International

France takes a step forward in cannabis legalization

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2023

The Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cese) of France has proposed a “supervised legalization” of cannabis, in an effort to “be guided by public health objectives” and to “weaken and weaken as much as possible” the illegal drug trade, reported The Le Parisien. The proposal, which was approved by all members of the Council, would create legal companies, which would be required to obtain a license and follow mandatory training in risk prevention and reduction. The sale of cannabis would be prohibited to minors and any type of advertising or promotional distribution would be prohibited.

This recommendation is the result of a year-long study carried out by an interim commission, which concluded that almost half of adults in France have used cannabis at some point in their lives, compared to around 25% of adults in the European Union as a all. The commission also found that the current policy of fining individuals for using cannabis had been a “bitter failure” and that a new approach was needed to address the issue.

The proposal received mixed reactions from doctors, with some expressing support for the idea of legalizing cannabis and others expressing their opposition. Amine Benyamina, head of the toxicology department at the Paul-Brousse hospital in Villejuif, supports the proposal and believes it is a pragmatic strategy that limits public health risks without encouraging more consumption. On the other hand, Jean-Claude Alvarez, head of the toxicology department at the Garches hospital, did not agree with the proposal and believes that more education is needed instead of legalization.

Cese's proposal is merely advisory and the government is not obliged to follow its recommendations. However, it is likely to trigger a debate within the country about the future of cannabis policy. If the government followed Cese's advice, it would be a significant change in its policy, as cannabis is currently illegal in France. This Cese recommendation is also in line with the growing global trend towards the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis, with several countries and states already legalizing the substance for medicinal or recreational use.

PRESSURE COMMUNICATION?

"The #CESE if pronounced in faveur d'une #legalisation encadrée des usages dits "récréatifs" du #cannabis"

In savoir plus ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/H0khFSzaYG

- EESC (@lecese) January 24, 2023

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

[Disclaimer: Please note that this text was originally written in Portuguese and is translated into English and other languages using an automatic translator. Some words may differ from the original and typos or errors may occur in other languages.]

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you do with €3 a month? Become one of our Patrons! If you believe that independent cannabis journalism is necessary, subscribe to one of the levels of our Patreon account and you will have access to unique gifts and exclusive content. If there are many of us, we can make a difference with little!

João Xabregas

Editor-in-Chief

With a professional background in CAD technical drawing (2D and 3D), João Xabregas is an activist and advocate for all uses and applications of cannabis. He discovered and entered the world of cannabis during his youth, where he developed a special interest in the cultivation of the plant, which led him on a journey of self-learning through the world of cannabis that continues to this day. His adventures linked to cannabis cultivation began with the same goal as many others: to be able to guarantee the quality and eliminate any possible risks to his health of what he consumed, as well as to avoid any type of dependence on the illicit market. However, he quickly began to view the world of cannabis and everything related to it with a very different perspective. He admits the enormous passion he has for the most persecuted plant in the world and about which he is always willing to write and have a good conversation.