic is foreign to you.

So, a quick reminder: the International Conventions on Narcotics «prohibit» the trade in non-medical cannabis. ALL COUNTRIES that legalize the sale of cannabis therefore organize legal cannabis production. In reality, «ALL COUNTRIES» is limited to Canada and Uruguay; the other countries that have “legalized” cannabis do not currently permit its sale (Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Georgia).

Final note: NORML France also posted a Twitter thread on the subject with points from their latest report.

Congratulations to @ALeaument and @ludovicMDS for their down-to-earth, non-dogmatic, and well-researched report on the legalization of cannabis. Watch it or watch it again here https://t.co/XWIFyOQd6q The misinformation keeps coming anyway, so it took a (very) long thread to address all of it.

— NORML France (@NORMLfr) February 18, 2025