RATP fires one of its agents for using CBD on prescription

The June 23, 2025, a routine breathalyzer and drug test conducted at the Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Bus Depot, in Val-de-Marne, turned the career of Jean-Jacques Modeste, maintenance worker at the RATP. The 47-year-old man, who does not drive buses but conducts vehicle safety inspections, tested positive for cannabis.

It all started with a breathalyzer test that raised concerns. Jean-Jacques Modeste explained that he had just used a mouthwash to treat canker sores caused by braces. A more precise set of braces cleared him of the blame shortly thereafter. But the drug screening test tested positive for cannabis.

For Jean-Jacques Modeste, the explanation was clear: his therapeutic use CBD. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder more than 20 years ago, he was prescribed CBD to replace benzodiazepines, a class of drugs with severe side effects and a risk of dependence. Both his primary care physician and his psychiatrist confirmed that this treatment was medically justified and had no impact on his cognitive or behavioral functions.

Despite everything, the positive test result led to an immediate suspension and then termination.

CBD, THC, and the Legal Gray Area

Since the’The arrival of CBD products in France, the issue of screening tests remains controversial. These products may legally contain up to 0.3% of THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis. While these levels are considered safe, they can nevertheless lead to positive test results for saliva tests.

In 2023, the Court of Cassation confirmed that this legal tolerance did not exempt workers from the drug testing law. In other words, even the authorized use of a CBD product can result in penalties if traces of THC are detected during testing.

For unions, this rigidity paves the way for abuse. Ahmed Berrahal, a CGT representative on the RATP’s Health, Safety, and Working Conditions Committee (CSSCT), denounced «a strategy aimed at replacing experienced permanent staff with precarious contracts,» accusing management of using testing as a tool to reduce labor costs. He also cited cases in which positive results were reportedly obtained following the use of mouthwash.

Between Discipline and Privatization

At the time of his suspension, Jean-Jacques Modeste was negotiating his status as part of the privatization of RATP bus routes in the Île-de-France region. The Saint-Maur site was to be relocated to Cap Île-de-France RATP, a privately held subsidiary.

As a worker recognized as having a disability, Jean-Jacques Modeste was entitled to a Special Medical Leave Program (CSOM), which was more favorable than the general social security system. He feared losing these protections during the transfer. In his view, the test gave management an opportunity to sideline him.

«They used a random test as an excuse to accuse me,» he told Paris News before his disciplinary hearing. He describes himself as a «source of irritation» to management, tolerated because of his professional ethics but never fully accepted because of his health condition.

Despite everything, he remained optimistic before appearing before the disciplinary committee, insisting, «I hope there’s still a little humanity left.».

The Disciplinary Hearing

The September 22, 2025, Jean-Jacques Modeste appeared before a committee in Paris’s 12th arrondissement. Three employee representatives argued in favor of keeping him on. But management representatives prevailed. The verdict: dismissal, after 27 years of service.

«No miracles, no turnaround,» Jean-Jacques Modeste later told the Parisian. «I was fired. Twenty-seven years wiped out in barely an hour.»

The worker pointed out that his CBD prescription should have protected him. «I have bipolar disorder; I have a prescription. It’s part of my treatment.» But management remained unmoved.

His view is shared by Ahmed Berrahal of the CGT, who denounced the «social destruction» taking place within the company. «From a human perspective, it’s sad to fire a person with a disability who has worked at the company for 27 years and has done nothing wrong. The disciplinary hearing was just a formality. Everything had already been decided.»

A broader issue

This layoff is yet another example of the uncertainty the legal and professional landscape surrounding CBD in France.

On the one hand, this substance is widely available and recognized for its therapeutic applications, particularly for patients looking for alternatives to medication conventional.

Furthermore, current tests are unable to distinguish between the use The legal status of CBD and the illicit use of cannabis. This situation is similar to roadside checkpoints, which today seem to be more about penalizing drivers than actually ensuring road safety.