In Castres, Cannabis Sativa in garden centers

Have you ever dreamed of going to your favorite garden center and walking out with cannabis cuttings ready to flower? A garden center in Castres might make that dream come true—in a scaled-down version.

While browsing a Facebook post, we were quite surprised to see Cannabis Sativa plants. La Jardinerie Tarnaise, located in Castres, actually sells Cannabis Sativa plants to its customers for €10.90 each.

When we asked the garden center, they simply explained that these plants are part of their Italian supplier’s catalog and that they were delivered at the same time as the other plants. They recommend using them as ornamental plants to incorporate into the garden.

These plants are apparently included in the European catalog, although the specific variety has not been clearly identified. The only certainty is that they will not produce THC—or, at any rate, will produce levels below the legal limit—even during flowering.

If you live near Castres and your neighbor comes home with a few pots of cannabis, it might just be industrial hemp, which—at worst—will end up as herbal tea or a tincture.

The Legality of Hemp in France

It is entirely possible to growing hemp in France, even for private individuals. On paper, the only requirement is to purchase seeds from approved organizations and then register your crop with the National Federation of Hemp Producers. It is also recommended that you do the same with the local police to avoid unannounced visits.

What about hemp as a plant? La Jardinerie Tarnaise says it sees no restrictions whatsoever, whether regarding sale or possession. From our perspective, it seems just a tiny bit more complicated, even if it’s just hemp!