Olivier Faure, in favor of legalizing cannabis and experimenting with it «in certain departments and cities».»

Olivier Faure, first secretary of the Socialist Party, is now strongly advocating for a pilot program to legalize cannabis in France.

As France faces a rise in drug-related crime, particularly in cities like Marseille, many are wondering whether the legalization of cannabis could be a viable solution to curbing this growing problem, which has been exacerbated by the prohibition of drugs in general and cannabis in particular.

A Flawed System

Speaking on RMC and BMFTV, Olivier Faure expressed his frustration with the current approach to combating drug trafficking in France. In his view, the country is facing an increasingly serious crisis, as France remains a major user of illegal drugs traffic is spreading to small and medium-sized cities.

In Marseille, for example, families are forced to flee from drug traffickers, while hitmen—often recruited from prisons—are getting younger and younger. Faure emphasized that «an entire system is in place, and it must be dismantled.».

Despite its very strict anti-drug policy, France is, paradoxically, one of the heaviest cannabis users in Europe. Olivier Faure highlighted this contradiction, suggesting that current laws fail to reduce either drug use or trafficking. In fact, he argues that drug use is lower in countries where cannabis has been legalized. For Faure, this calls into question the effectiveness of the approach prohibitionist policies that have been in place for decades.

A need for experimentation

Olivier Faure believes that the legalization of cannabis could help reduce crime, particularly in the hardest-hit cities such as Marseille. He called for a pilot program in certain departments and cities to see if this policy change can dismantle what is known as the «drug economy» that operates in many neighborhoods.

«I’m no expert on the subject,» admitted Olivier Faure, «but we need to take action on this issue.» While acknowledging the complexity of partial legalization, which is still possible but complicated As we have already explained, Olivier Faure stated that something must be done to combat the widespread sense of insecurity caused by the drug trafficking.

Mr. Faure’s central argument is that the legalization of cannabis could help dismantle the complex networks of drug trafficking that dominate certain neighborhoods. By legalizing and regulating the sale of cannabis, ...the illegal market would be disrupted, which would weaken the traffickers' financial power and reduce the violence associated with this trade.

In addition, he argued that drug legalization would allow the government to reallocate its resources. Instead of focusing solely on street-level dealers, Olivier Faure suggested devoting more effort to tracking down the largest networks. He called for an increase in resources for the criminal investigation department, which currently lacks the tools to completely dismantle these criminal organizations.

The City of Bègles has already signaled its intention to explore legalization, with a proposal recently presented, and Strasbourg is also considering it. Several French mayors also raised the idea, even among the Republicans.

Reports in favor of legalization

A a study conducted by Terra Nova in 2014 believed that the decriminalization of cannabis could save the French government approximately 300 million euros in law enforcement costs. Furthermore, if legalized, tax revenue from legal sales could generate between 1.7 and 2.2 billion euros per year. The The Economic Analysis Council went even further in 2019, projecting that the government could collect up to 2.8 billion euros per year.

These financial gains could provide a much-needed boost to public services and help offset the cost of regulating a legal market for cannabis. Olivier Faure highlighted these potential benefits, noting that the funds could be reinvested in crime prevention and rehabilitation programs for those affected by the addiction.