NORML France opposes proposed cannabis fine

We revealed it to you last Wednesday: following the commission on the contravention of cannabis, the Government plans €300 cannabis fine for consumers caught breaking the law (possession or consumption) on the public highway, without eliminating potential prison sentences.

Supposed to make police work easier, the plan to make cannabis a criminal offence continues to cast doubt on the experts of the subject that are not Eric Poulliat and Robin Reda.

For the Syndicat de la Magistrature, which expressed its doubts at Europe 1, If anything, this measure will fail to fulfill its primary mission of relieving court congestion, and will become an opportunity for more systematic repression.

«Today, there are already alternatives: the public prosecutor can decide on a drug awareness course, issue a therapeutic injunction, impose a fine...» says Laurence Blisson, the union's general secretary. «On the contrary, this measure is likely to lead to an increase in the number of legal appeals, to the detriment of the public interest. contest the fine. » She also sees it as a measure that misses the point: «What good will it do? It's counter-productive, because it won't act as a deterrent, and there won't be any prevention of drug use.»

NORML France, the main association representing cannabis users and advocating reform of cannabis laws, is also opposed to the proposed fine.

«Today, consumers are already sufficiently incriminated. Some people talk of “de facto decriminalization”. This is not true. The crackdown on drugs has never been stronger. In 2016, one in five regular users was arrested. When there are 220,000 arrests every year, and the penal response is systematic, we can't say that there is decriminalization,» they write. in a petition posted online last Friday which has already collected almost 5,000 signatures at the time of writing.

NORML also denounces the discriminatory nature of the fine and insists on the fact that the fine comes on top of potential prison sentences, which do not disappear:

«Yet the government has decided to punish more. This fine will increase inequalities: The wealthiest will be able to pay to consume, while the poorest will continue to be dragged before the law. Some people think it's just a fine, but it's not - it's still a crime.»

And finally :

«We don't want any more incriminating legislation. A national debate on the subject is now necessary. It's time to raise the question of decriminalization and regulation.

Mr. President, we're ready for change.»

You can find the NORML France petition here.